[Randy Cates]

I too experience this (all the time). I’ve noticed in other 3D Apps (LightWave and Cinema) they have free texture libraries (Chrome, glass etc) which you can download that also don’t look the same when you apply them as they do on the sample supplied with them.

I “believe” this can be attributed to the size of your model. Keep in mind the environment you assign is what’s reflected on your surfaces. If the model is really large you’ll get different reactions than if it’s really small. There’s got to be a sweet spot (size).

I think it would help if Video Co-pilot offered some idea of what the perfect model size should be in relation to the environmental maps they supply to get as close a representation in the comp window as we all see in the preview.

A few test renders with a variety of different sizes might answer this question. If you discover something – please share.

Time is not linear but rather an eternal now.

[Randy Cates]

In CS5 go to Window/Artboards. In the Artboard menu that opens, in the upper right corner, select Artboard Options from the sub menu.

In the dialog that opens un check:

Show Center Mark
Show Cross Hairs
Show Video Safe Areas (or any one depending on your needs)

This drove me nuts for a while as well. To get them back reverse the above.

R.Cates