Bagginsbill, thanks for all your help. I have to leave the computer for most of the day now so I can't experiment too much. However, I can say this - so far, the shadow value of the light hasn't helped the density issue - I found that one and tried various settings and never saw a change. I am using Poser * so I will have to look into IDL, something else I know nothing about. I am saving you comments in my scrapbook, and I hope that portions of them will mean more to me as I learn more. I'd really like to figure out how to use my original model instead of having to replace him with a girl! :-) I am using Poser 8.0.2.10911. Off for now ---