Great work with the Iray renderer! I am still fighting with Poser 6, but at least have the time now that I am retired😀

I come to say hello on your superb picture of the day while waiting to be able to resume my artistic activity :star2 :

I like the lighting.. strong directional lights tend to burn the subject.. It's what pro photographers avoid.. I know many do it in daz and poser but that does not make it look really right.. Here you have a well lit scene with soft highlights.. I LOVE IT!

Thanks for the encouragement... though it will be a challenge to achieve a decent chiaroscuro!

She is a beautiful character, great work on the image my friend.

Beautiful little elf,wonderful scene,excellent done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beautiful creation !!! I love her outfit too !!!

Very beautiful work!

stunning character and render, like that subtle light hitting her side

Beautifully realized Joe! Bravo! Shes wonderflly poised, and just plain gorgeous. I've found that struggling with lights in Iray, sometimes using the scene lights only provide a more dramatic effect you mentioned... of course they take FOREVER to render. Also you can get a good idea of how they'll work if you use the IRAY mode for the viewport to get a preview of the image, If you already know this stuff, I apologize for the redundancy, I had to figure it out on my own... but I'm slow on the uptake LOL! Grand work Sir! Just Grand!

Praise indeed! Thank you for the encouragement, and the tips.

Excellent

excellent

great character and lighting

Looks very nice! A little more color would have been good for your new graphics, everything looks so pale!

Thanks Ute... i did a version with 3dlight too, which was the opposite (oversaturated - looked like a Trump tan!)... I figured this was the better option (being the "fair folk", they should be fair-skinned I guess!)

Excellent work

I'm twice blown away !! 1 - what you were able to accomplish with Daz 3 and 2 - what you accomplished first time out of the box with Daz 4. This piece evidences a powerful and solid foundation for the principles of good graphic imaging.

If you're having workflow issues, good !! Once in a while artists need to be shaken out of their comfort zone !! :-D

I completely sympathize with finding content. It's mind-boggling that in 2020 Daz can't find stuff in its own database. I could create a better interface in the dark, standing on my head, with one arm tied behind me. But Daz has never asked me :-/

I did scratch my head at the "illogic" of iRay ?? That indicates a false premise leading to illogical conclusions. I place myself at your complete disposal, Joe. Why bang your head when a question will suffice? If you find yourself asking, "Why the hell does Daz do this?" or "How the heck do I do this?" I'll be happy, repeat happy, to answer. Don't hesitate. Life doesn't have that kind of time :-)

Thanks for the kind words and encouragementRtesian...and the offer of help is much appreciated too. I may well be availing myself of it as I delve deeper into DS4.

My comment on "illogical" iray is based on my preconceptions/habits I guess; I'm used to sticking a light in a scene, setting shadows and being able to predict what the result will be. Iray (in its default settings at least) seems to do lots of background "magic" so the final light in the render differs significantly from how the scene is set up (probably 'cos I don't yet understand what its doing!).

I actually love your Iray "attempt" here although I'd qualify it as much more than that. The natural light is really beautiful. I hope you stick with Iray -- I'd really love to see what else you do with it. :)

Thanks Bella, much appreciated.