Does anyone have any good advice on lighting? The default lights are too dark and the colors are odd. I can't seem to get it right, no matter how I change the lights. I see renderings here that look so natural. Mine always comes out looking either too harsh or at funny angles. I don't think I've ever seen more than one lighting preset posted for Poser. I know that a lot of people like to take their Posers into Bryce and render there, but again, I still have problems getting them to look natural. In Bryce, the colors of my Posers look washed out and faded. I can't seem to win in either program. Help! Melanie

I have been thinking of posting the same question. Are there any tutorials or references for lights and cameras? Where do we learn how to use the lights and cameras?

Hi Melanie, mostly I'm using warm light tones like yellow and red. For the lights for the Poser skins use the same color as the skin has. Thats what I do. I hope that helps a little bit. Regards Chris

To elaborate - set you r lights by aiming them at a flat white surface and adjusting the RGB till you get the color you want. Then do the same for a sphere.... try to get the sphere to look as close to the color of the skin you want with each light.. off set them so you can learn to use back and side lights to the best effect.

tell you what id did i bought paul hafeli's lisa and fran items from bbay .what a differnce a good set of lighting makes they where worth every penny.....Steve

I tend to use one or two lights only. One in front of the character and one above/front. I always make them pure white, otherwise they change the color of your textures. Play arround with the foreground and background colors, they also affect the final render.

Ok quickly: Get everything set up (figures and props) 3 Lights most of the time are too much and just slow things down. Keep the main light (The bright white one) and one of the fill lights (The orange one), delete the green light. Now change the orange light to a medium Grey, and turn off it's cast shadow. (You can always turn this back on, but a lot of the time it too is not nesassary) Change the main (white) light shadow detail to at least 512, but even better to 1024. Rotate and place the main light to point where you want and how you would like to light the scene. Adjust the brightness to suit the mood. Now a trick is to take the second light (and keep the brightness low) to point the opposite of the main light. I.E. if the main light is pointing forward and favoring the right side of the face, the second should be casting light on the left side of the face and more towards the back. Note: changing the light to white and shades of grey maintain the colors of the objects. Remember when you use colored lights in a scene they affect the colors of anything they fall on. Sometimes giving the desired effect, but some times doing ghastly things to the colors. I hope this helps a bit. Now spot lights, can get tricky. ;-) James

pretty good tutorial, james i was wondering about good lighting too, and thisone really is helpful thanks! -Ede

Thanks, James. I have saved your tips, and will give it a try.

James and everyone, this is so helpful. Lighting has been my weakness all along. Good lighting can really make the picture. I'll keep everything everyone has suggested in mind. Thanks again. I really appreciate your help. Melanie

I had some success with using a bright blue light from above and a dim grey light from side/front. The lighting preset that comes with Kozaburo's Nene411SE makes a very natural light. You may just change the angles and the intensity a bit.

How about a quickie on three-point lighting 101? Sounds like your turf.