I am using Windows 98se. I got the extra ram a few days ago since I saw PSP8 ate more than PSP7, still had lots left but I check it with a prog called Mem Turbo and could see the use from lots of undos, mostly. Well, now that the software is ordered, I shall soon see how long it takes to become addicted, oh, lets say, "mentally and physically dependant", sound better than addicted. : ) Frankly, without an outlet for stress, etc., one that is as satisfying as creative efforts...I would likely be mowing the yard and we only have weedeaters and woods. This graphics stuff beats that in my mind. Yep, learning curves can be trying but the end can be worth it even if not for eveyone else to see. You folks are really helpful. God Bless. TomD'Art.

Dear Friends, Well, I have ordered Poser. The wife saw me walking around with the credit card, thinking should I or should I not..knowing all along I would give in to it! LOL. Past history tells me a lot of time will spent looking around for other stuff like you have mentioned. That is fun..and time consuming. Oh my! What Have I Done. I added a ram module recently and have 512megs. Will this do it ok? Still some wait time I expect with heavy memory programs. Soon it begins, this Poser thing. I might be in trouble but expect to like it. The "hobbyists" posts are encouraging. God Bless. TomDart.

Dave-s0 and all others, I guess I am a software junkie. I bounce around in this pc to get what I want. For instance, for simple bightness/contrast I use AdobePhotoBusiness since the sliders are quicker than the view windows in PSP. Now, I am on a new quest with Poser. Hoo boy! heer we go. God Bless. TomD'Art.

PS to Crescent: A list of pros is good. Thanks for the offer. I will mail you sometime on that. God Bless. TomDart.

Simply put, I have been on many posting sites of various content. Rosity has convinced me this is a Good Place. The tremendous response make me feel, well, sort of warm inside. (Time to adjust the saturation and blend modes!) Transparency does not seem to be a prob since some sort of trust is established in your responses. That is so good. My reception on Photos and PSP has been just as warm but never, never have I ever posted a question with so much instant response. Apparently, that speaks for enthusiasm or something similar. Wow, I see money going out the door and into megabytes....then again, will likely be a good thing. Dogs will not eat the pastels around here. We have kitties. God Bless. TomD'Art.

Elle, thanks for the link...that is to a .gif but going up a page in Google got me there. No time to look it over tonight but will. thanks!! : ) God Bless. TomDart.

A blue computer is good. So, is the visual of your words, dialyn. So, lets say I just bought Poser 5 at a good price, was it a mistake not to get 4 first? Too late now. It is done! So, how is my resistance..low when it comes to creativity spawned needs...needs, needs, (needs?). Well, what do you think? My learning curve is pretty fast for most things, slow lately since my employment is going down the pits and that stress is setting in..yikes again. : ) I do have PSP and have used it some in the few images I have posted on Rosity, both PSP7 and now 8. That I can figure out but am not to the point of finding every key for the right note without a cheatsheet...my piano plays slowly but it plays in PSP. Maybe Poser will be the same..gad, am I weak or what? These internal needs to "do this" take over and that is not beer tallking. God Bless. TomD'Art.

Ok Lon and others so gracioulsy posting, seems there is some excitement here...what is needed for the basics? If I can get Poser 5, for instance, around $200 or so, or poser 4 for a bit less, then what will I suddenly need in extras? In the graphic progs I use, there was a need for lots of plugins. Didn't really need the plugs at the time but do now, having learned a little more. So, what to expect in add-ons with Poser? I suspect that is up to me..but are there essentials? God Bless. TomD'Art.

Yikes! I am amazed at the fast flood of posts to my original post. You see, I am a jeweler, working in precious metals, other metals, gemstones, etc. Yes, it is now a profession but started as a hobby. And I am good at it. In computer graphics, I am just learning direction but Poser has stimulated my creative side to an almost "can't resist" position. MachineClaw mentioned prices on Poser 4, not bad at all for start up. I can do that. Yikes again, likely will cost me more later, as does any hobby that becomes part of my creative outlet. I'll keep the woodworking stuff I have, now, any buyers for the lapidary stuff? No, I will keep that, too. Loved it when I did it. Now there is little room or time for it, still it is "available". This little office room with the computer is the space now. I might be in "trouble" or in for a wonderful experience learning my abilities and limitations with Poser. Your instant responses are a convincing assertion. What is inside, must come out, even if not fit at first for others it will be me at some stage of learning. I will let you know on this thread what happens with the credit card and the software. : ) God Bless. TomD'Art.

Dear PH, My nose is now not so rounded! The real worries are at ease in my thoughts, what will be will be in that regard. Thanks for the comment on that part of things. I am trying soon to do some more shots worth posting, not sure what direction that might take. In that, too, time will tell. God Bless. TomD'Art

Well, after message 19, I DO feel a lot more at home here.: ) No doubt. God Bless. TomDart.

Dear Friends, I have a small question, like the chicken and the egg. In the portrait I presented, there was serendipity in that the subject(me, yikes!) was feeling what the picture attempts to capture. Do you catch the idea first or does the idea come from the subject? I imagine it is a combination since some pics are setup and others perhaps chance and the heart, eye and artistry to see what is happening and catch that at the right moment. Is there a particular direction in this any of you take? God Bless. TomDart.

Dear zhounder, In truth, the pain was both physical and emotional. The emotional is perhaps the greatest. You hit right on that, on the mark. The physical is easier to bear in that case while dealing with the "rest", which is emotional, more than any might know. This has little to do with the image but at this very time, the place where I work decided to close, quit, shut the store. The future is iffy with a foot in another door at least! I didn't think this would show...perhaps the emotion did show, even if the "reason why" is not so important. You have some eye to see more than I saw from this perspective. I was too close to see it showing to the open eye. Thanks so much for your insight and comments. God Bless. TomD'Art.

Dear MzOt, Cropping is a good idea. I see what you mean. That is for tomorrow. I will be glad to get home to work on it. I have tried a little tonight with greyscale and bending the histogram a bit. Not terribly satisfied yet but working on it! I have always felt in many images, black and white says what is said and color often distracts the eye and thought from the image. In my "Tulip Bee view" image, color IS the essence of it with a bit of natural translucency and nice sunlight from the backside, too. Each image has its way. So, I will work on a bw of the portrait and play with crops. As you said, just a bit here or there will make a difference to what catches the mind's eye. I am not a pro at all..but being a jeweler by profession, I do have a few clues as to what is "seen" by the viewer of that work. Those who are just looking for big and gaudy to impress others will not find me satisfactory. Those looking for some heart, well, they might find an answer. The first impression is so vital. The image or object reaches a place in the mind(hopefully!) and that sells the image or item as good, bad or ugly. The first "mind" impression can rarely be changed or reconvinced. That is my thought on it. So, I have direction in that, looking for more in the ethereal and technical means to get there. Thanks so much for the post. God Bless. TomD'Art (aka TomDart)