What I do in Wings (backsliding, but not outright heresy..;), is I'll open Bryce, create a cube (2d surface would probably work as well, but I'm lazy..;) texture it, and fiddle with lighting, etc., until I get what I want. Then I fill the whold screen with it, and Save Image As. (jpg usually, but if you have a lot of time and disk space, you could default to bmp..;). 

Then go to your modeling program, and import the image as a texture (if Wings can do it,  I'm sure lightwave can..;)  that's about the only way. I've managed to do a coupla dozen mats this way, and so far, it's worked.

I wish I'd said that.. The Staircase Wit

anahl nathrak uth vas betude doth yel dyenvey..;)