I recently purchased Dystopia for Poser. It's an absolutely beautiful cityscape. My problem is not with the product, but with my own skill in using it. Does anyone have any tips for navigating large enviroments such as this? I've already figured out that my camera scale needs to be vastly increased, and that it seems to be easier to move the environment around than the rest of my scene (character and props), but I keep losing my scene in the vastness of the city. I'm trying to find a spot on setting #2 that would make a good balcony. Any ideas?

Bookmark + comment. I find that longer lenses help when moving around in larger scenes. Like 100mm and upwards, as opposed to the default 25 or 38 or whatever it is. But I'm interested in hearing other people's solutions. Doesn't this pack have camera positions? That would seem to me to be a fairly essential item. Can't you parent all chars and props to the city and move the lot together? Just guessing, since I don't know the product. mac

What I do really is a several step thing. For large things like distopia, I look at where in a block I want to try a render. this means loading it first and just scoping out stuff. also for the co-ordinates for where in pose space they are. once I have a good ide of a location I close all that and set up a scene with the people. I load pose dres and light them (with spotlights) them I load the large item and then move the item to where I want. So I am moving as littel as possible. taking the mountain to vicky. Then I switch to full tracking mode in poser to line things of for the fine pose of the large thing. I do it that way since vicky and all the stuff hanging off her is tricky to move. and since spotlights stay where you set them as opposed to area lights that back up to account for the largest thing in the poser document.

I've found it useful to increase the size of the dystopia buildings in stages. For example I will load the buldings then find where I want the figures to be. I then increase the buildings by something like 1000%. Then I adjust the position and increase the scale again, keep doing this until you have everything positioned. This will help prevent your figures from being lost in the sea of building. Eric J

Dystopia is a really cool model concept. I'm not into SciFi or big city scenes, but I bought Dystopia anyway and found that I love it. The architecture is extremely versatile and fits into both modern and futuristic scenes very well. My biggest kick with it is lighting it. I've tried light sets from unrelated things, like sets from Transpond, and even Vicky model lights sets, and you can stumble into some pretty fantastic scenes ideas.

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=445695&Form.sess_id=1190667&Form.sess_key=1058211452

Thanks guys! Those are all great suggestions, and I will remember them for next time; especially finding the spot first, then scaling in steps. I did actually use that one, but I think I came up with the perfect solution to my problem. The lights were good too >^_^< I found a good spot on the normal scale, then grouped it and spawned a prop. I then scaled it in steps and positioned the part of it that I needed right where I needed it to be for that POV. I used another set of blocks for the distant cityscape, and picked apart other props for the balcony. I played with a lot of different lights, including the new Ultimate Fire prop (LOVE that!), but it wasn't quite what I wanted. I finally decided on an altered Neon Umbra light set to get a dramatic atmosphere. I am so in love with this set, and the other set I used for the BG and pose (Princess Diaries). This is the most intensive piece I have done ...ever. ::is a happy kitty::

Great lighting. And the giant moon is another terrific idea!

Thasnks! >^^< The moon, pose, and expression are from Firebirdz and linwhite's Princess Diaries. I was lucky to receive the set as a gift. It's just wonderful. Chris (Firebirdz) has such a talent for posing, and adding in all those special details and nuances of a pose, right down to the toes. >^^< Linwhites Vue Backgrounds are simply stunning.