Johnpenn, talking about volumetrics. Take a look at my Gallery of recent days, and look at the volumetric CLOUDS. Talk about a lot of work and RENDER TIME, some of them took 17 hours. The one called Summer Sights used the most time. This MIGHT help in understanding Volumetric problems, eventho yours is fire. Did you try making the Mats negative in the Material Editor? Sometimes awesome results. As a sidenote: I have another pic. called Anti-Matter Genisis or something. It used 4 seperate volumetric materials. This might help to visually look at RESULTS and not necessarily words to help you understand. May you succeed at your goal. Lightpen