A raytracer is not what makes a good renderer. Raytraced shadows are very unrealisitc. Ever see how many bad Bryce renders there are around..because of the razor sharp raytraced shadows? Go outside and LOOK...not many razor shadows are there. A raytracer can make more accurate shadows, but most of them around need something to handle the distance from the Shadow casting object and the one receiving them. The greater the distance between them, the softer the shadow edges. A good shadow-map rendered can give much more realistic shadows and much more control in adjusting them to your desires. Foxhollow ducks the chunks of Bryce Terrain being thrown