Has anyone discovered a lighting setup that would duplicate the distinct ground shadows that are displayed by default in the posing window? Try as I might I can't get anything that doesn't distort the contrast of the figure. I'd like just the distinct ground shadow with no effect on the figure itself.

Sorry I don't have a lighting setup but I can tell you how to keep those ground shadows. First,import a background picture, I usually use a simple white blank image. Then, after posing your character the way you would like antialias your document, this will smooth out the edges. Paste this to the background and the shadow will now have become part of the background. Finally, render the image(make sure to turn off shadows) and then you should have a fully redered figure but with a shadow at its feet!

Do you mean the shadows directly underneath the figure? They are there primarily to show you where things are, like from a top-down view. Have you tried putting a neutral-color light (not a spotlight) directly above the figure? Changing the Shadow and Map dials for that light may help to get the distinct shadows you want. Also, you might look into changing the shadow's color. Let us know how it goes.

If you turn on the ground plane, the shadows will cast in the directions of the lights. The only problem with this is that it won't work if you import a background because the ground and the background will jumble together. That's something Poser 5 (if it ever happens) might consider. True ground shadows and ray tracing. Melanie

Thanks for your suggestions. I usually render over an imported background, so Kalypso's hint probably wouldn't work. I've put a light directly overhead and set its dials to cast the main shadow, but it creates too much contrast in the figure and fill-in lights don't work well. Others have asked for a default ground shadow that stays visible in renders--too bad it couldn't be implemented.