thanks Chipp - I worked thru it... very well put together... my mapping didn't work out the way yours did, if I changed the Z to 0, it was fine... is it possible this is different between V5i and V5esprit?

this will come in handy, thanks.  my next task is to create a good concrete texture for a street curb.  I will probably apply something w/ this variable transparency/underlying material thing.  any tips would be appreciated.  Also, it's got to have concrete joints every 8' on the curbs... so it will have the bump doing that as well.