In the interest of a quick turn around I thought I'd post my idea for March this morning and hopefully have it final by tonight. THEME: "The Quest"...which Websters defines, loosely paraphrased, as a search for something. Your image then would be designed to either portray the search OR the thing searched for. In either case the image should lend itself to a ready interpretation by the viewer. By that I mean that whether you show a search or the thing searched for the viewer should be able to say, "Oh yeah, I get it"...without lengthy explanation. IMPORTS: Feel free, any and all imports welcome. Let's open the door back up for those who feel challenged by trying to model in Bryce. TECHNICAL LIMITATIONS: - Your image must use a minimum of 2 photographic textures, at least one of which must be used on something other than a 2D plane. - Your image must contain at least one item made almost entirely out of metaballs. I thought to include these becasue I am learning how to use both better and thought some others might like to be challenged that way too. And because metaballs seem to be an under-used tool IMHO. We've also had some helpful posts on both subjects lately. RENDERING: Let's go with pure Bryce render again since we're opening the door wide for imports. Post work limited, as last month, to color correction, titling, singatures etc. Does this make sense or it is too...esoteric? Comments, suggestions welcome...lets try to finalize by this evening so everyone can get an early weekend start. -Claymor

Claymor, I have one thing to say: I HAVE BRYCE 4 WHICH DOESN'T SUPPORT METABALLS!!! Okay, sorry for yelling, but I get a little frustrated at all the posts encouraging use of metaballs and the tree lab which I don't have. How about encouraging people to use a terrain or lattice for an unusual shape if they don't have or don't want to use metaballs? That is also tricky and not many people have tried it. Otherwise, cool idea, I like the photograph suggestion too. Lin

I like this idea! I think its great that you added the extra bit about the phototextures and metaballs. Haven't used either much but have been seeing them in recent threads and would like to try them. This will push me to try. Angela

I x-posted with Lin and I didn't know that Bryce 4 doesn't have metaballs, so I agree that if you don't have meta's then the terrain and lattice thing is an excellent substitute.

Sounds good to me, but can you either drop the metaball thing or are we going to limit this month to bryce 5 only. I dont mind either way as I have version 5 but Isstrout does have a valid point.

whoops, sorry about that, forgot that B4 didn't have metaballs....I still like that constraint though...would it be ok to have a different requirement for 4 vs 5 and just trust folks to be honest? Have the 4 folks use a lattice as suggested?

Sounds like a fun challenge again.

And I almost started to think of being sneaky and making something in Wings and smoothing the hell out of it and importing just so I could get by the metaball thing with my ol' Bryce 4. Heheh... I think I could have fun with the subject though.

I like it. It would be nice to substitute metaballs with lattices for those who have B4. Hey, I was just starting to try my hand with those meatballes... :) If b4ers are ok with the lattice/metaballs switch, for me it's ok all the way. Stefano

I like the sound of this one.

Youre the one with the trophy and the podium. Lets Do It!

I like the idea and the technical requirements will force me to learn, but I have a newbe question. Could someone explain exactly what is meant under photographic texture? Does it mean it has to be a photograph used as a texture, or can it be, for example, an abstract from, say, photoshop? Or am I getting this completely wrong? Thanks.

Great idea on the requirements/limitations!

got Bryce 4... and no metaball generator, so I'll get my chance next month, nice topic by the way.

Pidgy, B4 users will use lattices. Don' thinkk you are getting out of this month's challenge that easily, lol. tatjana, you got it right. Claymor, when you get everything ironed out, post the theme into a new thread, as to avoid any confusion between discussion and the final plan. Thanks!

With people who have Bryce 4, why not allow lattices/terrains and metaballs for all? I have Bryce 5, but maybe a lattice would work for me where a metaball won't.

Ok, seems to me the main topic still under consideration is whether the use of lattices in 4 and the use of metaballs in 5 is alright with everyone. Wouldn't want one group to feel that the other had an advantage. So far it sounds like everyone is ok with it. I have a play rehearsal tonight so I'll check this thread when I get home and post the final version to the new thread then.

Claymor, How about choice of metaballs or lattices? Although I've got B5 I'd like to play with the lattices too. I don't have a good digital camera so I'd have to "borrow" something for that.

OK here.

Cool, thanks Claymor. Perhaps a choice between either a lattice/metaball would be good. bikermouse, I'm sure you want to take a pic of something specific, but if you can't, there are MANY resources for photo textures online. If there is something specific you, or anyone needs, yell it out, I'm sure I (or someone else) knows where to find it. But, I feel your pain, I would kill for a digital camera of my own. ;o) AgentSmith

I was thinking that as part of the collaboration we all enjoy so much here on the forum we could share photo textures as they might be needed throughout the challenge. Kind of an "ask and it shall be given" thing. Maybe in parallel to the final rules posting tonight we could post a string with our favorite photo texture links as well.

i dont think there should be a choice between lattices and metaballs for b5-ers.... U aren't getting out of it that easily!

I guess having it a choice does make it unfair, since Bryce 5'ers could choose metaballs OR lattices, and Bryce 4'ers could ONLY choose lattices.

`course if a regular Bryce 5 user chooses lattices and states that they didn't use 5, but 4 instead, you'll just have to trust them.

if there's any doubt, check their galleries, most ppl post wut app and version they used

I use both 4 & 5. I'm confused! NOT! Sounds like a neat challenge. I hope I can think of something to do.

I honestly hope we don't have to resort to sloothing. This is supposed to be fun.

We most likely won't. It's just part of my job to think of ALL posssible future points of conflict before they MIGHT happen, lol. Occupational habit. I don't think it will be much of an issue, though. AS

I think to even up things the metaballs should be dropped and replaced with Lattice/terrains for both. If a B5er wants to use metaballs and/or trees in addition to the required stuff its not a big deal. Just an idea. ???

Maybe we could have a separate thread called "show us your balls" umm "Metaballs". Sort of like the thread going on right now about the first renders we did.

A simple question, aren't tree lab's trees made of metaballs? Would Bryce trees be allowed as a metaball standin?

i don't think so.... unless u want to make a tree from scratch using actual metaballs.....

quest, I think that's a little too easy :)

Great topic by the way. I've got a great idea. I hope I've got the time to finish it.

Attached Link: http://www1.sphere.ne.jp/mizno/main_e.html

Truespace 3.2 also uses metaballs.

Looks like I have to work this weekend. Bummer. Seems like the metaball tut in Metasequoia is turning into the forever project. Hey Bikermouse, good call. I forgot about TS 3.2 and there's a link in one of the threads below for the free version.