Oh, if only it were that simple! I've left it OVERNIGHT and still it remains frozen. I've come to listen for the warning signals from my computer that it no longer wants to "crunch" that particular file and thus know when to Ctrl,Alt,Del the bugger. File size shouldn't be an issue because I'm using .jpg files for my texture/bump/transparency maps that are saved at low resolution (2 or 3 vs. the 8 to 10 it can be) just to expressly keep the size down. TygerCub (sigh... toodles off to fuss at computer some more)