heya; mike, i did put in a golden brown gradient instead of the texture map in the weeds... but will try the ambient setting. yeah, that IS weird with the plant transparencies... but it seems to me you can get blue goo in them if you use your own transparency maps. ::sigh:: cool, jarm, let's see it when it's done! :) gee, nedrah... i wanted just this bright hot hazy light, but... oh well, doesn't hurt to try other atmospheres :) thanks guys!