More typical is the gradient produced by lighting yielding a diffuse reflection. When the surface faces the light, it is brightest. When it turns away, it is darkest.

a = SKIN
b = BLACK

The upper gradient is what Poser renders with a skin color and you don't do GC. The lower gradient is how the skin renders with GC. This is why a GC shader looks so much better for human skin.

If you force yourself to imagine the lower (linear) gradient is 3D, you can convince yourself you're looking at a cylinder, not a flat surface.

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Renderosity forum reply notifications are wonky. If I read a follow-up in a thread, but I don't myself reply, then notifications no longer happen AT ALL on that thread. So if I seem to be ignoring a question, that's why. (Updated September 23, 2019)