I'm betting he won't be seen in the store until the end of the month...

Hmmmmmm...let's see (adding to your list):

• Creating/adding a background (if not added in Poser)
• Fixing contrast/brightness, hue/saturation, shadows/highlights, etc. if needed
• Adding my signature to the image

Well, I finally broke down (and am now broke) getting some Pretty3D/Mytilus items I've been longing for for some time.  G  I have a render utilizing some of it going now...lol...

Another excellent image!  And naturally, I have a good many of MaskEdit's textures too.  They are definitely some of the top textures on the market and very affordable.

Wonderful work, operaguy!  And I am in complete agreement with you on this.  I much prefer a more natural look too. 

I also want to add that I am sure glad that some of these newer textures finally have natural looking necks with creases, lines, etc.!  Not to mention, much more natural looking lips.

Well, in my experience, adding AO to a wall has an awful effect on it (I'm sure I'm not using the correct settings, just got to experiment more).  Also, if you have AO added to all your objects/people in the scene already, I don't believe there is a need for also having it on a light too. 

From what I have seen lately in images (at various websites), I think folks are going a little overboard with the AO.  It should be subtle.  Otherwise, you end up with a gray blotchy messes.

I wondered if it had been extended.  And although I thought about jumping on the bandwagon myself, I think I'll stick to Poser 7.

I believe the special actually ended on July 31st. 

L  You must download a lot!!

I have over a terabyte total storage, but one of my drives serves as back up for the other two.  I have yet to come anywhere near to filling any of them to capacity.  (I do know that collecting videos kills storage space quickly.  Learned that because my kids tended to kill their storage real fast with them!)  Mine is mostly content and graphics (both 2D and 3D), so it's going to take me a little longer to get to capacity.

And as Morgano said, BACK UP!!  That is one issue that can never be stressed enough.

I usually end up postworking the shoulders (if exposed and looking bad) in Photoshop.  I use either the spot healing tool or the clone stamp tool...whichever works better taking into consideration shading, etc.  For the most part, it's a pretty quick fix.  (I've tried a couple of other types of fixes but not with much success.  For me, postworking serves the purpose just fine.)

Ummm...I meant the hole (or missing piece rather) in the rendered image you posted at 7:15...not that you have a hole in your head now.  ;-)

If the reflection on the lips are causing problems, I usually go into the material room and turn down the specular texture strength on the lips, if possible (if set up that way).  Otherwise, I end up fixing them in postwork.  (I really wish more vendors would add non glossy makeup versions of lips for their characters.  Not every woman goes around with shiney lip gloss on all the time.)  As for the other issues you are having, I have no idea what could be causing those, especially the hole in the head.  That is just strange.

Happy, happy birthday!  I hope it has been a terrific one!

(It is also my younger daughter's birthday today, she's 19, and yesterday was my mother's birthday.  The end of July is a busy time!) 

Growing old is inevitable.  Growing up is optional.  ;-)

Dimension3d's Morphing Clothes (here in the marketplace) is a great utility for this.  I've found this to be much easier to use than dealing with magnets.