The other day, I accidentally found a really great outfit for M3. It would really suit the type of work I'm currently doing, but I debated over whether or not to purchase. Why? Because the creator had modeled a demon face into the belt and into collar of the outfit. The demon won't fit in with the type of art I try to produce.

It made me curious about the artistic vision versus merchandising angle. Is it more important for a merchant to preserve his artistic vision or rather make his product accessible and useable to more customers. 

Another example is the Super Freaks outfit for Apollo Max (RDNA), I've seen people requesting this type of clothing for Apollo, but they probably have missed this set because it's marketed toward those interested in monsters/gothic type images. The clothing items look like they would have a much greater field of application (read: in shopping cart now).

Hmmm... I would guess that depends on the merchant, and why they do what they do.
Some merchants seem to have their own niche market and cater to them, others tend to go for more general audience.

My guess is that many of the merchant pieces on rendo come out of artistic inspiration, and become pieces for sale. Many things here seem more pictopresque in various ways.
On the other hand things on DAZ and on CP seem to be a tad more general audience oriented.

I could be wrong on this, but I think on DAZ, for example, DAZ people get to have  the final word on whether something will be sold or not, and it has to fit their merchadising ideas. Here on rendo the guidelines are much looser, and it's more resemblant of on 'consignment sales'.

would you mind sharing which outfit you're talking about... there's an off chance I may want to get it too :)
I agree with you totally on the super freaks clothing... I never knew it existed, and it could easily be more mainstream (well, judging by looking at the promo images)

The other outfit for M3 was the Gothic Prince, also at RDNA and I think by the same maker of the Super Freaks Clothing. I ended up buying it (of course), hope I can morph the demon into a dragon or hide it altogether.

I always think this style of clothing compliments so much of what AerySoul produces... and as far as I know, they've only done one outfit for a male figure.

yeah, I wish AerySoul (and few other top notch vendors) made more male outfits. :-

I wonder if that demon couldn't be morph brushed (smoothed) into a round or a faceted gem.

Curious that you mentioned DAZ...  This is an example that perfectly demonstrates what I'm trying to say.  La Reine Des Coeurs by AprilYSH--I ran into this outfit dozens of times in the store. I thought it cute and mentally bookmarked it should I ever want to do a fantasy image involving hearts.

Saw the skirt alone in an image in DAZ gallery and I was scrambling to discover who made the skirt and where could I buy it. It is phenomenal and probably one of the most versatile, unique pieces of clothing I've ever purchased.

preserve his artistic vision or rather make his product accessiblePersonally I try to do both and also factor in techncal constraints.

Most of my designs start from sketches - which are passed to a modeller, they can see if a door would really open like that , or wether extra details would drive the polycount so high it's not worth it.  Then collabrativly you figure out what will work and what won't. 

Most of the time theres still around 80-90% of the original idea in there. 

BTW-  if it's stylised suits of armour you are after have a look at Lygher Xeros stuff.  

I must have the lens cap on too (loved Pinky and the Brain), where is Lygher Xeros stuff at?

the face probably has its own material group so ya could just make it invisible in the mat room

Quote - the face probably has its own material group so ya could just make it invisible in the mat room

You were exactly right, the skull, horns and teeth were all separate materials and could be made invisible.

Wonder how many people passed on the sale cuz they didn't know that?

I've used the Apollo Max mosnter clothing in non-horror settings - just changed the materials to give it a different look, and not use all the pieces of clothing together. 

I think it is possible to get mileage from something which you feel is useful, even if not immediately so out-of-the-box, so sometimes I would contact the vendor and ask.  I've mostly got  replies that helped in my buying decision.

Attached Link: http://xero-web.net/