what else you might try is the tool "Texture to Geometry" in the Modify tab -> Convert -> Texture to Geometry. most often it didn´t perform in a "clean" way like I was hoping it would do, but give it a try and play with the settings. one advantage is that your object gets different shaders applied. for your shape, black and white would be perfect. then go to " hypershade -> Edit -> Select Objects with Material " and delete holes. simple as that. Falott I find "texture to geometry" to be one of the worst tools in maya if you have any setting that work please share, another way to do this is create a path in photoshop or illistrater export to maya as a ".ai" file then use the "project curve on mesh". I have done the ".ai" file but do not have "project curve on mesh" on my version of maya if some one would give it a try to see how good or bad it is.................dave