So, it is time for me to learn how to make mat files. I know how to "skin" an oblect. But I'd like to use alpha channels and bump channels. Any assistance would be great! thanx RedX

So it all depends on what you are trying to do. I learned how to use the deep material editor by playing around. Susan Kitchen's book on Bryce is an awesome encyclopedia for the deep texture editor (and everything else about Bryce ;-) and will take you beyond what you can learn by just experimentation. If you are trying to make a picture texture, very simply, whites are high and blacks are low and there's 256 layers or so. One could use a picture editor like photoshop, or paint shop pro, or my favorite, Corel Photopaint, and turn a color picture to a grayscale image. Then use that as a template to create highs or lows. In a picture material, one can only have one alpha channel, so if you want a transparency effect with different locations of emphasis, one would make a separate material for the transparency channel. I know I've generalized this, I hope its enough to get you started!!

Or you could go to www.brycetech.com and scroll down the left side until you see the 'material lab' link under the advanced list. Great tutorial there.