Denoised image is too dark respect the frame buffer's one

[pproestos]

I know I continue to be a noob but guys I am trying! 🙂

I have read and apply all knowledge from @Mads but still I cannot find a way to automate this.

There is a difference between the image I save from frame buffer and the one that is being denoised with Arnold denoice (noice.exe): it's very dark

I don't want to use the Optix denoiser with Gpu.

No matter I try to tweak the exr file (I raise up brightness, exposure, gamma exx) with post production software (Like the free one Luminance HDR) I never get 100% exactly the same image like the color tint/shadows ecc, that I get from frame buffer.

What I am missing?

Thanks for any guru's answer.

The exr is here:

https://we.tl/t-sYmLuHYj61

original jpg: https://ibb.co/4M1nsFp

denoised: https://ibb.co/XWKdyMP

[madsd]

Do not use this window to dial in grading, leave it out, set to non, using nothing.
Denoise.
Load the denoised EXR into max and rerender the image in a seperate clean scene with the Post corrections you used when working on the image.

https://imgur.com/a/cVFNyRV

[RGhost77]

https://answers.arnoldrenderer.com/questions/17011/make-denoiser-work-with-exposure-control.html

https://answers.arnoldrenderer.com/questions/4606/view.html

[RGhost77]

Yes, it works but is ugly solution. Adsk must do something about that!

[pproestos]

The strangest thing is because since now I pumped up a lot the skydome lights, living environment lighting very low, I didn't notice the difference when I denoised them... But after watching @Mads "savior" videos about interior lighting, I tested and I decided that the only way to get a beautiful, clear illumination is to having a lot of environment lighting and not exaggarating with skydome values.... But boom, try again to denoise with new values and now I verified what @Aaron said that denoise ignores environment lighting... So ok what I am convinced now? That I have to enter in the world of post production... 🙂 🙂

[madsd]

If you isntall the free VFB+ framebuffer you get post corrections as well, in addition, you can simply ignore 3ds max exposure dialouge entirely and just bring in the denoised EXR to the framebuffer, you would need to check it anyways for artifacts, and when you bring it in, you can introduce your final grading automatically on the shot, then save out.

Once set up, you need not to touch anything but to reload the denoised image, and VFB+ has a nice stack you can scroll through to see denoise setting changes on the fly.

[pproestos]

the existance of VFB+ I also learned that from you @Mads and I already installed it but afraid to use it... So this is a quick and fair solution to bring beautiful results without messing with big post production software... one more big thank you... 🙂