Best way to make parts look good WITHOUT photoworks!

I don't have photoworks yet. I have an assembly of gears thatI want to look as real as possible (shiny finish-chrome stainless?)Anyway, I need to export the model in motion as an avi file. Myproblem is that the client needs a white background. When I choose"plain white" the gears change - looks like it has something to dowith the light/reflection??? When I have my background on "lightcards" the gears look really good. Is there a work around toachieve a white background with the shiny gear appearance?SolidworksPhotoworks