It's actually fine to do that. It's no different than taking the final image into Photoshop and using "levels" to get a bit more contrast. We do this with photos as well. Any time you take a photo and then alter the contrast using a power function, you're actually just altering the final gamma. It's a perfectly valid technique.

As with any technique, rules are meant to help the beginner achieve a good result. Once you move past the beginner stage (and you certainly have) then breaking the rules with a clear understanding of why you're doing it and what you will get is perfectly valid.

When I studied baroque music theory, (way back in time both for the music and for me), we were told in the first year to NEVER arrange a four-part harmony with parallel fifths, as Bach taught his students. Then in the second year we deeply studied Bach chorals and he did it all over the place, but with great finesse.

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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)