sometimes it helps to light a scene with low resolution objects,just get them roughly in place and then you can quickly sort out (and test) different lighting setups fairly quickly,then when youre happy substitiute with the finished models.

this technique is also helpful when deciding what cloud and atmos settings you want too as they can drastically alter your scene.

Have a bit of fun and play with vue a bit before commiting yourself to doing serious renders mate you have the talent,just give it time to flourish :-)

 A cleaved head no longer plots.

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