Thanks, that is good advice, and looking for the basic key settings every time will at least let me know if something seems way off from the start. I've filed away all the info for reference. I should see if I can save the poser_surface settings to the library, that way I don't have to change them manually for all fifteen figures.

Hborre,  I have to do an HDRI sample animation,  rendered out to PSD images to send to my animation team leader. He’s going to insert it into his Truespace 3D program to ensure that our renders will match.

He’s suggested it should be just thirty frames in length, (which will allow us to multiply the time it takes to render in order to estimate render times for production scheduling going forward), no background needed, two animated figures in a walk cycle, 30 fps, at a resolution of 1280 x 720, using full HDRI lighting, and at a quality level that at least matches Truespace's lightworks render output. Also he mentioned to be sure to have the Alpha Mask option selected/ticked, and all the lights in my scene will need to be disabled/deleted.. 

Other than understanding how to setup the basics in the scene using these guidelines, I’m not sure what other detailed render setting, if any, I should be changing or adding/removing. Should I use the D3D, or just regular firefly engine?  Would you be able to post a screenshot to give me a starting point of how you might go about setting up this type of render?  Many thanks, any help would be appreciated.

(I'll probably use one Kids 4 figure, and one P7 Ben figure, with VSS applied.)