Surfacing/Lighting Juggle

[glassefx]

I would like to ask you all what you all do when you are rendering a scene as far as settings go... It seems no matter where I start (surfacing usually with known presets) and (those are applied to the main focal point so I can adjust light/surface around that most important surface. But then I end up in an endless back and forth with light color intensity and surface tweaking to no end usually.. ( well it feels like i am setteling for something inadiquate somehow)...

What is your methods?

Some Output would be great.


SkoaL!

[richpr]

Here's some general steps:

1. Turn off ambient lighting
2. Setup a nice balanced 3 point light system around your object with a bit of color in the lighting. Use at least one area light and some spots.
3. Tweak surfaces... (Keep diffuse levels reasonable 50-70%)

4. Radiosity (optional and for the patient ones only)