Finally finished.

So here's the setup. I'm using two copies of this curved backdrop I made. The one behind the figure is a normal dull white material.

The one in front, the bigger one, the one that is providing almost all the light here is self lit!!! With a gradient, using a shader I designed to allow you to adjust the light from different parts. It's pretty cool and very versatile.

The lit one is (normally) set to be invisible to the camera, so it provides light but does not interfere with my ability to put the camera anywhere I would like. Although the camera cannot see it, the props use it for lighting and for reflections.

For this image, obviously I had to make it visible so you could see what it was doing.

That's why I said it doesn't matter what the room EnvSphere was - I was just using it for ceiling light and for the fact that it makes renders go faster. The smooth and even lighting here is from the giant curved wall.

I did mention a couple pages ago that you want large light props. I think maybe some underestimated the importance of that suggestion.

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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)