The tutorial helped greatly. I have yet to actually try it, but just reading it is so simple and straight forward. I think I was missing the 'variable transparency' detail. It is surley because I am new to Vue, but did any of you have similar trouble when you started using the program ? I find it odd, that each map channel has it's own way of applying image files ? ie : In the color channel, you simply check 'Mapped Picture'. But the bump map, you have to choose 'edit' where a new window opens, with the 'mapped picture' option ?? And the edit function of the trans channel only seems to appear after adjusting the 'gloabal trans' slider and checking the 'varaiable transparency' box ??? Thanks for helping out with this, I think it is clear now. I just think it would be far simpler to have all of the channels (bumptrans etc... apply images in the same fashion, like the color map dialog. Simply check the 'Mapped Picture' box and load the image file. Prowler