Just an informational note: there's an excellent article on Digital Materials and Virtual Weathering in the latest Scientific American(Feb. 2000),pp.64ff. by Dorsey and Hanrahan that some may find useful.As someone who has been working at weathering bronze (with mixed results) in Bryce for a year or so, and who appreciates Fasttrax's magnificent textures, I find it general but interesting. The Pixar team is prominently referenced. Hopalong

They mention me?

No, Fasttraxx, not by name, but they should have, because your understanding of materials, especially marble, is considerably more advanced than what the scientists are capable of at the moment. On the other hand, they are beginning to realize how complicated aging materials is, and have some interesting algorithms, though the bronze they picture as aging and weathering on the Buddha is strictly programmatic. In the mathematical section by Ian Stewart there is also a section on virtual sculpture with some beautiful 3-D saddle objects made by an artist that the mathematicians are just now trying to understand. And the cover of the magazine, which they call a "painting", looks to the discerning eye as if it were definitely sketched out a few times in Bryce. At any rate, the two academics who wrote the article, which is fairly thorough, could definitely use your help. If they are successful in some of the algorithms they are trying to develop, some very useful plugins or standalones might be possible. Thanks for all the magnificent materials.

thanks, I went by sciam.com and found the online version of the article and read it, it was quite intersting, so where some of the side articles that were linked off the main story. It kinda caught me off guard when you mentioned Scientific American and my name, becuase one of their artists/freelancers-Gordon Chapman has had some Bryce/Poser images in the last couple of issues and has used some of my textures and props in them. I thought "Right On , they did give me credit!" :). Thanks for your kind comments, they are highly appreciated. FastTraxx

Thanks, Fasttraxx. No kindness about itjust the plain truth. Hopalong