Hi, everybody, I'd like to start learning CG and I'm wondering: does it worth starting with Bryce? I see that version 5 is quite old, no upgrade means that Corel doesn't bet on Bryce? Searching the web for CG I see a lot of programs, Maya, Poser, etc.: do you think that Bryce gives you the basics of CG? Thanks!

Pjo, you cannot possibly compare Bryce with Maya or Poser, first of all. Bryce is in a class of its own and the only thing that comes close to this section of the cg world is perhaps Vue D'Esprit. To answer your other question, whether it is worth to start with Bryce given the fact that Corel hasn't really come up with an update to the software, the answer is yes. First of all, there is a buzz about Bryce 6 or Bryce Pro that has been hanging around in the air for the better part of the last two months. Corel would not have purchased Bryce if it wasn't a good idea to upgrade and sell it. I don't think any of us can tell you when that's coming out and I'm personally just as weary as you are towards a new version, but at the same time I know it's going to take me at least a couple more years for me to learn this one currently on the shelves. Long story short, yes, the Bryce community is quite vibrant and active, and it is worth the purchase of the software (especially with the prices currently available for B5), as well as starting to learn it. :) Drac

What do you want to do with 3D is the most important question really. We've seen people take quite old software and kick serious A$$ with it. Do you want to do landscapes? (Bryce, Vue, World Builder, Terragen) Do you want to make worldscapes? (Mojoworld) Poser is fairly specifc to figures, obviously. Maya is wonderful, but $2,000 to start. Bryce was originally made to pretty much be a landscape generator, the members do LOTS of other things with it, but if you are needingto learn traditional 3D modeling (poly, nurbs) I would look at other programs first. And, you should try every demo you can get your hands on. Even Maya has a great demo. AgentSmith

Bryce is more "fun" than other cg programs, it's the easiest to learn and the hardest to master.

when a particular incarnation of a given program is over a year and a half old, and people are still coming up with new and exciting techniques and methods for using the same old tools, I'd have to say that, yes, there's definitely still a future for Bryce. For that matter, Bryce 4 is still an excellent program, falling short of B5 in only a few, non-vital areas (my opinion, of course). For the money, I don't think there's a 3D graphics program in the price range that can compare in all-round versatility with Bryce.

oh yes bryce is what really allowed me to enjoy making 3d pictures and also animations. it is very simple to use, and because of that once you have the basics quickly the rest is up to you and how far you can push it.. just look at the galleries. i still only use Version 4 and yet the fun i have had has been wonderful. if bryce could do BOnes and figure animation then that would be the only programme i would ever need, and at such a reasonable price too.

I still use Bryce 4, it is not the greatest render, it is not the greatest modeller, but it is cheap. And if you are willing to spend some time learning how Bryce really works than wonderous things can be achieved with it. Especially in combinatie with a load of free program's that float around on the net, both modelling and post-production. As i wrote before on this forum, a good carpenter never blames his tools.

As long as it's on my hard drive, Bryce is part of my future.

I think you should look around first, There are mags with 3D apps for free, Older versions but a damn good start. That way you see which you feel most comfortable with. I use Bryce and Lightwave 7 to come up with what I want, you can also get Maya personal learning edition for free! Heres the link for maya http://www.aliaswavefront.com/en/products/maya/ple/index.shtml Hope this helps you :)

I've always thought that Bryce could really work well with coreldraw's seamless texture editor. The bryce render engine seems to be working in some kind of dos shell without the benefit of the last two years developments in active X to speed render times. Does Bryce have a future? It all depends on if Corel can and will upgrade or revamp the rendering engine. Bryce and KPT were the products Corel picked up when Metacreations divested. I think that speaks for their comittment to develop the product. Corel also has a history of not releasing betas or "New Versions" just because X-months have past since the last. Until Corel announces they are not supporting the product I believe they are intending to come out with future versions of Bryce.

Bryce is like one of the Golden Arches to CG 3D Heaven, along with Poser, Carrara! They were all owned by the same company at one point, Metacreations, which is where they all got thier User Interaces. Dollar for dollar none of these programs have any competition. And Renderbrant is right, you can find older verions of these apps in readily available past issues of 3D Mags. Even the Super Learning Curve of each of those past appliccations would still take you a year to learn actually! Honestly I think the communities for these applications are the largest by far, you can find plenty of useful knowlegde and tutorial information freely distributed. Most archives go back several versions, and are updated frequently! = )

Depends on your budget. Can you afford to spend $1000's on the high end programs just to find out the learning curve is very steep and not exactly what you want (of course there are demo versions for most? If you want to learn modeling there are several free modeling programs on the web (Anim8or, Blender, Milkshape ,etc) that give you the basics and have OK render engines. Though Bryce isn't a modeler with patience, practice and work you can acheive some great things. Of big note Bryce can import many formats but cannot export any native models except for terrains, rocks, lattices or meshes imported from other programs.

I started with Bryce 3. It took years before I went to freeware modelers, then to Poser, then to higher end modelers. Bryce is a FANTASTIC way to start CG. The thing with Bryce is you can start out making nice pics right away with little to no knowledge, and after many years, you will find new techiques and more wonderful things to do with the program. Its a joy for beginners and a challenge for the old pros. In the last year, there have been a lot of interesting posts in this forum such as the radiosity and hdri techniques as well as the building of models using primitives with alpha map texturing. Oddly enough, all this 'new' technique stuff was doable in Bryce 3 and below. I chose Bryce as my first 3d app because after searching the net, Bryce had the best support in web sit tutorials, etc. In fact, it had a cult like following that I found to be WAY more developed than any other 3d app. And I'm hoping that at some time in the future, there will be interest in the fractal formulas that are adjustable in the material lab (in the deeper sections that are not well documented except maybe for Susan Kitchen's book). There's a heck of a lot you can do with Bryce and even though I have Poser 5 and Electric Image Universe, I still use Bryce to compose a still scene and render. The B5 render options are just fantastic.

Attached Link: http://zdnet.com.com/2110-1106-983053.html

That's geat news, thanks for posting that. AgentSmith