Is the documentation that comes with the program sufficient for getting started?

Is there a steep learning curve for using it?

Is it any help in eliminating those excessively strong symetrical shadows that plague renders of facial features (see image)?

I really like ECII. It truly does make controlling and setting up lights a WHOLE HECK of a lot easier. The documentation is "per room." Each one of the modules has something to explain the way it works. It's come in pretty handy, but I'm more of the kind to RTFM when I can't figure something out. Also, PCBos has a quick tutorial available on his web site - that was useful too. The interface is a little awkward IMHO, but once you get used to it, it works very nice. I wouldnt say the learning curb was too steep. I havent used it for any close up renders, so I really wont be able to answer your question on shadows. Sorry. Anyway, I really do like this product. I dont know how I did it before Hope this helps. ~ brent ~

Excessively strong symmetrical shadows aren't as much of a problem if you don't have such an excessively symmetrical pose for your figure. The nostril glow is more of a problem than the shadows.

I have to disagree with you there. That symmetrical shadow problem shows up even when the pose is not symmetrical. I would say its them most one of the most common problem with Poser renders. Take a look at some of the heads posted in the Market Place and you will wince.

If you look at classical figure paintings you rarely see a strong shadow on both sides of the nose (see illustration above). Same goes for portraits - equally shading both sides of the nose is cardinal sin.

Good point on the nose glow, but I can fix that in Photoshop without much trouble.

I, for one, am finding it to be a really steep learning curve, but then, I'm not very good with lighting.I'm afraid I'm not going to get much out of the program until someone comes up with a really basic tutorial. I've been tempted to send the author a long list of my questions, but think I'll just wait and see if he produces an entry level tutorial to go along with the overview on his web site. He certainly is quick to respond and seems to go way out of his way to help his customers.

Attached Link: http://www.pcbos.nl

Great show, Classic, to bring in a painting- shows how far has computer to go..

I, likewise, simply couldn't resist and added a painting of my own, a close-up of a portrait I made of a Brazilian art-collector.
As you can see, neither the painting nor the Poser figure have those symmetrical shadows you were talking about- logical, because I'm a painter, and I wrote ECII to create the kind of Environments I was missing so much in the computer.

Special for the first questioner: The one I used in the rendering, was one out-of-the-box (from the "SunDown" Folder, in fact -both Bounce and Sky). I then took the whole
Environment to the LightWorkshop, turned Sun and Sky to get more light on the front of the face; toned the whole thing down with a tug on the Saturation slider; then did the same to the Bounce Lights. 1,5 Minutes from nothing to end, SnapShots taken at each change. I finally saved the lot as a "Total" SnapShot Def, so I can recreate the whole Environment, complete with all different steps that went into the making of it, later on with one click, and continue refining if wanted (I could have put a colder backlight on her shoulder, for instance).
Oh- by the way: model used is standard Vicky2.

Cheers,

Paul Christiaan

Thanks Lyndon, for the trust in me. I hope I deserve it- and sorry, I read your message before I posted the rendering-
please DO post me a list with questions! I learn from helping, UI is REALLY steep learning :-)-

BUT. *****

Are you aware of the helpfiles? Forgive me, but I fail to see how I can get more basic than with those "PhotoReader in 4 easy steps", and so on, helpfiles.
Perhaps the problem is you can't see the RED Question Sign, top right in almost every module?- if that is the case, set your videocard to SMALL Lettertypes (96 dpi)- or download my "Eye-Corrector" (here, proPack Section freebies, DAZ; later my own site as well).

Anyway, if you need help, post your questions to
tech@pcbos.nl

-it's a pleasure to help anybody get the most out my ECII; I mean that.

Cheerio,

Paul Christiaan