ah, no, they’re just 2D backgrounds, imported in 3DSM, adjust the output size in 3DSM to the size of the image, then add a plane under the object which I want to be in the scene, adjust the perspective to match, according to the viewing camera, and use the “matte/shadow/reflection” shader as material for that plane WITH AO on it !!

It really stands or falls with the AO, no AO = floating object = no realism what so ever.

I get my backgrounds from http://interfacelift.com/

free site, and the backgrounds go to 3000x2000 pixels… not bad huh

Sorry - your “smoking barrel” images.

which pic? all the comments result in the bottom of the page, they’re not being sorted by picture

Is your background environment real or fake?

i’m afraid I didn’t use an HDRI, if I recall correctly, that was just the environment being reflected, a few easyMAT trees, and that’s it - you can download the demo - which is the full version with ony 5 sample trees, which do just fine by me

http://www.bionatics.com

the lighting was a simpe mr_sky, was trying to get familiar with the fastest illumination technique

for now i would be using HDRI though, does really well for me, i’m pretty much abandonning the mr_lights, just using HDRI with logarithmic exposure controll

ps: thanks for the kind words everyone