On p.75 of the P3 manual, they say to select the 'rotate' tool, select the arm and drag down to lower the arm...well, when I do that, only the elbow joint moves, not the arm itself. I've tried selecting both forearm and upper arm and they 'select' just fine, they just cannot be raised or lowered, only rotated at the elbow. This is such a basic function of the program, yet it's not working. Problem # 2 is that when I select figure 2 to work on, figure 1 continues to move...? It seems to select a part at random, too--it doesn't move the part I've selected on figure 2. I reselect 2 and the same thing happens as soon as I try to alter him--figure 1 begins contorting. I suspect that in working my way through the tutorial, I must have altered some basic setting accidentally....???

I'm working with the Poser 3 from Computer Arts Magazine

No you haven't. Manuals! Don't you just love 'em. As far as I can tell, almost no-one uses those tools, they're too darned hard to control. Instead you need to select the body part you want, check the readout below the image to make sure that you have actually selected the part you want (cos that sometimes seems a little flaky), then USE THE DIALS to move the part in the way you want. It's much more controllable that way. Remember you can select any part of the arm from the collar downwards. If you move the shoulder, everything below the shoulder will be affected. If you select the forearm, only the forearm, wrist and hand will be affected etc... Try not to get too wound up with it. Absolutely everybody has trouble at first, but you will get it. good luck peejay

Where are my manners? Welcome to the madhouse

I'm new to this too and I can't help with the second question, I haven't progressed to using two figures yet:o) But I can help with the first! Forget about using the tools and mouse to pose, use the wheels to the right of the screen, you'll find wheels for rotation, bend etc. It might be confusing at first as they have to be adjusted one dimension at a time - x axis ,y-axis, and z-axis (is this making any sense?) You'll soon get used to it though and it's much more controllable than trying to drag limbs about on the screen! A more experienced person will probably give you a clearer explaination but till then hope this helps. Baz

Typical! Peejay got there first, damn my slow typing! Oh and welcome from me too! :o) Baz

Thank you all!!! I was about to blame it on the Robitussin cough medecine I'm on... Or maybe the cold virus has moved to my poor, Poser-manual-tortured brain ...! Whatever the cause of my problems, you guys always manage to restore my faltering confidence that some day, I will learn to pose these puppies! Thank you!

Course you will, but remember to get some sleep now and then ;o) Try hot chocolate and brandy for the cold, it won't cure it but if you drink enough you won't care! Baz

I use the tools and the dials, both. Make sure you're using the rotate tool and not the twist tool. You do get better control with the dials, but occasionally, I do use the tools. I guess I'm one of the rare ones, then. Melanie

out of the mont i have been using poser i might of used the tools once and its only the to drag what i need where i want it than i take over with the dials, there important, especially with the face parameters

Poser [menu] "Figure" ----> "Use Inverse Kinematics" Make sure these are NOT checked ... Posing is difficult, if not impossible, with "IK" on. cheers, dr geep ;=]

Sounds like you are using the "rotate" tool rather than the "translate" tool.

At first I will use the tools to get my figure into the course position i want, then switch to the dials and maybe turn off ik as well.