Oh my bloody hell, I swear I am not usually this daft!!!! MAYA! Sorry!! (No excuse but usually when I trouble shoot I ask on specific forums, didn't really register is was general discussion. Sorry for my idiocy!!!! X <--(See! finished it with an X and everything XD)
I usually go with defensive casters. In Oblivion I made a custom class that wore heavy armor, used mostly melee for attack and could heal. In WoW I played a Holy Paladin. I never keep the same name for any character in RPGs and I'm usually neutral/good.
I get the same issue sometimes after using cap poly between n-gons. Usually I apply a Edit Poly modifier and reset x-form and it solves the issues. But I'm not sure it's the issue you have because it doesn't usually affect all the object, just part of it.
I usually use a value from 2 to 4 depending on the width of the angle and the look that I want. I use 1 if I want a straight angle. Usually 2 is enough if it is a small angle. If you plan to subdivide it use a value of 2 because it would be the same as adding them manually ( fencing).
I think it's looking good, I would revisit the abdomens though. They're too uniform and also, as far as how many there are, usually the top two are right under the pecs. And you currently have a 10-pack abs and the usual human has 6, at most 8. Keep up the good work!
The fact I don't usually use xNormal is my problem :p In fact, I tend to stay away from high end baking and programs, and usually make as much as I can by hand. When I use xNormal, my maps either come out garbled, or pitch black, for example:
Unfortunately Photoshop is a photographers oriented software - and they have rather straightforward workflow - they rarely need to perform such a complex tasks as texture artists usually do. I have doubts that Adobe gonna one day change this run of things - photoshop is an industry standard and real changes in this case…
I don't know about integrated graphics but usually theres a toggle to turn it off in the bios options, when your booting up press whichever button it prompts you usually delete or f8 and take a look around for bios for anything that says graphics or gpu or integrated graphics or somesuch and turn that off.
for leaves strangely enough the overcast day thing is the opposite of what I want usually haha. I usually will try to find the leaf/branch I want and then hold it up against the clear blue sky. Try to be completely in shade though so that you don't get weird highlights on your subject.
I'm with Renaud. I usually want people to stick to the original material more closely, but that's usually because when they don't, it gets all fucked up. I think you're doing a fine job of capturing the "Tank Girl" look, while giving it your own spin. She looks great btw!