LOL ok!  you are a wealth of information.  I'm trying to do this tutorial right now so I can get a face going that I can play with.

www.infinitee-designs.com/Portrait_Tutorial.htm

so far I've done the UVmap 3 times with no success. all I get is a blob and nothing that resembles the illustrations in the tut. lol  but I'm trying again.

I was really excited about the various rooms because I thought, "hey now I can do something really cool" but honestly they frighten me lol because I don't have the faintest clue how to use them.

As soon as I get a face going I'll show you where i"m at because after I get a face I'm going to work with those light tuts you posted.

thanks again Acadia I really appreciate your help with this stuff.  be back in a bit when I get a face...IF I get a face. lol