I've heard others complaining. I've tried some of the suggestions and have tinkered around with settings and Gamma Correction but it still looks like something I would scrape off the bottom off my shoe. I can't figure it out reading the posts  (yes I am that stupid... I've been diagnosed with fronto temporal lobe dementia and it's causing me a lot of cognitive issues... I know... TMI).

I just want it to look clear, lighter, non-fuzzy/ less like fecal matter.

Like before... or like Daz Studio.

Thanks.

Mac

A good place to start is setting up the gamma on your system correctly. Usually there is a utility to do this related to your video card. If not, you can get decent results from http://www.photoscientia.co.uk/Gamma.htm

If you don't have this right, none of the rest is going to make the first bit of difference. And you may THINK you have adjusted it, but it bears revisiting and VERY careful attention. Ask me how I know.

First ; a monitor calibration.

Second ; In the Render Settings, Preview tab, set texture display at 4096 (default is 512) lower rigth corner.

Third, allways use BB's sphere and ONE single Infinite light at 80%

Start from there and build up.

You say PP2012?
IDL, Gamma correction, and SSS bring a complete new meaning to the word LIGHT.

Light is Light, and there is only ONE sun.
IDL, Gamma And SSS do most of the rest.

Only add a fill light at 10-20% max in a emergency. (a real one)
Inside a room it is often more productive to put a light ambient on the walls and ceiling.
Also; Use the ambient node to make Candles, Lightbulbs, TV screens, PC screens or any other light emittor,  emit light as they do in real life.

Forget; and throw all Lightsets made, and or sold, or bought, before Poser8 in the trash can.
They only make your head go Banana's.
Happy Posering
Tony

If you use Gamma Correction, you won't need quite as much light in the scene as before. So, if you simply switch GC on, your images will look washed out. 

vilters is right about the light setting when your render an outdoor image, inside I would replace the infinite light with a point light with inverse square attenuation and ray traced shadows. 

Why don't you post an image you don't like here? I think we may be able to suggest a way to make it look better.

Hi,

Happened to  find this again. I typed out a long response but it either vanished or I never posted it I guess. Sorry. I appreciated all of the help and meant to say so right away.

I never found BB's sphere but everything else helped a lot. My Poser previews still seem "fuzzy" but when I tried to post examples they never really looked fuzzier so that may have been a perception thing or maybe an "I fear change" thing. Still working through that.

Here is a Victoria 4.2 that illustrates what I mean. Weird arm edges, weird eye bag things... that sort of stuff.

2 things

In the Renders settings, Preview,  set Texture display preview at 4096 (lower right hand corner)

The second is the shadow, U use depht shadows, right?
In the light parameters (the light with shadows ON), set Preview shadow map size higher,  1024, 2048 or 4096

(Under the eyes are the shadows of the lashes.) Will render fine with the right transmap.

Let's know how goes.
Happy Posering

Second thing I see from your preview?
How many lights do you have?

I fear too many.
Remove lights or reduce their intensity.

I see at least 2 shadows, both lights are in the left upper corner.
So both shadow settings will al least have to go to a higher value.

And in a scene like this??? One single infinite light wth IDL in BB's sphere at 60 to 80% is often more then needed.

She is gonna be very-very white when rendered this way.
Certainly if you add IDL and SSS, and perhaps an env sphere.

I had 4 lights... which seems to be the default. Uping the textures to 4096 helped and turning off shadows on light 3 was great too.... though a little light.

I guess it wouldn't hurt me to read the manual some more... since I am apparently pretty clueless. I came from DS.

Ah, OK , coming from DS.
Lights are completely different in Poser.

Now did you go to the Light Properties and set the Shadow map at a higher value?
Your shadow preview will look a lot better if you do.
Set the Shadow map for that single infinite light (in the light properties) at 1024, 2048 or 4096. And naturally Texture display preview in the Render settings at 4096.

Mostly, for a render like this, (just one figure with nothing else) goto BB's freestuff in his signature, and grab the BB env Sphere.
Load that prop, and use only one infinite light at 60-80%
Select a render with IDL (option in the render settings)
Raytrace bounces at 2-4
Min shading rate at 0.2 and you will get a clear sharp render.

In the advanced material room you can also set the loaded textures for each material at "crisp".

And, with a smile, YES, please do read the manual.
PoserPro2012 comes with a nice 800+ page manual.