Thanks for the help with # 1,Todd. #2)Yes,this is exactly what we do to build the efx.ANd yes,the background layer,though not nested, shows through on the dissolve. Still an issue. #3) Symphone NItris Dx 3.5.4.11. I dont remember what version we upgraded from...if you mean SYmphony Nitris software I"m not sure...it WAS a much older version which