The weld problem is a UV mapping factor, not RDS. The main draw back with RDS MFM is that it ignores usemtl information. This problem is not a reason for jumping to MAX. At the very least, as long as you do not weld verts that should be left separate, you can take the mesh back into UVMapper and reassign materials - Just leave the mapping alone and use layers, or shift and resize if you are determined to get everything on the same map. MFM does not change mapping, just erases material assignments. The normals issue is a challenge, but as Dan as affirmed, Poser will do this anyway, so what RDS does is moot, if you do it right. Thanks Dan, I have not seen this definatively expressed before.