I've been trying to figure this one out. I do my art for art's sake, but sometimes I enter contests, such as the Halloween Contest at Renderosity, and the monthly contests at the 3DCC. So far I have been using what appears to be the default rendering options, except I use the New Window option. Sometimes I choose to Render Shadows, but often that makes the picture too dark.

When I save the pictures, I usually use the default settings, as you can see on this screenshot.

I usually pump up the quality to 75-95, depending.

That would usually result in a picture like this. My questions: 1.) Should I use different rendering options? (Larger size image, etc.) 2.) Should I maybe use higher quality when saving the image? 3.) I know many people advise saving a copy in PhotoShop format if you have PhotoShop. You can always save an image in jpg for a contest, whatever. Is there one set of ideal choices for one application, and another for other situations? I noticed many contests have precise requirements for the image dimensions, file size, resolutions, etc. I would greatly appreciate your input here.

OK, but let's use some examples. 1.) I'm going to submit a render/picture for the 3D-CC monthly contest. 2.) I'm entering a Renderosity Contest 3.) Someone else's contest. 4.) I want to submit a great looking picture to my Renderosity gallery. Do any of these examples call for a different strategy in rendering, saving, etc?

The last renders i do normally in a new window resolution 1250 x 1250 with 250 pixel/inch and save in *.tif format with this i can do any scaling or else in a picediting program, and save from there as jpg. in my opinion *.jpg from poser is very bad

I save as .tiff format because you get a great alpha mask that you can select only the rendered figures/objects with. Great for compositing images. As for render size, I usually go with atleast a 1200xwhatever image. A larger image is better, even if you have to scale it down, because more detail is retained. Shadows.... the render itself dosen't cause bad shadows, what you need to do is adjust the map size on the lights, and turn the shadow value down from the default 1. I use a 2048 map size and .3 shadow value.

OK, so far it seems .tif format is preferred. If I wanted to submit an entry to a contest, then I could load the tif image (say in PhotoShop), reduce it in size if necessary, then save in jpg?! Is there any reason for not using the .pdf (native PhotoShop) format? Or don't you have PhotoShop? I'm just trying to figure if the tif format has more features available than pdf. Is there a concern about how big the tif files are? My 20GB hard drive gets a bit full sometimes.

OK, I followed your advice here. I loaded a pz3 file, and rendered in the higher resolution. Then I saved as a tif file. I loaded the file in PhotoShop, then reduced the size back to 640x640. I had a little surprise there. I didn't find an option to save as or export to jpg. Out of frustration, I used an option to save a copy, and got a choice to save as jpg from there. I have two desires: 1.) To save a great image 2.) To be able to submit to a contest... Sometimes the quality of one can suffer from the desire to submit a contest entry. How am I doing? I still need to fiddle with the whole concepts of shadows.

To be able to save a .tiff as a .jpg in photoshop you need to delete the Alpha channel

OH, or you can save a copy, then use the jpg option.

If I understand your concern correctly, you're looking for render/saving settings to satisfy your two primary desires: to save a great pic and for contest submission. I assume you mean to save in the best resolution you can get and at a compressed size to upload. If I got that right, I would only concern myself with resolution--a great pic to save. I ALWAYS render/save at best resolution, usally tiff format (I refer to it as an archive master). From a pic editior, you can adjust the master and save it separately to meet the other (contest) requirements.

Thanks for all the great tips, folks. I have started playing with lights settings. I couldn't quite understand if I should have the same settings for all the 3 default lights. I tried to make those same settings on all 3 lights, and it didn't seem to take. This is what I got as a result anyway. (I saved at the higher resolution and size, and as a tif. Then I went to PhotoShop, reduced the picture, and saved a copy as a jpg.)

The above render was using the Render Shadows Option. This one is without the Render Shadows Render Option. Which is my best choice here, considering that I followed your advice on setting up the lights?

I had followed your advice about resetting the lights. But after I was done, I checked the settings again, and they had all changed. Is this because I tried to do the same settings for all lights? Remember these are the default lights. I didn't add any.

The default lights are locked at 1024 max value, double click on the max size dial, and change the max value to 2048 and the vale to 2048. You will have to do that for each light. A handy tip: once you have your lights how you want them, save them. Easier then resetting them each time :) -Trav

I keep trying to reset light #1 to 2048, but it keeps going back to the default size. What's up with that?

The default lights are locked at 1024 max value, double click on the max size dial, and change the max value to 2048 and the vale to 2048. Change the Max Value to 2048, and what other value to 2048? I keep changing it, but it won't stick.

Double click the actual dial, not the number. A dialogue box appears. Change 'Max limit' and 'Map size' values to 2048 and click ok. Your map value should be changed.

When I say 'Map size' I mean 'Value'

By Jove, I have it. Thank you very much for your patience and assistance, all of you!! You are the best!!