Mia_x layered shaders

I've just mastered layered shaders using mia_x materials. Tons of forum posts said it wasn't possible then I found this genius tutorial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uRx3ID5oMY

(NB remember to check the 'alpha is luminance' box on the texture that you're using as an alpha - for some reason that's the step I always forget to do)

I'm loath to share this image as there's SO much work still to do to get it to look right, but using layered shaders enabled me to get a wood shader onto the hands and a separate graphite shader onto the 'nails'.