When using walls and large props, they often block my lights from properly lighting my figures as intended. Is there a workaround? Do you have to make two passes, ie., render the figures properly lit, without the props/walls, then composite them into the fully lit scene? Or am I missing something more basic? Thanks for any enlightenment.

The obvious choice would be to change your lighting from infinite lights to spots or point lights. That way, you can place them at a specific point in the 3d space, within the walls you have constructed. Infinite lights are only really worth using if you're trying to achieve an outdoor lighting look, where the light source (eg: the sun) is so far away, and give out so much light, that allocating it a specific point is redundant. For other uses, such as studio lighting or interiors with walls and ceilings, infinte lights just don't work. Of course, if you're determined to use the infinite lights, then going to your walls, clicking on the 'properties' tab, and deselcting 'casts shadows' will also knock them out of the game. Hope this is of use to you. Jonthecelt

Go to the wall's prop property. Click on: Cast shadows to turn off the shadow effects. Presto! No shadows from the walls!

Thanks for your replies, glad to learn the solution was so easy! doh! jonthecelt: uh, the choice maybe "obvious" to you, but it wasn't to me, and that's why I was asking.

Sorry, linkdink, I meant no disrespect. I was thinking as I typed. When I said 'the obvious choice', what I meant was, 'the first possible solution that immediately jumps to my mind'... I did NOT mean that you were in any way deficient ion not knowing. There is a hell of a lot I'm still learning about this wonderful beast, and most of what I pass on is simply what I have learned from others here in the forums... and i've been using the damned thing since versino 1, almost ten years ago! :) jonthecelt

no problem... I'm in same boat as you. I keep asking dumb questions too.