Well sort of new... Some of you know I have a new machine...but to re-cap:

My old 32 bit machine would not render Howie Farkes scenes at all.... BUT now I can render HUGE 150 dpi images of Stoney Creek with my new high end graphics computer with win7 64 bit!!  (thrilled I don't even have to buy the "pro" version. Mine is 8.1 and I do NOT use DS, or even Poser.... and IF I use poser with it, that will be in the FAR future.... I have a lot to learn! (I add my characters via photoshop).

Carrara took about 3 hours at "Best" aa to do this:
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=2553850
... I am so so so happy and don't need to upgrade Carrara to the "Pro" because the 32 bit works super fine! wooo hoooo!! runs around dancing in delight  (oh and that one is actually HALF the size of the original that has a link under that image)  :)

BUT because I don't know to ask "Help" the right way...I am coming to you all...

1. Is there any way to lock the SUN to the camera, so that when I move the camera around in Howie's scenes, I will still get optimal lighting? (if that makes any sense?).   I also had tried some years ago, when I first bought Carrara and Howie's scenes to MOVE THE SUN... that resulted in really awful lighting... so either his lighting is limited to the views as he presents them, or I am uneducated. :)  It's ok, be honest!

2. Is there any way to save "camera presets" for a view I like? (like in poser) or is it just better to save the SCENE FILE like I have been doing?

3. and MOST IMPORTANT... is there any way to make the "assembly room"  show in SHADED 3D instead of wire frame, so I know where the heck my camera is looking without having to do dozens of test renders?

Actually, instead of using the "test render" icon thingy...I have been doing a whole scene render with NO AA on, at Howie's original scene file size...that takes about a minute on my new machine... BUT it would be so much easier for modifying the scene and/or moving my camera to be able to see in "shaded" preview.

Oh and if you can explain to my dyslexic brain with pictures it helps! (either screen caps or very descriptive words).

Thanks for your patience!

Lyne

Life Requires Assembly and we all know how THAT goes!