thanks for all your replys folks! The pivot count is now around 800 i'm pretty sure. i appreciate what is being said, i really do, but it's not my particle system. i was concerned about the pivot count, which i have been told is at 800 odd. the code looks a bit complicated and is still being worked on at the mo so i'm sure it will be all good when it's finished. next time i make a particle system, i'll take al these points on board as they are very good ones :)