adywan said:

a still shot isn't really the best way of seeing just how well this new effect works. it looks so much better in motion

i'm also going to have the stardestroyer firing at the escaping ships and destroying one of the x-wings before it gets blasted by the ion canon bolts

I like the electrical bolts coming out of the ion cannon hit. It would be nice to see some more bolts and maybe some that are more pronounced (like the Vaderios' image), as well as a slightly bluer explosion. Regardless, it looks fantastic and like everyone else, I can't wait to see it in action!

As another suggestion to add to this scene, maybe you could:
(1) have the SD lights do something similar to the scene in METROPOLIS (1927) when the underground machine is destroyed and the city lights surge and then shut off, as well as:

(2) have the SD not just drop downwards when the rebel freighter goes by, but have the SD go into a slow spin downwards (not enough to make a complete circle, but enough that it lists to one side before the freighter flys past).

I like the sequence "as-is" albeit with the Vaderios'/Your electrical-blue ion blast addition, and I know there is PLENTY on the plate as it is. To do more with the de-powered SD would be interesting but not important. Again, just something to think about how it would look in the scene.