thanks so much!  that means a lot coming from you.  cool!  i'm glad you're having fun.   yeah, i know about the hair.  i think unless i can learn to make hair that's specific to an image i'm working on, i might be able to make it with short hair some point in the future, but definitely not long hair.  i'm still not quite up to painting hair that realistic, but it is possible. 

just to say, i'm finding that specularity maps make a big difference.  the light one uses the Vanessa texture, which comes with a bump and specularity map.  Vanessa by Maelwenn and Alice by Aery Soul have become two my "go to" texture sets because they're so comprehensive.  the dark one uses Irina 2.0's texture, for which i tried to make a bump and specularity map from the texture.  the interesting thing about Irina's texture is that it's has extreme differentials in  tone and hue.  certain places are really pale and have almost no red, and others are very tanned and red.  which is actually realistic if you're thinking about your average person who doesn't use tanning beds or other methods to get an even skin tone.  sort of like Ian by GRFK DSGN.  maybe i've just lived in texas too long now, but as much as it seems unusual to my eye, i think it's because i look at media too much and reality tool little.

i guess what i'm saying is the texture makes a big difference.   that said, i've been able to make all sorts of different skin tones for Vanessa and Alice.  i might try something otherworldly soon...