"I want to create some ultra realistic MATs" By MATS do you mean Material Pose files as found in the Pose library(s)? If so then first you need to make your textures up, THEN you use a tool like the MAT Pose Creator [link below] to make the MAT poses. http://market.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/index.php?ViewProduct=5174 "i just need the templates" Search free stuff here for snowsultan and you'll find templates for the main characters such as V3. "I heard that it's seriously fiddly to get textures right" Not really. A lot of folks here use merchant resource kits as a base for their maps then apply shadows and makeup and tattoos over the top of those. Looking at products in the marketplace for ideas can help you as well. "to see the very pores of the skin." Thats easy enough. Use a very hi-resoultion map and bump maps in P4/Pro or consider some of the skin shading systems in P5/P6. If you want to make your own original maps, then some merchnants and free-stuffers also offer photo sets of the same model under neutral studio lighting. Then theres no hassles with matching skin tones. These are pretty usefull... http://market.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/index.php?ViewProduct=24000

Pinky - you left the lens cap of your mind on again.