Thanks again for the information - downloading from Daz right now (btw, the site is back up...)

Thanks for the great information! I guess the morph list means that she's not mimic compatable, but for that matter, I haven't used mimic in over a year...

Why don't you work with some magnets to push the hair under the helmet?

A way of doing the "inverse the uv of the rock", is to go to the group edit tool, select the rock (probably only one group, but select all of the groups that apply to the offending area), then click "Invert (or reverse) normals". You should notice in your non-rendered images a very subtle difference from the rock appearing inside out to right side out...

I found the group edit tool very difficult with many props that I've created and imported, so I've used a different technique... Each part (or eventual group) that I want to identify, I assign to a different material in my modeling program. That information is carried over in the *.obj file into poser. Then you use the group edit tool to create new groups, but select the polys by the "add material" button. Then you don't have to do all of the selection using Poser's more limited selection options (in group edit).

You're ok starting in Poser5... Just stick with learning the basics first. I'd go with something along this order: First, learn how to load figures into the scene and pose them (hint - use the dials, do not try to drag the joints around on the screen - you'll go crazy before you learn a thing) Next, Learn how to do basic renders of the figures you pose. Don't worry about all of the settings, just take the defaults at first. Don't forget while learning the pose room (which is really the main place that we all do our work), to learn about the different buttons that you see around the screen... they control the way that your computer displays your work while you're working and can be very helpful. Next, start to learn how to add props first, then conformable clothing (figures actually) to your scene. Then I'd start making more complicated scenes, and learn about lighting and more of the render options. After you feel good about all of that you may want to branch out into more complicated issues including: the Materials room, texturing, modifying models (first with morphs in poser, later with other techinques) Wait on the hair room, the cloth room, and the setup room until you've been working with P5 for a while. You don't need them for starters, and they're somewhat complicated, but they are fun. Before I started in the hair room or the cloth room, I'd also learn a bit about making animations (just the basic stuff), because some of those concepts play in when you make the simulations in those rooms. Hope that gives you at least one suggestion as far as what to work on when.

TSCP's comments are interesting, but most products come with fairly clear information about what use is covered in the product and what is not. Generally purchased products come with a license to use the product but not to distribute the mesh. Unless specifically listed in that document, use in a movie wouldn't be prohibited. Unless you're talking about a huge budget project with the potential to make much money, I'd simply read the use / copyright documents that came with the products, and stick to my understanding of them. I agree about the cool coils!

Ok - Problem solved - as usual, it's operator error! I didn't realize that the prop I had in place (the room) has a ceiling! My lights were positioned above it. Oh well, fixed now.

I find it very interesting when we define ourselves or others as "artists" or "non-artists". I personally fall much more on the belief that we're all artists in some way! We all as humans have a huge drive to be creative and create something that expresses how we feel. Some of us have "it" and are regarded for some reason as "artists" while other don't have "it" and are regarded as something less. Isn't this the opposite of what we teach our kids? When children draw with crayons, we praise them for their effort and work regardless of their skill! We praise their creative little minds despite the squiggles. But sometime we "grow up" and suddenly some people are artists, and others are simply something else. Come on now, if it's creating something from the mind, in any way expresses one's emotions, and pleases the one who created it, it is art! It may not get 10 views, or it may get 500. It may not sell, or it may go at auction for $5000. What others think doesn't matter. It's still art!

The link's not working now...

Ahah! I was getting such a message, but I couldn't find which polys it was. I'll look on the wireframe. Thanks!

The pixel samples setting is very important if you're trying to reduce pixelation on DOF blurs. I've increased that value only when using the DOF setting.

Please make use of this valuable resource! Look back far into the messages here, and you will learn so much information! There are many gems buried in these messages. Search for Geep's tutorials as well as particular words that describe what you're working on at the time. After you've read for a while, you'll have learned much!

Attached Link: http://www.stack.nl/~fidget/pguin/penguin.html

Thanks! These are great!