o.k., thanks for the tips, becco. those glass rendered details look very nice. I used the default sample setting (10 I think; may have even dropped it to 5). it was an outdoor scene, probly with some lights, which I could see in the list but which I couldn't find in the 3d scene. i used an african equatorial sun setting around 11. a.m. will try it with adjustments. the graininess reminds me of a photo taken with very fast film, very brief exposure, poor lens. hence I daresay the manual may have some tips on fixing it up, in terms of camera/lens/diaphragm/film/ISO settings.