1. Yes. Just select both. Ctrl+Shift+click on each. Appliable both to groups and individual models/primitives/meshes. 2) Sometimes called Z-buffer, IINW, it shows objects in varying shades of grey according to the distance from camera. IE from the viewport. Little triangle beside the Render buttons, and just select Distance Mask. 3) Whatever floats your ... pic. :-) All of us who talked apparently have Photoshop. Never tried Paintshop, but I believe it can be as easily done there. 4) Object Mask shows in white just the selected item(s) and rest of the pic is black. You can find it in the same place where you can find the Distance Mask.

-- erlik