hey thanks mate, I did wonder what all the icons were for at the top of the UV editor. I knew they weren't there for decor. I've got a word file on the stuff you have written to me and it's getting quite large (you and I think one or two others, it's about UV mapping) so thanks a lot. I will paste this in to the file and then check out the tools you mentioned later today. Funnily enough I extruded a few poly faces to make a SPACESHIP (??) for a friend at uni that wrote a script and wants me to do the space stuff, etc in Maya; and mapped the ship quite well?? The thing is with that when i export it into photo shop the background is black and the UV map is there faintly in white. Is this normal??