I am trying to use a transparency map in grayscale in VUE. I can do this easily in POSER by attaching an image to the Transparency tab, The white areas show and the dark areas do not.

 In VUE Ican't find a way to attach a transparency map to ride along with a texuture map image.  How is this done in VUE? I know how to attach an image vs using procedurals in the advanced mat editor but can't seem to find anythign on the transparency tab that allows an additional image.   Maybe a previous post covers this but I can't seem to find one.....tks

in the transparency tab of the material editor, set some transparency, then tick the "Variable transparency" button off to the right which activates the transparency production bit.  Edit that function and add the texture map same as you would with the texture and off you go :)

Or you can go into the SIMPLE editor & load your trans map under the 3rd box - Tansparencey/ALPHA.

Yes - much easier to use the basic material editor - look for the button in the top left corner of the material editor.  When you are in the Advanced material editor, the button will say Basic material editor.  Click that.  To go back the Advance material editor, click it again (notice how it will say Advanced material editor).  

Also, remember that Vue is bas-akwards on Trans maps - white is transparent, black is opaque.  There a invert swtich on the maps to switch this from the normal mode to Vue's mode.

interestingly, when you import Poser figures, at least for the hair, the transmaps are imported the right way round. 

I have a pretty good model going - now I want to add some alternate specularity so the ocean gives of the right reflection. I have specular map but am unsure where to apply it. I tried adding it to the HIGHLIGHT tab but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Any ideas on this? I am trying to get some reflectivity of the sun out of the oceans.....

The easiest and quickest way to do that without maps it to use a spot light between the sun and at low altitude skimming across the surface of the water pointed towards the viewer.

But I do have a specular map that has black for the continents and white for the oceans. How would I add this? In Poser I would put it under alternate specular or something like that but in VUE it's not quite that intuitive....tks

It sounds like you are trying to create a fake, non-transparent water material.  If so, then plug your specularity map into the "Variable Specular Channel" on the Highlights tab (just click the "Variable Highlights" checkbox).  However, a better way to create a sheen across water is to use a standard Vue water material (which is transparent) and then play with the Flare Intensity and Size parameters on the Transparency Tab.  Flare is equivalent to highlights for transparent materials.