...Can anyone recomend a free light set or 2 that doesn't? I'm not implying that the stuff in the freebee section sucks. I can't tell. Light and shadows have always been my downfall when it comes to art and images. I can't tell quality lights from junk. Well, maybe in the extremes. I know the lights won't be positioned for whatever scene I'm doing but moving a light is alot easier than knowing what type of light I need, and the color I need, and the amount of shadows  and you get the picture. Maybe if I start out working with something good I can get some ideas with tweeking and expiramenting with it. Any suggestions

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/mod/freestuff/member.php

I used it in this image:

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1280491

Runtime DNA has a gazillion free light sets, but you'd be better off learning how to do this stuff yourself. If you know what looks bad, you're half way to what looks right. The fact is, Poser's lights aren't top notch by modern standards and you have to work hard to fool the eye. Of course you could buy Vue (or Carrara 6) and have a go at the Global Illumination and Radiosity presets to learn what a modern renderer is capable of.

The default lights are indeed rubbish but no-one in their right mind ever uses them do they? Over on rdna in the forum you'll find tutorials by Olivier & bagginsbill  that help improve the lights for Poser5+ users, that's without having to download 300+ zips to find just the right light for your latest picture ;)

Link to Acadia freestuff area -----------> Portrait Lights (P6) <----------------

Acadia, the link you posted leads the person who click to his own freestuff area :)

The defaults are like everything else -- pose, character, cloth -- a starting point, not an end point. The whole idea in all of this is to take it beyond "one from column A and one from column B" and into an area where you build what works for you, instead of running around trying to find something someone else built that you think might work for you.

Might add, the default light set isn't always good to use in a final rendering BUT the three lights used DO light things in a way that makes it easy to pose your figures.  Different light sets for different portions of your project.  I often save the 'final' light sets to my library and then load a special pose light set just to position and pose the figures.  With a click from the library I can go back and forth until I've everything set.  Then I load and tweak my 'final' light set until I find a final 'final' light set.

I think the default lights are especially good for working in the pose studio.  Some sets I have contain a fourth light set up to shine from the back of the studio so I can see the back of my figures well.  Thinking about writing a light tutorial myself ...

Best Wishes,
Rªnce

I know I need to learn to do this. This is just a starting point, kind of a reverse engineering. I pick up a lot that way. Thanks for the suggestions where to find some.

Nice image Acadia. Of course now I have to go through your gallery. But that's not a bad thing. Thanks also for the light set.

Thanks Vince for the corrected link.

Quote - ...you'd be better off learning how to do this stuff yourself...

Today's winner!

 Reading a photography book will offer insight. After all, isn't that what we're doing? 

Quote - Link to Acadia freestuff area -----------> Portrait Lights (P6) <----------------

Acadia, the link you posted leads the person who click to his own freestuff area :)

Does this one work?

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/freestuff/index.php?user_id=127942

Also, here is a thread that has links for tutorials and discussions on lights:

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2734086

I highly recommend the following tutorials for learning Poser 6 or 7 lights.

Poser 6 IBL Ins and outs by Olivier

A little tutorial about lighting by Olivier

Tutorial: GEL MAPS by Olivier

Attached Link: Baggins Lights

The IBLs included in both Poser 6 and 7, also suck. Acadia's link to discussions about IBL lights is fantastic. All those links teach you about IBL in Poser, but one wishes that the IBLs included in Poser were a better starting point. Thanks bagginsbill for your free lights!

Attached Link: Shadow Lite Cam Tutorial

This goes more to issues of where the light sources are coming and where the shadows get thrown rather than the more advanced works of Olivier, or other of the Poser Greats around here.

Best Wishes,
Rªnce

Thanks for all the suggestions. Looks like I'm gonna be busy for a while.