I just read the tutorials Gebe. I don't have Vue at work, so I'll have to play when I get home. Question...On the single branch tutorial you show us how to basically hide the other three portions of the maple. Would it be possible to edit the original image (the flat one with 4 pieces pointing to the corners) and trim out just the one portion needed, and then apply the technique used on the coconut branch? If edited and resized to 512x512, would the image's graininess cause the render to look poor?

Thanks!! I'll see if I can post something in the next few weeks for you to look at and give pointers on. Awesome!

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=315652&Start=1&Artist=aken%5Faton&ByArtist=Yes

Before I start....I am a NOVICE at this at best. IF you want realism, and don't want to burn the time getting generated in view, then take a picture of a lemon with a digital. Do it at a high resolution, and then pu,ll it in to Vue as a material. You'll get realism wiht ease there. I personally feel that making a material is an artform in itself. I think that the artist's perspective can REALLY be seen in "homemade" materials that are found in an image. Yes, it can be time consuming as hell...but the material is unique to your own "mind's eye" and a part of you (essentially). If you are on a timetable (like the image is for work), then you are definitely right to want to have time efficiency. Have you tried exporting your Animation:Master or DarkTree stuff as a BMP or JPG?? YOu could then pull them into Vue with no problem...thereby killing the time issue. Just some thoughts from a novice. Thanks!! Akenaton

It just donned on me what Donhakman was referring to (no pun intended). The ground!! Don, I mixed a dark and cracked nonrefclective material with chrome and then started sifting through the "bump maps?" until I had the effect that I wanted. I cannot stand it when I want a reflecting ground and end up with a gazillion stars being reflected on the ground. Something that I still have to work on in the learining department. Glad you liked it. If you want it email me, and I'll zip the material and send it to you so you can see what I did. Thanks, Akenaton

Thank you Djeser. I understand the walk away theory. It has worked for me in writing music on the guitar and in playing video games for years. I have been extremely hesitant to sit down and REALLY work on lighting and things due to PC restrictions (IE Speed and cruching power). I'll be finished with my newer (and over clocked machine soon) SO I will sit down and really be able to learn and/or burn without the insessant crashes and lockups. the old beast just doesn't have the guts anymore to process this newer software properly. I have been intrigued by the lighting and terrain features for some time, but again every time I put together something....CRASHOLA. I am "pretty" patient but not in that arena. Thank you again for the tutilage!!! Hopefully you'll see me grow in my future posts. Thanks all!! Akenaton

Thanks Rokol, I tried pulling my mermaid over in OBJ format, but lost most of her dynamic hair and ALL of the textures. My feeble attempt at skin is pretty bad in Vue. If you have any pointers on how you do it, I'd be much obliged!! Thanks again! Akenaton

Radial design?? I don't follow. Where are you seeing that? By the way Guitta....I found your site on the net....You ROCK. Time permitting....I'll be surfing your tuts like mad. Glad you are here.

Thanks Gebe! I am the same way about my images...I just never feel totally satisfied. I am going to try the PZ3 idea as soon as possible. I really need alot more practice with these programs.

Thanks Sharen, they just don't look as high quality as what I see in some of the galleries here. I was hoping to get the figures that I pull over from Poser to look more life-like. I DID get a great tip from gela though....I have been pulling my figures in as .obj's instead of .pz3's. I'll have to try that tonight when I get home.....time permitting. Thank you for the info!!

also.....do you think that my work is appealing/worthy enough to get into this field?

I'd also like to know about this. What kind of education and/or experience do these places usually want? What is a hobby now, would be a GREAT job I think!! I am 30. Thanks, Aken_aton

The reply that I gave you earlier I guess doesn't really fit here. I was using Poser 5 when I exported my character as a .vob file. Don't remember if poser 4 has a .vob export function. I have had SO-SO luck in the past with file convertors but some produce a semi-trashy product. Poser 5 seems to have this down to a science now, so if you can afford to drop the dough I'd get it. If not...My new PC will be complete and overclocked by the end of next week, so if you want a hookup...send me some .pz3s and I'll be glad to convert a few for you. Good luck!! Akenaton