heyas; if you don't want rounded edges.... you can overlap several spheres to make a conglomerated puffy edge. if you have vue 4, you can try using a rock instead of a sphere. the 'fuzzy' setting will make the edges less hard, as well; did you try that? some other stuff might affect the edge hardness.... like the shallow water/deep water colour settings, and how murky you set the murkiness.... oh, and if you used colour transmitted light, you get an outline edge on your primitive. to make the flames more wavery, if you can't find a more wavery function you like.... try using the distortions... for a flame material, you probably want to use the ones on the last tab; the effects tab. turn on the fractal and turbulence stuff, and play with those settings. that will shake things up :)