Hi everyone! When I participated in my first challenge, I swore to myself that, if I ever won, I'd choose the theme "Inspired by a book". I've changed my mind. I just wrote this in the hope that some of the future winners will take this subject, ehm :) I think the spirit of the challenge is to learn, exactly like we all did with Zhann's DTE theme, so I decided to go absolutely selfish and propose a challenge on the Bryce issue I feel the most uneasy about: Trees, treelab, vegetation and nature scenes. I say "selfish" because I just want to learn the more I can from all the fantastic ideas, things and techniques that will surely come out. So, I would say: the purpose of the August challenge will be to create a nature scene (landscape, forest, wood, lake, desert, you name it) using the proper Bryce tools: the TreeLab and the SkyLab. The scene must be lit "naturally" (this means by Bryce sunlight and Bryce sky and Bryce atmosphere) and must contain at least one original Tree (or bush or shrub) created in the treelab... a tree that, hopefully, will go (as a model or as a tree-setting screenshot to be copied) in the Forum archives at the end of the challenge exactly as the DTE mats of this month's. I decided this because I realized that Bryce Box has the writing "LANDSCAPE GENERATOR" on it and I have no more than 2 or 3 landscapes in my whole gallery, and that 90% of my pictures are lit with "disabled sunlight and atmosphere off", and that I'm a total ignorant when it comes to tree and foliage and the likes. I want to learn from you people :) Ok, I think I was too messy. I'll try to state this thing clearer in the next post :) Stefano

Sounds good. I eagerly await MuddyGrub's entry :P

Ok, let's sum it up. Challenge theme: treelab and nature scenes. Challenge purpose: to gather a considerable amount of tree objects that will be available to all the community when the challenge ends. Basic rules: 1. The scene must be a depiction of nature (landscape, lake, waterfall, forest, woods and so on) - 2. It must contain AT LEAST ONE tree created in the Bryce TreeLab. Painted trees and 2D trees are allowed, but only if there's one original tree in the scene. - 3. The scene must be lit and atmosphered (ouch... sorry for the made-up word, LOL) with Bryce SkyLab. I'd say that a couple of radials and/or spotlights could be allowed, but only as filling-lights and not as the main illumination. - 4. The trees created must be made available for the community at the end of the challenge. - 5. Postwork: as usual, don't want to fret much about it. Just keep it to a tolerable amount. So, what do you think about it? Any suggestions? S.

And now my only great doubt is: what B4 users will do? We should find some "escape" like we did with the "metaball" challenge a while ago... but I can't think of one right now. If I was a tree-wizard, I could post 3d models of trees like Zhann did with the textures, but as I already said, I really suck at trees and vegetation (that's why I chose this theme, btw). Need your help on this issue. S.

Ante... Muddy is the author of the "penis tree"? :) LOL...

lol yes that's right. 2. It must contain AT LEAST ONE tree created in the Bryce TreeLab. Painted trees and 2D trees are allowed, but only if there's one original tree in the scene. I assume from the first post that you mean one original tree made in the TreeLab? How about B4 users make a tree or trees out of lattices/terrains?

Yes, with "original" I mean just that. Created in Bryce TreeLab. The lattice/terrains could be a solution. Or... wait, B4 had some tree models in the presets, I recall. They can use them, if they want.

Ah, I'm a big fan of Stephen King, so what do you think about "The Drawing of the Tree"? :) S.

Sounds cool...not my favorite topic...shudders while performing an exorcism on the TreeLab But then...neither was the DTE.

Ohhhhh...just shoot me now! It will be a long haul if I try this one.....the outside is not my friend. Well, I made it through the DTE...I will just grit my teeth. Diane

Ooooooooooo, I love it! 'Course it's my favorite topic anyway but it gives me a reason to try new things. Wheels are already turning! :o)

Cool topic. wishes he could enter his image "Memories" but knows he can't

This is awsome!!!! Not only have I beens studying up on my landscape scenes for quite some time now, but I have been working on a certain image, in which I've been dinking in the tree lab now for about 5 days, so I have a head start on everyone!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Naturally, I'm all for this one. I've been out of the last two challenges, but this time, I think I'll have time to participate!! oh, and congrats DC!! you deserved it. brholte

Yes Yes Yes! I love nature and tree scenes. Peggy

I like it ( uh huh ... sure) walking away to the treelab, muttering to herself

treelab? what is it with you guys and self-punishment? :P

oh and btw, you gotta consider the bryce 4 peeps too...

I remember a gingerbread man tree a couple of months back. I assume the tree must be made with the treelab. Also, Is this totally a landscape render? Handsel and gretel, tthe old mill, or george washington chopping down the cherry tree could involve trees promenently in the render and still have poser or building imports or constructions.

