repllicand, thank you for your opinion.  not only have others in this thread said the same thing, but I am  almost sure others are thinking it!

It's just that I have this path laid down for me that might succeed in a workflow for an artistic enterprise that can fund my music composing and drama writing. I am nearly there in Poser. But it is too weak on the payoff end of things. 

It is very likely that getting my hands on Max, working with it for lighting and rendering, and encountering the limitations of this particular shortcut will simply make me throw up my hands and jump in the Max (or XSI; i am attracted to that program) lake with both feet.

I appreciate your wishing to save me grief; I may have to suffer some to take your suggestion fully to heart.

::::: Opera :::::