Ulead PhotoImpact is the best,woz2002. I have been using it for many years now and still prefer it over the other major 2D softwares. Does things in half the time. :-) As for Vue. I have Vue4 and it crashes alot...My Bryce5 doesn't have those problems. My Poser 5 doesn't have those problems. Don't understand, unless it's as they say above that it's a programming problem. Vue is VERY touchy and I don't think I will be doing much with it outside of making landscapes to use in Bryce or Poser.