Sounds like a good learning experience again. Nice topic Stefano. 8)

Uh what's the tree lab? Vile searches through his gallery and doesn't remember seeing any trees suddenly the floor drops out from beneath him and he falls into a pit of trees.

Trees??? Why did it have to be trees???

Oh yeah and what the Hell is this natural sun light I keep hearing about?

Vile, Could'a been snakes. - TJ

So, for the Bryce 4 folks...might we allow them to substitute one or more of the pre-packaged trees? I think there are some that load with the default in the create menus. (Personally I think it gives them an advantage) But crash, really...the treelab....sheesh...talk about a crap shoot. I can't ever make it do anything I WANT it to do. I just gamble and gamble again. (Thinks maybe he'll do a poser Godzilla stomping on a bunch of tiiiiiny trees.)

Alright DC! I've been wanting to get to know the tree lab better(get the whips and chains), yes Drac, self punishment is the way to go...;] just kidding, so far every tree I've made has gone awol or it's gone ballistic on Bryce for some reason...well, I'm game, into the forest of shadows, onward........besides I just read a tutorial on making trees from lattices, interesting concept and the results were more than exceptable...8)

exceptable=acceptable

Sounds great to me!!

Congrats DC on your challenge win, good theme for Aug challenge. Even though I haven't seen Hobbit enter a challenge I hope he doesn't decide to enter now or we are all doomed ;o)

Congratulations Stefano! I think your challenge topic sounds like a great one. I have grown to really enjoy tinkering around with the treelab.

What about 2d pic textures, do you want to allow those? i.e., a pic texture to use for the leaves, etc. AgentSmith

Or imports?

How about a name for the Challenge?

The Drawing of the Tree... Post 8.

... and imported trees? Hmm, I might have to do some physical research on this tree thing... Some place with trees and landscapes and Bears and things ??? ... thinking to myself Ah hah! Ive got it!! I think I saw a tree somewhere outside of Bishop.

The tree lab, aaarrrggghhhh!!! that means 2 days to design something, because it'll take the rest of the month to render.............. LOL good challenge, this one should be fun.

Attached Link: http://www.oplin.lib.oh.us/products/tree/name/commonname.html

For B4 users, there are also some nice and exotic trees on the B4 Content CD under Plant Library. They even look better than the B5 trees.

For those of you in Bryce4land here are some tuts on making trees from sym lattices; http://calyxa.best.vwh.net/pearl/miracle.html http://www.j.b.allen.btinternet.co.uk/bigsite/treetut1.html http://www.j.b.allen.btinternet.co.uk/bigsite/bigtrtut.html http://www.j.b.allen.btinternet.co.uk/bigsite/ground.html http://www.j.b.allen.btinternet.co.uk/bigsite/forscene.html http://www.billmunnsgallery.com/xtreetut.html http://www.billmunnsgallery.com/treetut.html http://www.brycetech.com These trees can look better than the tree labs trees....

A landscape made with Bryce? Thats a novel idea Stefano, lol. Itll be good to get back to what the software was made for and the tree lab is slightly more cuddly than that b*@+*^ DTE. Out with the welly boots and fertilizer!

Rofl..."The Drawing of the Tree"...;o) Clever, lol.

Attached Link: http://www.treegenerator.fr.st/

Attached Link: http://www.brycetech.com/tutor/bryce/tree1.html

Are ENTS allowed? I think B4 users should say so on their entries. I also think that light sources other than the sun should be a no-no...this is supposed to be natural..right? Can't you get extra illumination from reflections off water etc? And what about night scenes? 0.02p

Whoa... great response, a quite a bunch of suggestions. Thanx, I'll post another thread in some minutes with all your suggestions in. S.

"Can't you get extra illumination from reflections off water etc?" In real life yes. In bryce only with true ambience and you don't want too much ambience on a waterplane, because that doesn't look very nice. Plus you don't want to render a forrest with True ambience. The render would never be finished before the deadline. Night scenes have moonlight from the bryce moon.

'Night scenes have moonlight from the bryce moon.' I knew that! I was wondering of night scenes were allowed? or is that a dumb question?

1. The scene must be a depiction of nature (landscape, lake, waterfall, forest, woods and so on) That leaves it pretty open to the time of day, IMO.

Recommendation: Lighting should INCLUDE Bryce sunlight (not necessarily as the main illumination). One of the quirkinesses of Bryce is that a lot of settings in the Sky Lab that do great things to the sky also do hideous things to the rest of the scene.

Phantast, I think the challenging thing, along with the treelab, is exactly lighting with Bryce skylab. I almost never used it, but I want to discover the possibilities.