actually, i've made that thing a couple of weeks ago as a 'present' for a friend. i have already worked my way around this problem. in this image the character has already been postworked, i just left the shadow for demonstration. so, everything is ok by now, and i didn't mean to ask for help. i am sorry for stealing your time, i should have made that clear in my first post already. what you suggest is correct and that's what i've done. the problem is, that, in order to get all shadows right, you have to render it a couple of times plus hours of postwork, i.e. a weekend wasted for something the render-engine should do. this is what i would like to discuss. and the only answer i've found so far is this 'microscope'-thing. (edit: but i have not tested it yet.) what's your opinion about it? once again, i'm sorry for my mistake.:blushing: A.