Nice job, Carol. But I hope you don't mind me outlining an alternative method that I find more convenient - doing it in post using PSP. I use a free plugin that generates the snow randomly for you on a separate transparent layer. You can vary the size and number of flakes, and like your multiple cylinders, I use several layers at different sizes and densities to achieve the effect. I sometimes also use motion blur on just a couple of the layers at fractionally different angles to one another to simulate the effect of wind-blown snow. And because they are all on transparent layers, it is easy to delete any unwanted flakes from areas that should be in shelter from the weather or look unnatural too close to the ground.

What a great start to the new year! Thanks again for you skill and generosity.

Love it. Thanks Andy.

Thanks for the welcome and the tips, Hartcons. Looking forward to getting my hands on the app.

As someone who has Carrara Studio 3 currently on order and zero experience with the product, I shall shortly be looking for beginner to intermediate level tutorials on all aspects of the program. Don't know what's out there already yet - just dropped into this forum for a quick peek at what was happening, how active it was, etc. and thought I'd lend support to Rimkopf's plea. Merry Christmas all!

Thanks for the beautiful Christmas presents, Alain. Always a pleasure to see your work.

Suddenly it really feels like Christmas is coming! Nice work.

Axhands, do you mean problems with importing to Vue in general or from Wings specifically? If the latter, I must only have "skimmed the surface" too, because exporting as an OBJ file with the Vue Workaround box checked and electing to export with separate materials enabled, like Dave I have so far (in my admittedly limited experience) had no problems.

Congratulations OblivionBlack! Although I placed you third, there was but a hair's breadth between my favourite three images in spite of their different styles, so I would have been very happy for any of them to win.

3 points - Pyrographer 2 points - barriephillips 1 point - Oblivionblack honourable mention - the rest.

Pyrographer - no I hadn't heard of it before I moved to the North West. It may be a regional thing, or even more specifically primarily a "scouse" (Liverpudlian) term. ;-)

It does seem faster now... fingers crossed that's a permanent change and not just one of the transient "better" periods. I would have preferred a darker shade of blue that does not seem so prominent and distract from the thumbnails. My biggest worry though has now been removed! Between down-times yesterday, when I managed to visit the site late afternoon, the main area had changed to light gray background with black text. Then after a couple of minutes it went off-line again for maintenance. It was a great relief when I logged on in the wee small hours of this morning to find the familiar white text on black had returned. Phew!

Good luck James - I hope it doesn't take too much time and prevent you posting your own work regularly.

Two apologies. First to anyone who might be offended by the title - Niall's choice not mine! For anyone outside the UK, this is an unpleasant derogatory term for a male of Welsh nationality.

Second apology to Niall Griffiths for making his book appear so lurid! It may (and does) contain some of the most appallingly graphic descriptions of violence that I have come across, but it is very far removed from the "pulp fiction" impression this image might create. With alternating chapters in a high prose style and coarse vernacular, this is a very powerful novel that creates an almost Blakean and apocalyptic vision of alienated youth today. Not a comfortable read, but highly recommended.

Just to add to the confusion, I've just received a mail shot from Eovia. It makes special upgrade and sidegrade offers to Carrara Studio 3, plus a separate Poser 5 sidegrade from any Eovia product. The cost of the Poser 5 sidegrade is 199 (incl. VAT) plus 10 post and package. As this was addressed to me as an "Eovia user", it looks as though it even applies to registered users of one of the free versions of Amapi that were issued on various cover disks not so long ago - that'c certainly the only product of theirs that I own. I have yet to confirm that, but it could be another interesting alternative way to purchase Poser 5. If any other UK user in a similar position wants to check up on the situation re the free Amapi versions, there is a phone number of 01526 352524, or email frank@eovia.com, or I guess visit the web site at www.eovia.com