For that I think carrara is a better choice. Good render, more file support and modeling. While VUE has it's strengths, modeling isn't it, you have to get vue5 infinite to get better file support. Really don't like their almost non-existent export. I do like the basic animation (vue) feature they have. It is very easy and quick. That should be something a program uses as a base then you can adjust it individually. You probably want c4p tho. Certain effects can cause problems if you use an alpha channel, but it is better in version 4 than 3. C4 also has good terrain and sky...plants are weak, but there are programs and plugins to help with that. They also have a terrain painter that works well with a tablet. Which you don't hear much about, but I like...would like to see more tablet usage in all these 3d programs. Particularly modeling related.

No need to think outside the box....
    Just make it invisible.