I am what can be referred to as a graphic arts virgin with a specific interest in Posers Michael characters. I'm also a self-taught artist who is not only a perfectionist into realism, but also a fast learner. Someone who could be a mentor and steer me into the right directions would be GREATLY appreciated! I need to know where to start. (The beginning basics) My goal is to create new characters, photo- realistic texture, and trans maps and to fix a few things I've noticed in Poser. Like hand size. You make this big hulk of a man, but he has these tiny hands. I've read of a long fix for this, but I want to make it a default in the male characters I create.

When, and if, I'm good enough to keep up with the big boys and girls, I want to offer my work for sale. There seems to be a sizeable market for good stuff. Am I seeing this correctly? Am I correct on any of this and do I have realistic expectations? PLEASE HELP!!! IM SO IGNORANT!!!!!!!!!!! I would be more than happy to share any GOOD work [assuming a lot, aren't I? ;-)] that I come up with as a small thank you to those who can really be there for me when I need your experience and expertise. (At no charge to you of course) You all seem to be really nice people willing to go out of your way to help others. That kindness is so very rare in todays world, but seems to be norm in this one. I have seen more camaraderie and read more complements in here than I've experienced in the "real" world in a year. I've already received some priceless info from a few folks. Thank you Judith, Clint, Jeff, and Carroly!

Furthermore, I have the ability to place free long distance calls after 8 pm and any time on the weekends to anyone in the continental U.S. Plus, I have a web cam. Either of these makes communicating so much faster and more efficient. I'm a 35-year-old father of three who is not only very trusting, but also very trustworthy. I won't take advantage of anyones trust and I hope and pray none will mine.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope I posted it in the correct place. Like I said... I'm new. (Please feel free to move it to the proper forum, as was done for me to a previous post, if its in the wrong one :-D )

Is there anyone from Wichita, Kansas U.S.A. in the Poser community?

Thanks again!
-Brack

Attached Link: http://www.ronknights.com/

I was touched by your message. You can get a great deal of help just by reading the messages in this Forum. You also want to check out the Poser Resources link/banner and Tutorials Links at the top of this page. It appears that your goals and needs are beyond my own meager abilities at this particular point. I've barely begun to adapt Michael and other characters into my own characters. But I am still dumbfounded by many more detailed endeavors. For what it's worth, I have created some tutorials that are great for "beginners." I just love to walk you by the hand through the tutorial, and have fun. I really enjoy using screenshots for every step of the process too! *** There are many talented people here with a great deal of patience to help people learn. They've helped me! Ron 

Ron summed it up pretty good. Start by reading the forum and all the tutorials that can be found here. If you run into a specific problem post here in the forum and I bet you will have three answers within 4 hours. For more detailed instruction you might want to search for tutorial cds. Philc has one for creating poseable figures (www.philc.net). There might be more here in the marketplace or at some of the other poser sites. smerc

Just to add to what's already been said, the best way to learn is to jump in and do it. It can seem frustrating at times, but just keep at it. You can't learn everything at once, and all any art teacher can do for you is point you in a new (notice I didn't say "the right") direction. For aesthetic issues, post stuff in the galleries and ask for input. You might get a few stray nasty comments, but the community is overwhelmingly supportive. Just spell out for them what your skill level is and what you're trying to accomplish and you'll be amazed at how on-target the critiques you receive will be. If you're stumped on technical problems, search the forums, then ask your question. Someone will help you come up with a solution. This website is an incredible tool -- it's like interactive art classes with hundreds of teachers. JUST KEEP AT IT!

I have to say that sometimes you need to more than just jump in and do it, or "experiment." I spent the first few months of my Poser experience blissfully making lousy renders, posting them on my web site, the Poser forum and my Renderosity Gallery. Finally Doug Sturk and other fine people informed me that I was not rendering my figures properly, and was using a lousy jpg compression to boot. I was so shocked and embarassed. Then these folks were kind enough to sit through my confusion concerning textures for Vicky and Mike. I'd tried some pre-existing tutorials, and they left me confused. I wouldn't have learned many things if it weren't for this Poser Renderosity community. People were kind enough to sit with me, explain and repeat themselves till "I saw the light." I was so over-joyed with this experience that I created my own tutorials. *** These days I can't devote a lot of time to one-on-one questions and answers. I've had to make some hard choices. I had to give up beta testing and will probably give up the forums for awhile. I want to devote my dwindling free time to "artistic pursuits." I want to learn how to create textures so I can finish creating my first clown figure. Ron