Hi Folks! bloodsong, as usual, provides good advice. Here's another tack that I pass on to my 3D design & animation students: If you're using a background image from a CD or another program such as Bryce, your Poser figures will not be able to cast shadows in or on the image because it's in an alpha-channel (the short explanation is that the image isn't really in your Poser scene; it just looks like it is). But you can add a default cube object from the Props library to your scene, scale it large (300% or more) and flatten it along the y coordinates (up-down) to create a custom ground, floor, rug, deck, etc. that will display and render shadows cast by your figures as well as its own custom textures. You can use the same technique and flatten the cube along the x or z coordinates to create walls or other structures that can be placed strategically near your Poser figures to catch their shadows. Of course you can also import any of the models in Freestuff and place them along your custom walls or floors and let them cast shadows as well. One well placed prop or "rug" that displays shadows from your Poser characters can create a powerful illusion of real depth when rendered with your background. If you REALLY want to have some fun: import one of the window blinds props available in FreeStuff or the Props Guild, add or change one of the default lights as a spotlight, and position the spotlight behind the blinds so that the light shines thru and falls on your Poser figure. Lower the other lights to convey the sense of a darkened room. Cool!! Be sure that you've enabled all the objects and figures to cast shadows by checking the boxes. Just some thoughts. Hope they help. Peter (Dr Zik)