[itsallgoode9]

This question is a bit out there, but I'm curious how progressive renderers, such as Maxwell create the image (starting with a ton of noise then slowly to less noise, less noise, etc.) in the way they do. I am specifically asking this because I notice the slight noise left over in an image from Maxwell feels fairly natural when comparing it to noise in an actual photo.

I share many of my renders with a photographer friend of mine (he is absolutely blown away by Maxwell btw) and one of the things he has commented on before is the noise in the renders. He says this in a good way though...as in "I can't believe you even have that noise in there, like an actual photo would".

Is there any simple answer as to why leaving slight noise from a Maxwell render looks natural whereas adding a noise layer in photoshop looks unnatural, like a digital filter?

[tom]

Is there any simple answer as to why leaving slight noise from a Maxwell render looks natural whereas adding a noise layer in photoshop looks unnatural, like a digital filter?

Yes. Because, the distribution of noise you generate with post filter is a uniform 2D fake . Contrary, the noise in render is more localized, non-uniform and acting parallel with full GI.