thanks for all the help, guys!! you certainly pointed me in some good directions for me to go toward... the experimentation alone will definately keep me busy for a good while :) i do use uvmapper -- its how i drew the yellow areas onto the dress, and since i did it myself i thought i'd go all the way and make my own textures too. i was considering like a floral pattern -- and i've seen plenty of those in free stuff -- but trying to come up with one on my own was a totally different matter.