I've been trying to create some props by combining the standard prop types in Poser4. And have actually succeeded in making some pretty good-looking and hi-detailed ones. However, their file size turned out to be quite atrocious! Is there any method (or utility available) to reduce file size? I don't mind losing some of its detail. I do have access to the other software (3DSMAX, Bryce, Lightwave,Ray Dream) but am scared silly to use them. Please help!

No real help here. I had the same problem when combining hair props. I ended up with a bunch of unseen, unnecessary verticies buried inside of the models. You might ask if some kind soul with a modeling pgm will do a boolean subtraction on your props to delete the unseen parts.

If you have acces to Max, i would suggest to build this things in max. Theres a command in which you can optimize the mesh and reduce the file-size. Give it a tray, it isn't as difficult as you think. SHARKEY

Yes, Escapist! Max is my favorite prog for modelling! Optimize(a modifier) will reduce the poly count a lot! You can easily erase the uneccesary chunks too! I would offer my help! but, i'm already up to my ears in projects. Unless you're willing to wait 2 weeks(Approx.) Marc

If you absolutely don't want to get into Max or other software, what you might try in Poser is to use the Group Edit Tool. Be sure you have at least the 4.02 upgrade, because it corrected some bugs in the Group Edit Tool. I've used it quite often when assembling clothing props & only needed a piece here, a piece there. Once you've turned the selected polygons into props, you can then play with them to get them aligned just the way you want & either establish parentage for the parts in the Hierarchy Editor, then create a new figure there, or, you can export the several newly created & grouped props as a single OBJ. If you do a search on Renderosity for "Group Edit", there was a short tutorial recently that I thought was pretty well done, sorry I can't recall the author, but it was in the last week or so. Hope this helps, but I agree with the opinions above. I only wish I had Max myself!