Thank you my bro's and sis's for the great input!

KEEP THIS THREAD GOING AS LONG AS POSSIBLE - we're getting some good info here!

I just downloaded METAL FIXER and the tuts that go along with it - so I'm going to install DS and see what's what.

If the people . objs / .3ds objects that import into BRYCE 5.01 are compound objects where they can be "ungrouped" - and then mats could be applied to each part (hair , eyes, lips, skin, etc.) - Then that would be cool - but an ungroupable figure that complex is not easily found.

DAZ STUDIO functions on my computer except that it does not render an image when the render command(s) are accessed. Again - it could be the open GL issue - I'm not sure.

I tried a copy of Poser 4 / Pro that I borrowed for test purposes and it worked, but since that copy does not belong to me and was a "demo" of sorts - I can't use it, so I have to stick with DS for now.

I can export figures with DS - so perhaps I could work with each part of a figure (hair - clothes - etc.) individually - and then apply / join and mat the parts in BRYCE to form complete figures?

That seems a bit long winded and extremely involved to attempt though...