Out of curiosity which types of lighting do you prefer to use when rendering various scenes and why? For example, if it is a portrait style render do you prefer indirect lighting, IBLs, or something different? What about a scene with  just nature items like ground, rocks, trees, plants and other things of that sort? There many other types of scenes and I'm interested in knowing what you use and why? Or have you found a particular set you really really like and don't use anything else?

I see some pretty amazing renders that blow my mind away.

For outdoor renders I tend to use Vue these days which leaves Poser for my indoor renders and over the years I have purchase loads of lighting sets but these days my default scene always uses 'i13 Professional Lights with Light Ease' by Ironman13 and Fugazi1968 available here at Rendo.  Most of my scenes involve figures and this set lets me place the light set up around the figure allowing me move, rotate and change the strength of the all lights at once by dials or moving the sphere they are parented to.  They seem to work well both with 'room based scenes but are also very good with portrait shots.  The only other illumination is often just light emitting objects and the light set works well with these.

In nearly all of my renders I use this set with nothing but modifying the position or strength, although on rare occasions I do play with the individual lights changing the shadows and other parameters.  The only time I do not use them is some of my space renders which use a space sphere and requires different lighting.

My latest render is here, the villa used comes with a lot of light emitting objects but the light set is used to illuminate and pick out the figure with the intensity reduced to blend with the scene.

If anyone is interested they are on sale at the moment.

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/i13-professional-lights-with-light-ease/98643/ 

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/?thread_id=2856062&#msg3986331

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/?thread_id=2856062&#msg3986331

I forgot that thread but I do remember the examples you posted in there and they are impressive but then I would expect little else from you.  Did remind me though, I do sometimes add point lights to lamps and the like in a room or turn them into emitters.

For outdoor renders I tend to use Vue these days which leaves Poser for my indoor renders and over the years I have purchase loads of lighting sets but these days my default scene always uses 'i13 Professional Lights with Light Ease' by Ironman13 and Fugazi1968 available here at Rendo.  Most of my scenes involve figures and this set lets me place the light set up around the figure allowing me move, rotate and change the strength of the all lights at once by dials or moving the sphere they are parented to.  They seem to work well both with 'room based scenes but are also very good with portrait shots.  The only other illumination is often just light emitting objects and the light set works well with these.

In nearly all of my renders I use this set with nothing but modifying the position or strength, although on rare occasions I do play with the individual lights changing the shadows and other parameters.  The only time I do not use them is some of my space renders which use a space sphere and requires different lighting.

My latest render is here, the villa used comes with a lot of light emitting objects but the light set is used to illuminate and pick out the figure with the intensity reduced to blend with the scene.

If anyone is interested they are on sale at the moment.

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/i13-professional-lights-with-light-ease/98643/ 

That is a really great image!

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/?thread_id=2856062&#msg3986331

Thank you so much for that link. I love your renders. I may have tinker in Poser this weekend if I get the time. You both have given me fresh ideas.

My lighting varies depending on the scene that I'm working on.  I'm a big fan of point lights and light emitting objects and I really light using lights to add color to my renders. I don't mess around with too much realism and my lighting reflects that.  I'm all about bright colors and contrast.

Example: of Point used to help increase the blue lighting from the spine and the sphere. Object emitting light used on the dragon's spine and the sphere the dragon is holding. A spot light was used to show more of the face. Here lighting is used more for "painting" the character.  This also uses BagginsBills enviroment dome.

Point light only for the the car lights (headlights and red and blue lights) and BB's Environment dome.  I often use the dome without an image or gradient.

Ifinite light, Baggins Bills Environment dome with a gradient.

Painted dragon with spotlights (neck, belly, side) and point lights (eyes, mouth)

Point light for the car lights and spotlights for the character

Out of curiosity which types of lighting do you prefer to use when rendering various scenes and why? For example, if it is a portrait style render do you prefer indirect lighting, IBLs, or something different? What about a scene with  just nature items like ground, rocks, trees, plants and other things of that sort? There many other types of scenes and I'm interested in knowing what you use and why? Or have you found a particular set you really really like and don't use anything else?

I see some pretty amazing renders that blow my mind away.

Hi there Really depends on more factors,usually I do render with Poser Firefly,but when I'm looking for bit better render then I do rather render with 3DS MAX 2014(EDU version) and V-RAY,there I can easily light scene without the single problem,in Poser depends on scene

But here are few renders

3DS MAX 2014 with V-RAY render(render took only 6 mins to render)

 Now few Poser Pro renders(In this scene I've used 2 suns and several point lights)

In this particular scene I've used only IDL soft boxes and one point light for shadows

In this scene I've used 2 infinite sun and one point light 

In this render I've used only IDL soft boxes with low Ambient value and one sun

Again in this render I've used only IDL soft boxes and one sun 

On this I've used only BB EnvSphere(textures are stock V4 with EZSkin applied)

And here are few interior renders(usually I do use 2 infinite lights with several point lights)

I would recommend to start with one infinite light and then adding more lights and I don't use IBL light as this doesn't work with Gamma Correction and I would add to end,I would use BB EnvSphere and if you not using Gamma Correction,please start,this will make yours life and lighting much easier 

Hope this helps

Thanks,Jura

Oh wow you all do amazing work. I need to increase my lighting techniques and skills. 

The renders from FightingWolf have reminded me that I also use point light for headlights on vehicles or spot lights if I want to throw a 'main beam' into the distance.  Same principle if my character has a torch or light attached to a weapon as the spot allows you to change the characteristics of the beam.

Not the best render, but it shows the principle.