Thanks for responding.  One of the big scenes involves the bridge of a prototype starship having panel explode and sections catch fire, and I'm trying to figure out the best way to do this.  I'm planning on using Daz Studio, which as far as I know has no particles.  I guess the big thing is the render size.  Does particle illusion have a limit to the size that it can render out too?  I plan to render everything at HD size and quality.  Also how good is it a layering?  Can I render out to an image sequence with alpha masks to be put together later in photoshop?  What about about the hyperspace effect used in Star Wars to create the streaking lines, or tornados (for a plasma storm sequence)?  Can the program handle these?  Also are the stock effects editable?

Are there other programs that can do these things better or easier?   Especially easier as I'm really new to this sort of thing.

Thanks for all your help.

David