I've got Daz and have used it occasionally, but I find the file system in Daz3D just too confusing. Most of the time I can't find what I need. I did a few pictures using Genesis and V4 plugins. Turned out okay. I haven't acquired M5. If I could use him in Poser, I would. I still work mainly in Poser. Though Daz has certain features I like, until they find a better way for the file system, it'll be Poser.

To return to the coverart discussion, I've received a number of new requests for covers and all of them said, "No poser figures, please." So,  unless you have one author who does well regardless of her Poser women on the covers, Poser is mostly out for coverart. Sadly. As a publisher, I'd be hunting here for artists wanting to get their name out there... but alas.

Beautiful! Yes, inspires me, too! Talk about realistic!

I agree, but try telling authors that, or most publishers. No more Barbie and Ken as I remember them from my very early Poser days.

Thanks, Lou. Nice to get compliments once in a while. :-)

Jeff, thanks for the compliment :-) I love doing art.

I've got some covers posted in my gallery, Martine.

Answer to several posts. No, it's not just the publishers, it is the authors requesting, NO POSER OR DAZ FIGURES. NO DIGITAL FIGURES.

Yes, for science fiction/fantasy/paranormal I've created dragons to use on covers. You're right, there are no photos of dragons. Authors don't have a problem with the mix of photo and digital fantasy as in dragons. It's the figures they have a problem with.

I own a publishing company and make covers for it. I am paid for my covers, yes, just like any other artist. Were I to do covers for a private self published author, yes, I would charge and the fee would depend on how many hours spent. Or for another publisher. I don't have time for outside projects though. (I have done a few freebies in the past to help out a friend who was stuck without a cover artist, but I wasn't as busy then.)

I agree that figures can be quite realistic, especially if an artist is well versed in using shadow and textures. If I had the time, I'd start producing more and put them on my website for authors to see so they could see that not all Poser/Daz created couples, men, women, are plastic. I'm still on a learning curve myself, though I've had Poser for years. Shadows is something I fight with, so I prefer to make the Poser covers I make for Viola Grace without shadows. The shadows created in Poser when rendering are too pronounced. I turn shadows off as a rule. Hers are fantasy and solo women, so simple and easy to do. I've made some nice ones, mediocre, and some I shake my head at... As long as the author is happy. That's all that matters.

Maybe I should start a website where artists can showcase possible covers for sale? Is that an idea? Something to ponder on. Thoughts, please? No, there wouldn't be a charge or anything. The artist would have his/her own pages and email address where to contact and buy a cover etc. It's just something I'm thinking about this morning, if I can gather enough interest. The way to sell, is also to keep prices low. For instance, I know of a stock photo site where their photos can be pretty much used as is. They charge between 20 and 30 dollars for a photo. If the covers are realistic enough, I bet a ton of publishers would be interested...  And there are publishers out there churning out books by the dozens. I bet they wouldn't mind cheaper prices... Also, an artist needs to be able to put on a title and author name in an attractive font etc. Thoughts?