*Bryce will not export out its primitives or metaballs. And, no, there is no 3D file converter for .obp's.

*Bryce can export out its Terrains, and Lattices and rocks as a generic 3D file (3ds, dxf, x, id4, lws, mts, 16-bit pgm, rds, hf, cob, dem, vsa, wrl, obj, nff)

*Bryce can export its Rocks as a generic 3D file (3ds, dxf, x, id4, lws, rds, cob, vsa, wrl, obj, nff)

*Other Bryce properties can be exported out only in their native Bryce format (trees, skies, mats, obp's, texture files, etc)

*Un-exportable items can be saved as a Bryce .obp (object preset), and saved/exported out (again, only as an .obp)

*Generic mesh files that are previously imported into Bryce, can then be exported out as a generic 3D file. (formats are the same as Bryce Rock)

   This allows Bryce to be a quick and dirty 3D file converter if need be. See how to do this kind of exporting here.

How to speed up your renders in Bryce

*The only real way to increase your render time is by getting a faster CPU and more RAM.

*A better video card will only increase the redraw time onscreen while in various display modes, but will not affect actual rendering time.

*More RAM will also help you more quickly open large scene files.

*Bryce does not take advantage of computers that have multiple CPU's.

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The Ins and Outs of Importing into Bryce

Importing native files into Bryce can be done in 1 of several ways depending on the file type as listed below.
Bryce Scene File- Goto File/Open on the toolbar and select the file you want(.brc, .br3, .br4, .br5)
Bryce Object File-Click the small arrow on the right of where it says CREATE and then click import, select the file(.obp, .obj)
Bryce Material Files-Click the small arrow on the right of where it says EDIT and then click import, select the file(.mat, .shd)
Bryce Sky/Fog Files-Click the small arrow on the right of where it says Sky&Fog and then click import, select the file(.bsk, .sky)

Bryce Native Formats
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Bryce 5 object files (.obp)
Bryce 5 material files (.mat)
Bryce 5 Sky/Fog files (.bsk)
Bryce 5 scene files (.br5)
Bryce 5 Leaf files (.LPS)
Bryce 5 Picture Texture List files (.LST)
Bryce 5 Texture files (.BRT)
Bryce 5 Time files (.TNE)
Bryce 5 TreShape files (.TPS)
Bryce 4 object files (.obp)
Bryce 4 material files (.mat)
Bryce 4 Sky/Fog files (.bsk)
Bryce 4 scene files (.br4)
Bryce 3 scene files (.br3)
Bryce 2 object files (.obj)
Bryce 2 material files (.shd)
Bryce 2 Sky/Fogf iles (.sky)
Bryce 2 scene files (.brc)

All the formats listed below can be imported into Bryce by going to File/Import Object on the toolbar.

Bryce Import Formats
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3D Studio Object files (.3ds)
3D Studio Project files (.prj)
3DMF(ASCII) files (.t3d)
3DMF(Binary) files (.3mf, .b3d)
AutoCAD files (.dxf)
Direct 3D files (.x)
Lightwave object files (.lwo)
Lightwave scene files (.lws)
PGM files (.pgm)
Test files (.tst)
Rayshade HF files (.hf)
Truespace object files (.cob)
Truespace scene files (.scn)
USGS DEM/SDTS files (.ddf)
USGS/Vista Pro DEM files (.dem)
VideoScape files (.vsa)
VRML 1.0 files (.wrl)
Wavefront object files (.obj)
WCS Elev files (.elev)
World Toolkit NFF files (.nff)

The Ins and Outs of Exporting from Bryce

Depending on what your exporting, Bryce will export terrains and lattices by selecting the object and going to File/Export Object, Or you can export Bryce object Presets (.OBP) or Materials (.MAT) and Skies (.BSK) by selecting the preset and clicking export. If your wanting to export a 3D Mesh (.obj,.3ds,.dxf, etc.) select the object and click the "E" next to the model to Edit/Smooth Mesh. When that small window appears hit CTRL+D or COMMAND+D and Save As window opens, choose the format you want and hit save.

Bryce Export Formats
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3D Studio Object files (.3ds)
AutoCAD files (.dxf)
Direct 3D files (.x)
Infini-D files (.id4)
Lightwave scene files (.lws)
Ray Dream Studio files (.rds)
Truespace object files (.cob)
VideoScape files (.vsa)
VRML 1.0 files (.wrl)
Wavefront object files (.obj)
World Toolkit NFF files (.nff)

Making Lens Flares in Bryce

In Photoshop or any image editing program that allows you to create lens flares, create a 512x512 image and fill it in black. Create a lens flare in the center of the image, and then save and exit the program.
In Bryce, make a 2D verticle face(the flat square under DaVinci's arm on the Create pallete), then click the "M" to enter the Materials Lab. Import the lens flare into the Picture Editor in all 3 channels. To do this, select the first dot next to Ambient on the COLOR Palette, and set the component to picture(Click the "P"). Then in the VALUE Palette, select the first dots on Diffusion and Ambience and set the slider to 100, and in the OPTICS section at the bottom, select the first dot next to Transperancy and set it's slider to 100.
Lastly, select the small arrow at the top of the screen to open the Shading Mode menu, Select Normal, and deselect all other options. Click the exit checkmark at the bottom of the screen and your done.

Applying Transperancy Maps in Bryce

In the Materials Lab, select the small arrow at the top of the screen to open the Shading Mode menu, Select Blend Transperancy. In the OPTICS section of the Material Lab, check the 2nd dot next to transperancy and set the component to picture(Click the "P"), import your transmaps into the Picture Editor, load your map into the first box, then click copy, goto the 2nd window(where bump maps go) and click paste, click ok to delete current selection. Click the Exit checkmark and return to the Materials Lab. This process will have to be repeated for each body part the tansperancy map is applied to.

Applying Textures to 3D Models in Bryce

First if you have the Animation Controls open, you will need to click the globe on the bottom righthand corner to toggle to your Selection Palette. On the Selection Palette at the bottom of the screen click the arrow thats next to the small square gradient filled icon. Scroll up to Select Meshes, from here you will be able to select every single texturable mesh in any props you have loaded. Of course this can get confusing at times. I find it best to select your first mesh from the list then click the "A" and give that part a name. That way as you go down the list, you know which pieces you have already applied textures to. To apply textures, First click the arrow next to where it says EDIT at the top of your screen. This will open your Materials Palette. In the Materials Palette simply choose a catagory and select a material to use. Click the Exit checkmark at the bottom and repeat the process for each object part of the model.