Sorry if this sounds stupid, but I can't seem to find any info on how to properly connect a Blinn node.  I have a figure with a texture map and I want to have the blinn specular setting.  I can hook the Blinn to the Specular channel, or I can hook it to the Alternate Specular channel, or I can hook to the texure map from the Specular channel and come off of that with the Blinn.  Different ways will require different adjustments, but they all seem to work.  But I keep thinking that there must be a preferred method on how to simply set up blinn specular.  Would appreciate any help.

Most commonly, the Blinn node is connected to the alt_specular channel of your root node.

Thanks

Just a bit of background on this... the Specular channels on the PoserSurface node are inputs to an internal Specular node (just as the Diffuse channels are inputs to an internal Diffuse node).

You (usually) won't want to feed the output of a Blinn node (a different type of specular) into a Specular node, so as hborre says, normally it would go into the direct input channel labelled alt_specular.

You may also wish to consider the fact that reflected light reduces diffuse light from a surface. To model this, you would use the output of the Blinn node, inverted, to attenuate the Diffuse. This is known as CoE (conservation of energy), and helps to prevent the strong edge highlights you get with the Blinn node from creating blown out areas when added to the Diffuse.

Thus, to continue with IsaoShi's thought, you would Color_Add() the output of the Blinn node to the output of the diffuse() node before plugging into alt_diffuse or alt_specular... doesn't matter, they both do essentially the same thing.

This is easier to visualise in a node set (my apologies to GC converts for leaving out those essential bits):

This is not impossible to do using the diffuse_color and diffuse_value channels (we just saw BB do something like it in the Nylon Material thread) but it is simpler and you do have total control over your materials.

Of course, GC is missing here (feels weird to be putting this together without GC - like, what's the point???)

RV's version can be gamma corrected if required... this simple one can't.

What the **** is a blinn node?

In the material room, it comes under New Node -> Lighting -> Specular -> blinn. Has to do with how shininess is interpreted for certain materials (not all). Heaps more accurate (physics) than the inbuilt Specular stuff in Specular_Color and Specular_Value channels.

@ RobynsVeil, if I need to know anything I know where to come, ty :) *

(PS, RobynsVeil is my favourite mentor, without her I could not have done my best render)

You're more than welcome, hun - there's a lot more to get the head around... barely scratching at the surface.

Thanks Guys!  Would have never figured out how to do it this way.  Both methods worked well.  I got Poser Pro 2010 so that I could go the simplest route for GC.   But I can see that there's still alot I need to learn even when some node connections aren't needed.  Yes Siree, there's some sharp people in this place.  Thanks again.

As you see, at the default settings Blinn has more diffuse (spread out) highlights, and the edge highlights are much stronger than the facing highlights.

Edit: there is zero diffuse on the rim light, so the edge highlight is purely specular/blinn.

@ IsaoShi---I disd not realise,  am obliged :) will make a differnce

You're welcome. Now I think you and I should both get some sleep! I know it's Saturday, but all the same....