I'm actually sharing with you another hobbyists point of view.... all the extra tools like blender and substance painter actually complicate the process ( just more to learn ). I do understand what you are asking, and I'm trying to help simplify it for you so understanding the advanced tools need not be tedious or complicated.
The simple answer would be use 4k images because they create sharper detail on the character, and you just need paintshop pro to do any tweaks.
but in order to edit the images effectively to get the details you really want ...you want to take a moment to understand how CC3 reacts to the image detail. For example, the higher resolution you have on your base image, ie 4k the sharper the lines ....the sharper the lines on your main photo image, the better you will have a conversion to a normal map, further you will know how to edit the normal map in paintshop pro cue shadows and how iclone plays with sharp images vs dull fuzzy images vs shadows, ( each of which has it's place in a high quality render ) Then understanding how the lights can completely highlight or conceal all the details you added via normal map. - And if your lighting is wrong, no amount of detail will make your image a higher quality, if your lighting is on point, you don't need much detail to get the shot you want.
Iclone and cc3 are like onions, layers and layers of tools built up on a foundation of basic concepts. If you understand those basic concepts, the advanced tools become intuitive and are surgical instruments, without those basic concepts, the advanced tools are simply a fantastic set of presets that you don't have to tweak much to make your work look great.
The art of illusion is in the shadows!
☯🐉
"To define Tao is to defile it" - Lao Tzu
Edited
4 Years Ago by
planetstardragon