CompuServe Messages

I just got the Special Effects book and looked at your laser burn job – great effect! I have a stupid newbie question which I'm sure should be obvious to me, but which is not, so how about a hint: I don't understand why you had to fuss with a separate element for the burned out letters and map it exactly the same as the front panel to dup the wood grain, line it up exactly, etc. Why couldn't you just use one solid front panel with the wood grain (no letter holes in the geometry), then apply the animated opacity and shininess maps to this front to reveal the burnt holes over time??? I don't get why the separate front with holes and disappearing holes front were required. Try not to hurt yourself laughing if this is TERRIBLY obvious!!(g) Dennis P.S. I know in other chapters some things that didn't make sense began to make sense after I tried to go thru the exercise myself, but I don't know when I'll have time to go thru yours, so how about it!