We have a Tips & Tricks blog @ http://secondlife.com/tnt where I make a post for each video with more information, so please come and visit and feel free to chat, we check comments more frequently there!
Use Emerald viewer, it protects against CopyBot ripping/stealing the clothes you are wearing AND you can change SHAPE/COLOR on your beam completely, you can even turn it off if you need clear view without particles covering your screen while building.