1) See above *for transparent everything*. And then create a lattice or two where you have branches sticking out. Hmm. this gives me an idea. I'll have to check something else. Be back about that. 2) Soft shadows? Plus increasing the size of everything. (Group with camera, increase the size to 500% or so.) You'll get more haze that way, too. 3) a. try World Space mapping; b. save as .obj and map it in UV Mapper; c. unify normals if you have that option in your modelling program; d. boolean everything together and then unify normals. 4) Don't ask *me*. :-) But you can always try for the market place. this balustrade looks pretty good. 5) I'd put more details on the cliff. If that's a forest (it appears it is, but I'm not certain), put a roof or two sticking above the trees. Or a ruined tower or two.

-- erlik