Quote - I sometimes used to spend hours in an image editor correcting renders, now it's usually 5-10 minutes tweaking contrast & minor shading artifacts caused by IDL.

This is the key point. It isn't about what you like versus what I like. It's that Dan now understands what was the main factor in render trouble, and he's past the point of dealing with it anymore. It's no longer a factor. The overall lighting is not a problem - not a subject of tweaking and adjusting - it's right - it's what you expect from real life. Then you apply your artistic interpretation to enhance the mood of the piece, instead of as a means to bring it back from nonsense in the first place.

---

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)