If I import a 3ds file into Bryce4, I can't export it as 3ds. The export is grayed out. Also can an obp file be exported as anything other than obp. An answer would be appreciated. I thought I was smarter than this, but if it can be done I sure can't figure it out. Thanks, Dutchman.

From my limited experience with Bryce, only terrians can be exported directly. Now, some 3rd party applications can perhaps help you out. 3DExplorer might just be one of them. I've only played around with the Demo version (in free stuff I believe, if not, try ZDNet). It can open just about ANY application file and allow you to look at the elements. This might be the missing link you're looking for. :)

You can export it again but Bryce hides that option from you - select the 3ds object and then click on the E - as if you were going to edit/smooth it - then hit Ctrl-D (for a PC) don't know what the key combo is for a Mac and then you can export it again. Hope this helps, Jade Jaded Images - http://jade3d.posermail.com

How did you ever figure that one out? Is there something similar to export an obp. file to 3ds or obj.? But anyway it worked. There is no way I would ever have discovered that technique. Why would Bryce hide this feature do you suppose? I wonder what else there is to know but is hidden from us? Thanks Jade. I appreciate your's and everyone's help. Dutchman.

buy susan kitchens bryce book and youll find many things bryce hides :-))

Actually I think I picked that up at one of the Bryce Yahoo! Groups - but Pervers is right - buy Real World Bryce 4! It is worth every penny it costs and you won't regret it! Jade

Quick breakdown on exportables: Bryce Primitives (cube, sphere, etc.) and rocks: export as .obj only. This is a proprietary (and indecipherable) Bryce format. Other programs cannot use this. Imported meshes (DXF, 3ds, whatever): these are exportable ONLY if they were imported and have not been ungrouped/regrouped. Sometimes, ungrouping and regrouping is OK... but not always, it's weird. Use the Edit/Ctrl-D trick above. Terrains: exportable via the Terrain room. Several formats, including .obj, .dxf, .3ds are supported. Materials: exportable as Bryce presets only. Textures: exportable as Bryce presets only (however, you can get a full-screen planar preview of a texture, then take a screenshot, to export as a bitmap). Animation: Not exportable. Basically, Bryce is designed as a "final step" renderer, rather than a modeller.... it imports many things but exports virtually nothing.

Flickerstreak wrote: ++++++++++++++++++++ Bryce Primitives (cube, sphere, etc.) and rocks: export as .obj only. This is a proprietary (and indecipherable) Bryce format. Other programs cannot use this. ++++++++++++++++++++ A couple of errors there, one probably a typo, the other just incorrect. Bryce's proprietary format is obp, not obj. Bryce rocks are meshes and can be exported in any of the formats that Bryce(4) exports to, using the method described above. The Bryce export facility isn't 'hidden' as such; it's just an unsupported feature. It was probably developed too late to include as part of the official release, and that would explain its absence from the manual, etc. The programmers 'leaked' the info so's that users could benefit. I've always found it very stable, and never had any difficulty exporting items that were ungrouped, regrouped, and even combined with other meshes.

I just started using 3D Explore demo. Seems it can import a .max file and export it as something that Bryce will recognize. Thus an interesting way to get more models imported to Bryce than what is directly supported.

Thanks everybody. I think I will take the advice and get the book. I think there are some great meshes made in obp. format, and could use them in BCAD and RHINO. But I understand now that Bryce doesn't export the obp. format. The one thing good about getting Bryce4 is the fact I got to know some of you through your help, and I am very appreciative for the help you have given me. Thanks again. Dutchman.