face__off: This things get complicated fast. I think the one I am currently experimenting with has around 30 nodes. And some effects still to do. Some comments to your ideas: 1) A fresnel makes a big difference. But I don't understand the purpose of spots at 45 degree. What I do is to reduce diffuse and add secularity near 90 degree. 3) That is definitive one of the most difficult parts. I am adding a little red to the darkest parts, a bit more intense orange to the in-between shades and a pale blue to the brightest parts. But I am still looking for a way to soften up the borders between the bright and dark parts without adding to much ambient. 4) A fresnel effect to secularity makes a big difference for me A other things I try out at the moment: Adding a little bit of highlights of a velvet shader. The trick seems to be to add the velvet only on the bright parts. About the displacement mapping: I have never tried it with V3. What's going wrong, the poser or the Zbrush part?