Quote - Take a look at the super un-tanned guy sitting behind her. He has no skin detail, and he's whiter than she is. Why does he look real? Why do renders look fake unless you go towards the supertan look? That's what I'm trying to get to here.

It's because the shadows at the Poser figure is to "flat", not dark enough on the "deeper" parts. The shadow does not "model" the character. 

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