Well sure but I don't know about tiff format. If tiff works for you then go for it maybe you got a mac. This is how it's done: Get picture if it's tiff well maybe convert it to bmp. I can't check right now but I don't know if Vue imports tiff maybe if the extention is .tif and not .tiff I rendering I can't check right now. Um convert it to bmp make it easy unless of course you have a mac. Figure out what you want to be in the scene and what you do not want in the scene. Select all that you want and paint it pure black, select all that you don't want and paint it pure white. Save as *_a.bmp, this is your mask so that what you don't want gets cut out from the image. In photoshop it's really easy by using the magic wand then to select the part you don't want then just delete it. Of course you got it on a new layer right? Keep doing that till all you don't want is gone, then select the gone part paint white then select reverse and paint it black, I use fill 100 %. Mask is the hardest thing to make really. If it's already a 32 bit image the mask is sorta already there if you know how to find it then making the mask from that channel is even easier. You can also use the image as the mask actually but you'll have a slightly transparent image. Best to make a mask. Anyway then you make a new alpha plain in vue and get the picture then finally get the mask, It steps you right threw the process really. You may want to tweek the textures you want the picture set bicubic and auto and the mask in the transparency part the same. Check here for tutorials here on alpha plains. See book page 264 It's easier than bryce.