Quote - Since Bryce is all maps I am sure that is what he used.  So If you had some stock photos of the four elements you could map them onto the sphere or into on an alpha plane inside the sphere. 

 

I'm pretty sure Bryce has had procedural texture abilities and volumetric materials for quite a few years now. Clay's fire which was used in one of the spheres in the picture of discussion is essentially the brycian standard against which all other bryce fire materials are measured (and its free). 

Vue's function editor is still on my to-do/learn list, but it looks handy, so I would expect you could make simlar mats in that. Vue has a lot more lighting options though.

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Digital WasteLanD