In Poser 4, Propack, models behave differently in Preview Mode. The original characters and props, the ones which come with the software, show details (pupils and iris of the eyes, finger nail colors, for example) while in Preview Mode (cartoon), while most of the charachters and props I have downloaded and bought over the years, don't. I select a new (non-original) character, and when I switch to cartoon Preview Mode, his eyes are blank. Spooky... ;) Any ideas what causes this? Any way in which I can maybe modify the characters or props to show details in Preview Mode?

The Cartoon display modes don't show transparency. The figures with "blank" eyes probably have a transparent layer covering their eyes. This is the case with DAZ's Millennium figures, for instance.

Option 1:

Select each eye.
Display menu --> Element Style --> Texture Shaded

This allows individual body parts to use a different display mode. Transparent materials are indicated by a dotted pattern.

Option 2:

Get rid of the transparent layer somehow. Approaches include the grouping tool and custom morphs. Mazak has morphs to hide the Millennium figures' eyeball layers at his website.

Attached Link: http://www.3-AXIS.com

If your character is "Not" a Millenium figure, the creator may have used a texture map ONLY to color the eyes of the figure and not a material. Materials are what the cartoon rendering is based on. To show this, take a victoria character and look at her skin in cartoon mode. Now look at her skin in smooth mode. Now change the color of her skin by modifying the color of the MATERIAL for the skin. Now switch back to cartoon mode and you will see that her skin color is changed because the color of the material is changed. Ok... Now... If the eye of the figure is only one material (for the whole eye) it will only render out that material. You can use the grouping tool to fix this. 1. Select the grouping tool 2. Select new group 3. Name the group "Iris" 4. Select the polygons on the eyeball that make up the iris (do this for both eyes). > Now you have a group called "Iris" that contains the polygons for the iris for both eyes. 5. Now select "Assign Material" in the group editor palette. THIS is what assigns the new material to the eye that will be rendered in cartoon mode. 6. Close the Group edit palette and change the color of the new "Iris" material to your liking. 7. Switch back to cartoon mode and notice that the new material for the iris renders. I hope this helps, Joe www.3-AXIS.com