To expand Les's point about shadows:

ALWAYS set the Shadow Min Bias to POINT ONE to eliminate nostril glow!  Use Depth Mapped shadows as LITTLE as possible!  They do NOT act like real shadows, but have uses far and few between.

NEVER use shadows set at ONE!  In deep space without back-shadow or radiosity is fine.  In the real world, there are almost NO jet black shadows! 

With Raytraced Shadows, NEVER use Shadow Blur Radius at ZERO unless the scene is Deep Space!  Outside is ONE, harsh lights are ,75 to two, and interior lights with frosted lights range from six to twelve.

The Closer, the BIGGER the Shadow-Map! Portrait range=1024    10-30 feet=512 usually works fine   more than 50 feet=256 size is fine.

Basic Poser lights just...suck. Period.

I cannot save the world. Only my little piece of it. If we all act together, we can save the world.--Nelson Mandela
An  inconsistent hobgoblin is the fool of little minds
Taking "Just do it" to a whole new level!