The search for realism in 3D has been, up to now anyway, partly a self-defensive mechanism designed to blow away the critics who say virtual imagery is a poor cousin of photography because it isn't realistic enough. If you think back a century, the critics of photography said it was a poor relation of painting because you didn't need any talent to make an image of whatever was in front of you. And so it goes. On and on and on. No doubt in the next century, when people are making images by telepathy or something, there will be the same arguments all over again. I don't think realism should be the Holy Grail of 3D. I'm a photographer and I can create realism or total fantasy, depending on the tools I choose. For now, 3D trealism is sought after because it's difficult. Once it's easily achieved, it'll become boring and people will be trying to get rid of it. If you have something original to say, you'll find a way to say it, no matter what the current fad happens to be. mac