I am an avid Bryce 5 user and have posted tutorials for Bryce on my Web site (as some of you already know-- I'm the one who did the Robby the Robot tut).

A friend recommended I give Vue a try, so I downloaded the demo version. It works fine and seems quite nice. I've only had it a day or two, but so far, it seems like it does all the things Bryce does, but a little differently. For example, the Terrain editor in Vue uses an Amorphium type of sculpting feature which I like better than what Bryce uses, but the Vue Moon isn't as advanced as Bryce 5. (Not that Bryce 5 has a really great moon). Vue has nice lens flare features which I don't see in Bryce 5, but Bryce 5 seems to have more orthagonal modeling options (I may not have found all the options in Vue yet)

So I kind of like them both!

I was wondering, for those of you who have got both programs, what are your opinions? I really love Bryce 5, it's my all time favorite, but I am also finding Vue is quite interesting and not all that hard to work with. Perhaps this is because I am so used to Bryce.

What are your experiences with both programs if you use them?

Oh, and I am attaching a really stupid picture I did in Vue. I was testing some of the features and made this pseudo sci-fi scene to test lighing and things. Vue demo doesn't allow a save, so this thing is gone now, but I was able to do a screen capture of the image just for play.

I'm thinking of buying Vue as it is currently on sale. And, it's always nice to have yet another 3-D modeling program! I suppose I should try this scene in Bryce 5 for a comparison of how easy it is to make and light etc. I may do that, now that I thought of it! Still, I'd like to know what you all think of these two. It's great to have more than one modeling program, that's for sure.

Well Vue has a demo for one lol. The lens flares sound interesting. I'll have to install that demo I downloaded a while back. Thanks for reminding me. All the best!

I have and love both programs. I think Vue 4 is on sale for under $100. At that price it is a real bargin! Each program has it's strength - Vue trees are way better then Bryce trees but I like Bryce's render quality better than Vue (even if it is slower). Wait till you try Vue 5 Infinite though... The eco systems are what really make that program worth every penny.

I'd asked myself this question over and over again,and I will conclude by saying Vue Infinite has some cool features and I'm more interested in the HDRI feature. BUT! I started outdoor scene creation with bryce 5 and since then I've grown with the program.My opinion is there is no 1 software that is ultimately self-sufficient,it actually depends on the user.Definitely,in the years to come there will be more user friendly advanced 3D programs,it depends on you.Grow with what makes your creativity comfortable. I know I'm still learning,but the things I do with Bryce today would have startled me years ago. My advice,discover the mysteries embedded within our faithful software.There are so many. ...by the way,your 'Robbie' tutorial rocks! I just discovered it this morning. Fo3.

I bet you could do a pic with vue demo and screen-grab it...?

I checked the HDRI-features of Vue Infinite and am a bit dissapointed.
Have look at my last render to see what Bryce can achieve with simulated radiosity.
The Ecosystem of Vue, though, is unbeatable. It is time for DAZ to implement some instances-feature, too.
In my opinion, the filters to achieve a good surface, etc. are something that make Bryce and Vue most different.
For me the Bryce's DTE is lovely, cute and mighty. The Vue's filters are mighty, mighty and mighty but less intuitiv.

Regards,
Volker Harun

Nice work Haroon!!!

Hi, See, I am learning already! I was so excited about VUE that I followed a link into Vue 4 and jumped on the demo to give it a try, without even thinking that maybe there were more products offered! But thanks to your messages, I checked the site out more carefully and WOW! The demo movie for Vue Infinite is amazing, and the price for the product seems very reasonable considering all it has to offer. Someday-- money come to me-- someday... For now I can probably swing the cash for Vue 4. Thanks for your comments!

Instead of spending $79.00 or so for the Bryce 5.5 upgrade, I got Vue4 on sale for $49.00. I've been enjoying playing with it and feel that it was a good way to spend my money! I'm a long time Bryce user, and still like it better because I'm so comfortable with it, but Vue is a sweet little program. You can get skies and lighting to look nice without too much experience, the interface is easy to use, and as stated by someone above, the trees & terrains are nice. Imports are easy, too. I like both programs and am glad I now have both.

Neither Vue nor Bryce are modelers, Clyde.

What! Builders then?