hey there!! :) thanx for replyin. okay. the object in question WAS supposed to be a flame when I started out. buuuuuuut... I found it nigh on impossible to get a decent flame so I settled for the floating sash/ cloth thing instead... Iw'm quite chuffed with the effect, but as you say it needs work.. I'm trying to steer clear of post work to begin with, to keep things simple. I'm not very experienced with art packages so it may end up just destroying the intended effect... I used a couple of textures on the sash and managed to stumble upon a nice ripple effect (not present here) but it almost entirely obscured the ball inside it... so I'm not sure. The lighting was standard poser lighting.. again. keepin it simple.. I do intend fully to start from scratch if/when I find myself a surrounds for the young lady thus allowing for suns/ light sources within those surrounds.. I'll make sure to take your advice and light the face/orb.. do you think perhaps a spotlite on that section would help?