I thought 4 raytrace bounces would be plenty for just 2 reflections. I'll just try it with 5 or 6 when I get a moment. Thanks.

Oops, yes you did say that... my bad!
I understand that a simple change to the .mt5 / .mc6 files is all that is required, but I'll have to leave it to someone more competent to fill in the details.

I forgot to say, the MAT file (.mt5 for a Material, .mc6 for a Material Collection) is saved in the Runtime / Libraries / Materials folder of your current Runtime.

When you are in the Material Room, your Library tab switches to Materials. Just add your current material (or collection of materials, if you choose that option) to the Library.

You will need to ensure that you have saved any map files you are using in a safe location, since the MAT file references them wherever they are. Best to take a copy and put them in your own textures folder somewhere. It does not have to be in your Runtime, as the full path is used; but your own subfolder of the Runtime / Textures folder is probably the right place for them - this is where most commercial products will save them.

I hope this helps.

I just re-checked that scene, and found that there is no displacement on the floor at all, or bump. The distorted reflection comes from a 'softness' setting of 1.0 on the Reflect shader.
So it seems the second raytrace bounce ignores that setting. When I get a moment I'll try bump on the floor instead.

 I should have said: use the x-rotation dial to rotate it around its vertical axis.

I could not get those settings to alter the way the image displayed on the sphere.

But I found an easier way to do it.

Apply the material as normal. Set the Y and Z rotations on the sphere to +90 degrees, and then use the X axis to rotate it about its vertical axis.

Will that do it for you?

Hmmm, I thought you died a long time ago.
Thanks!

Sorry I should have said -90 degrees on the x-axis.

Tried that, and you are right, rotating around the y-axis actually rotates it around the z-axis.

HOWEVER

when I loaded the sphere, the x-axis rotation was already set to 90 degrees. When I set that to zero, all three rotations worked properly. Then it's just a matter of getting the image mapped correctly!

Hope this helps.
Izi

Hmmm, I see it's a much deeper issue than I imagined!

I have to agree, though, with those who say that if the use of a real-world mathematical model for rotations limits our ability to do quite reasonable things with virtual objects in virtual space, then the real-life model should be dumped in favour of a less constraining one.

After all, on a lighter note, I can bury Victoria up to her chin in the ground if I want to, and she's still smiling.

I have seen Second Life automatically adjust two axis values when rotating an object or prim around the other axis, whether using world, local or reference axes, so I think they found a practical solution to the problem.

Izi

Connie - thanks for explaining that, I was quite ignorant of the meaning of that phrase until now. Apologies, kamion, for misunderstanding you. As I said in reply to joelglaine, it's so easy for our meaningful words to mean something different to someone else.
Izi

joelglaine - I understand. I meant no criticism of you or kamion, it's just a personal preference.

That we use the same words to mean different things when trying to communicate with each other is precisely what so often makes our communications so full of misunderstandings and apparent disagreements!

Izi :O)

kamion - I looked at your gallery, and begin (maybe) to understand your view on this. I hope I caused no offence with my comment about American values. I, like the vast majority of decent folk in the world, would hate to think that anything I said or did offended those who have been affected by such a human tragedy, whoever actually perpetrated it.
Izi