Just a quick question from a new user.  There is an artwork folder in the browser but the manual doesn't state exactly what it's used for.  Is it for storing renders, textures, something I haven't come across yet or what?

Cheers

I dunno. it's not letting me drag anything into it. maybe one saves renders to it, then drags 'em out of it, for the uses you suggested (backgrounds or textures).

it's funny that a folder is set up without an explanation on its use.  I tried dragging too.  Maybe someone will chime in with the ...Oh,  I get it  answer  soon.

I also saved a render to it, but it wouldn't let me drag the icon onto anything to use as a texture. nothing happened when I double-clicked it.

It's a capability to improve workflow for folks that need/want it. For example, say I have a client project that takes several days to build and has multiple renders that I need to compare. To prevent opening those renders in Photoshop, you can "Add Folder" to the artwork tab and select the folder you've been saving the renders too. Now, instead of program hopping, you can open previous renders from within Carrara. Works with animations too. It's also a nice way to prevent Render Room clutter by having a bunch of renders open at any one time. You can be more selective. Double clicking a file in the Artwork folder should open any 2D format that Carrara supports directly in the Render Room.

Thanks Mark  so that's what its for.  Very handy.  By the way finished your tutorials on VTC and it was well worth it.  I didn't realise how much was possible with Carrara. 

Cheers

o.k., yeah, I see that now. when I double-click, it opens the image. in OS X, it's necessary to hide c6pro to switch to pictureviewer, so that adds at least a second to the workflow. opening cs3 would add 10 or 20 seconds, depending on the image size, which would be a time-waster in most cases. the directory structure may differ in xp/vista, but in OS X, the artwork folder is buried 5 levels deep, in the users folder.