Hi Robyn

It took me  long while to understand that simple purchase of a program does not grant magical understanding. I have LW- and I also learned that buying a library of books on using it-does not grant magical knowledge-you have to read and apply the knowledge. I was doing OK until I got stuck on some advanced beginner modeling-without any help-I put it aside. I started up again before Ppro2012 came out- (see the render above)-and was rendering scenes and creating LW materials (node based).

It all went on hold when Pro2012 came out-then I got involved with the WM projects- no time for LW! No time for Zbrush! No time for Vue Infinite. Add ANOTHER program? Not likely

I do have a decent understanding of LW lighting and texturing-but little on modeling-and only moderate animation skills.

PoserPro. The cloth room gives me a headache-getting dynamic cloth to drape properly is not so straightforward. I've got some ObiWan renders where the hood and body of the robe looks good-but one of the arms of the robe splits off M4's arm.

Quote - Now, at the ripe old age of almost 60, I've realised that purchasing technology doesn't immediately/magically imbue you with the knowledge on how to use the thing. Yep, took that long. Now, I'm gonna save money!!

So, what is keeping me from potentially exploring LightWave or modo or any of those mid-range apps (let-alone high-end apps)? Not just the money. You need time to learn the thing. Otherwise, why get it? Oh, yeah, if someone gave me a license  for modo I'd jump on like a deranged slinky: I'd love to play with it! And I would play with it. But the combination of having to save up $1200 just to get something to sort-of get my head around when I already have all this stuff I don't really fully understand or have gotten completely comfortable with just seems wrong.

Just me. Just sayin'...