So, I've been at this for a couple of months now...rendered quite a few images (lots of crap, the occaisional nice piece). But the one thing that just seems to escape me is the realism that is captured by so many of the artists I see here. Now, I am not expecting to be able to buy a few textures, but a few lights and have my renders be instant masterpieces -- but I have tried many, many different approaches and I always seem to get the same "toonish" result. Is it postwork (which I am attempting, but I need lots more practice)? Is it bump maps (most of my human figures have them-- i've checked)? Is it the lights? Is it something in the rendering settings (not that there are a lot in P4, which is what I am using btw)? Or, shudder, is it a combination of all of the above and I have just not given it enough time yet? Just can't get away from that feeling that there is a simple answer (but, I'm probably wrong). best, e.d.