Aye, Innovator. The true and initiating reason for 3D graphics is animation. That's where the money's at. I've used all of the high-end programs except C4D (gotta give it a shot soon!). And I agree, many of my favorite images are NOT animateable! The most powerful and devastating iteration of 3D-graphics is, and has been for years, the Unreal Engine. Anyone who has seen Unreal Tournament 2003 or Unreal II will understand what I mean. It does things in realtime that rival any pathetic pre-rendered CGI movie (Final Fantasy Movie, AniMatrix, both of which of course I DO love to death)! Still, it has limits, like shadowmaps instead of Ray-tracing, no true self-shadows... But oftentimes, even Unreal isn't very artistic. I mean, it never inspired any emotion in me besides awe. No real anger, no real sorrow, no real love. On the other hand, to complete my comparison, lies Morrowind. Which is not only the greatest RPG ever made, but is also breathtaking and inspiring! Vast mountains, vistas, beautiful foliage, RIDICULOUS architecture that rivals almost ANY art I've seen from Bryce, 3DS Max, or Maya! BUT the graphics in Morrowind are not nearly as complex as the Unreal Engine's, and yet the game is much more evocative and pleasing, and fulfilling. So, technical work doesn't really mean much to my heart. The image is everything. I dont' care what program someone uses, as long as their image is REALLY theirs, and the artist put work into it, and their emotion and technique is true. Most technical work doesn't spark any emotion at ALL in me. Look at the Maya or Lightwave gallery, there's very little real emotion there. But lots of hard work, nonetheless... And my guess, Woodhurst, is that whoever said that to you has a much less impressive gallery than you do! Just ego talking...