Well hi....you're still on.   I pop back and forward....working on putting up a little cartoon website for the fun of it ( 3dtoonz.net ) ....so I work on it awhile, then check back over here, then sometimes check over at DAZ since I started with Studio before graduating to Poser....but the DAZ forums right now are not the place to discuss these issues.   I prefer the more mature approach over here at Rendo.  

Would love to have your knowledge.   You mentioned two areas I need much improvement.....the whole business of MAT files in order to create a few free textures and such....and lighting.   Lighting  often makes or fails to make the picture.    My favorite part of 3D is posing, expression, and animation...but even the best of these can be ruined by poor lighting....so I have much to learn, and had looked forward to better lighting capabilities in Poser 8.   I didn't realize I'd be tipping through a technical mine field to get there....haha....oh well.  

I started out using mostly DAZ human models, but am moving more toward comic characters that animate more freely.   I guess my high aim for the future would be learning to use lip sync for realistic human animations, but must crawl before I can walk....haha.    So....my TOONZ site is a place to crawl for now.

The weather is due to jump to 100 here by Monday....so whatever hit you is probably heading eventually to us.   Not looking forward to it at all, but hopefully it will pass after about three days.

Signing off for now, will be back on tomorrow evening.

~skylab    : )