I've been reading through the Poser Tutorial Manual, trying to find information on the Dependent Parameters Tool and the Improved Rigging System. Can anyone point me to pages or help?

I'm interested in something that would help me better pose existing figures. Are these new Poser 8 features more for artists who create new figures?

In either case, I'd like to understand what these two new features are, so that I'd know whether or not I can use them in posing.

DP probably won't help much with a static pose.  The new P8 version of DP gives you a chance to set up temporary linkages between parameters, like live-action ERC.  This is likely to be useful for an animation, or you could save the figure with the ERC built in.  

There has been quite a bit of discussion here on the topic, and a forum search will give you a dozen threads.

The improved rigging is solely for new models, and I haven't noticed any discussion of it yet.

 OK, well thank you for answering. I will do a forum search and see what turns up.

The Poser Reference Manual has quite a bit on the DP tool, have you checked there?

I posted a thread a while back in the DP tool.  It has some tips and suggestions:

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2785187

Semidieu posted a video tutorial on using the dependent parameter feature:

poser8.smithmicro.com/cgi-bin/blosxom.cgi/2009/08/20#Semidieu_DepParm

Note the correct height of the armpit compared to V4.

JoePublic - just sent you an instant message to talk more about your work using the P8 rigging...

Cooper

 Thank you, Vestmann and thinkcooper for the links. I think I understand this a bit better now.