gster, when you say backplate, what does that mean? does it mean like a background on which to work, like the bottom layer in the stacking order of a layered file in photoshop or after effects? where i have been reading about matte painting recently i keep reading this word 'plate', which i assume is a word carried over from some more traditional method like 'leading' is in desktop publishing, and 'burn' and 'dodge' is in photoshop?