Antevark, I feel your pain brother(or sister :) What I have learned in 6 years of 3D is there is never a "formula" Its 10% technic and 90% mickey mouse. In other words, there is no set sure fire way to get realism. There are too many variables when making your own scene that any technic could cover. Yes we can use things people here share as was to get a certain color, light and so forth but it all depends on what that scene needs and what you want it to express. Myself, personally when I do a scene <-- For some reason I think Im spelling that wrong ? Anyway, when I do an image I go for realism. I used to get harassed to no end by my High School Art teacher years ago becuase he was of the belief that art was expression, not mimicing the real world. For some, maybe, but not for me. To me true art is the ability of the art to make the viewer believewhat he is looking at is real. The idea or story behind the picture is icing on the cake. Of course, that's all my humble opinion and you can do with it what you will.