Thanks for the encouragement and taking the time to look and comment. This has been a huge diversion that I can't quite shake, I hope I can at least take the story to the end of this chapter. 'Cause, while I was making this up as I went along I have since projected a much longer story line. Too enormous to do at the current pace. Cast of thousands, that sort of thing, you know? But we've all got stories we want to do someday? Right? The smoke for the Drone Trooper is made with Peter Norby's (Trapcode) Particular, a plug-in for After Effects 6.5. Does an array of different particle effects pretty quickly. I've barely scratched the surface with it. Finding a practical way to learn his plug-in was another inspiration that started this Liquid Comic, that and a lot of 3D objects that weren't getting used. cheers to all