is there somewhere with a list of every shader function and the effects each setting has? somethin along those lines?

also a place describing commands for formula node be nice :P node or w/e...used to P6 :x meh

I would look in the manual...good info. I don't know of a simple tutorial on that off hand. Shaders are complex...covers alot. I can tell you that each shader has channels very similiar to other programs, but slightly diff names. You can mix and match just about anything concievable in those channels.It uses a tree hierarchy. Displacement is on another tab. Formulas are entered as math equations and I don't think you want to go there yet, not as well documented or used, I am afraid, there is some info in manual. Channels: color alpha highlight shininess bump reflection transparency refraction glow subsurface translucency

well i got the basics, alot like poser and i'm decent at math, looks (only looked for a min) like the form for vc++ programming, which i also do :) so mostly after the types of things i can type in formulas cos/sin/tan/acos/asin/atan/log functions i've found other than that, just + - * / = so far as for rest of the shaders, the amount of choices and control are starting to look like poser is better for materials :x if poser had a formula node, i might accually give up here :P

found some stuff ^_^ thx

Actually, I think you will find carrara has more options. It is different than poser and there are adjustments to make. If you show it I swear someone can duplicate it in carrara w/ rare exception in the shading department. Poser shaders are often specifically designed with it in mind tho. The shader tree in carrara has more options as far as I am aware, but you really have to learn to mix them in each channel...they are really unlimited...not kidding. Using operators and combinations correctly is key. If you are trying to tweak certain poser textures or duplicate a look...you will have to adjust...there is more there to learn. Formulas are used by some people, but docs are scarce. Docs I can't really show you, but here is something for formulas that is interesting.It's in french. I have played with some of these. The yahoo lists may help you find someone who has worked with these alot. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Carrara/ http://gianp.free.fr/carrara/indexcarrara.html

poser and carrara both have strong and weak sides, shaders in poser, i can make damn near anything, i know that much but at the cost of render time and memory, which i accept carrara is looking more like "it doesn't belong there, don't try" so can't really do dumb things, when many times, its the dumb things that can turn out a desired result anyways on a side note, poser has an "edge blend" node anything that does the same in carrara? or close? its like a mixer, but the part controlling it, controls based on the angle between the normal and camera example, you could plug it into the transparency, and normals facing the camera can be solid, and the normals pointing to the side, would be transparent, depending settings was good for creating glowing spheres and such, so the edges wouldnt have a thick glowing ring thats just 1 thing :P many many uses for it

There are quite a few interesting plugins that might do similiar. That's something I couldn't say. Someone using carrara longer than I could translate comparative features(edge blend).Kinda have to see it also. Honestly, not trying to compare to poser...they are different use programs, but in terms of texturing there are tons you can do just have to learn the shader room. Like any other program.