To solve this problem, I use a terrain or symmetrical lattice instead of an alpha plane. Load your alpha image into the terrain editor and flatten it down to 1 or 2 percent picture and clip it. Then texture and put into your distant background. Same effect, no ghost and no increase in render time because your terrain is so flat. In the volumetric atmospheres, things in the distance get so monochromatically washed that sometimes I just give it a fast and simple preset. Depending on the light and the atmosphere, if I do texture with the same pic I used to clip the terrain, then I sometimes add a little luminosity to show up the texture better. Cheating? There's no cheating....only different tools and different methods. If one way of doing something is labeled 'proper' and another way labeled 'cheating' then I think we just limit ourselves and the possibilities. Especially in our chosen art form!! Monsoon