CompuServe Messages

Andy, << 1. What I thought it would do is allow me to simplify a very complex model (using optimize) a number of times so that I'd have say 6 models of varying complexity. Then I'd somehow embed these 6 models into the original mesh and select at which frames during my animation they appear. This way when my complex object is 10 miles away I use the highly simplified version, when it fills the camera view I switch to the more complex version. If this IS how it's meant to work, how do I enter the frames at which various models are used??>> In a sense yes. If I wanted to render the same scene with the 6 embedded objects and let's say it was a 600 frame animation and I wanted obj1 from 0-99, obj2 from 100-199, etc, I would call up meshres select obj1, netrender with a range of 0-99, call meshres select obj2 with a range of 100-199, etc, etc, then put myself in slave mode and walk away. << 2. Can anyone explain how to achieve what I think is called a depth of field effect? >> Sure. Use the Yost Group Blur filter. This lets me automatically defocus all or parts of an image. It works on still images or animations with options including, blur only above a brightness threshold, "racked focus", and is very useful for creating multi level defocusing effects and dramatic transitions within Video Post. jonas[adesk]