In this next comparison the top image is the VSS PR3 with gamma at 1.0. Obviously a darker render. Beneath I've done a Photoshop levels adjusted version (what I usually did before GC was around). This has, as we know, resulted in much brighter "blooms" of light on the top of the head and shoulders, but the transition into the shadow regions is much smoother. I included the Gamma 2.2 version at the bottom to further compare.

I don't know. Maybe it's just a personal preference.
To me it seems that the material based GC is creating a harsher transition between light and shadow across the model surface.

 

PoserPro2014(Sr4), Win7 x64, display units set to inches.

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