Indoor and outdoor scenery: IDL + skydome, ONE infinite light for sun (moon), + optional lightbulbs (spot/point) where one should normally use lanterns, lamps and flash

In studio portraits: 5- or even 9-(spot)light rigs to create softboxes (or render in Reality / LuxRender or Octane, or Vue using area lights)

Tips:

when you've issues with handling light levels, you'd better render in separate passes and adjust lighting in post. Might require PoserPro in some cases. See my tutorials on render passes, light handling etc in http://www.book.artbeeweb.nl/?book=poser-rendering

You also might benefit from rendering with Reality/LuxRender, and master handling light-groups in Lux so you can adjust lighting levels in post / at rendering there as well. Recommended in combination with IDL and Realism.

 

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Usually I'm wrong. But to be effective and efficient, I don't need to be correct or accurate.

visit www.aRtBeeWeb.nl (works) or Missing Manuals (tutorials & reviews) - both need an update though