I'm a relatively new Bryce 4 user, new enough that I still have trouble with the interface. Anyway, I was convinced to upgrade to 5 as soon as it came out, even though the full Vue 4 program was only $50 more than the Bryce upgrade. Now I read in the Vue forum that they're going to offer Vue4 to Bryce users for $169. That's only $20 more than the Bryce 5 upgrade. I am in a quandry. Sould I stay with Bryce and save $20 or should I get Vue4 and have both Bryce4 and Vue4? Are there any users of both programs out there? What are the advantages/disadvantages of either? I am particularly interested in trees and other foliage. Vue 4 is supposed to have some "vegitation grower" but lacks trees. Bryce 5 has a tree designer, but no vegitation. Other points that would help me decide: File export/import abilities Render quality and speed Memory/system requirements Ease of use There are probably others, but I can't think of 'em right now. Can anyone shed some light on this dilema? Thanks in advance.

Each has strengths and each has weaknesses... Although the new vue d'esprit is going to be a great program, the new bryce kicks some serious butt, so I would go with both... You may find the interface on vue easier, if that is holding you back... File export, I don't know what they have planned for vue... Render is supposed to be faster than before, but I don't know if it's faster than bryce.. system requirements are probably going to be about the same for advanced features... Price should not be the determining factor... You can do some really great things with Bryce 4, and honestly speaking, upgrading to vue for $169 is not what I consider a bargain... You can probably get it new for $179 at some places that sell it on the web... I will probably get vue 4, because I like it personally, but I will definitely get bryce 5 because I know it better,...

V4 or B5- tough question. On the one hand you already have Bryce 4 so have a little less to learn with B5. Perhaps it is better to know one extremely well than to know both only reasonably well. On the other hand, a combination of B4 and V4 may well give you greater versatility than B5 alone. But as both programs have yet to be released why don't you just wait another month or so until you can read the opinions and see the images of people who have actually used the shipping versions? It's difficult to make such decisions when only specs are available but no real user information or experiences.

The beta testers for Bryce5 seem to be hinting that the info given out by the likes of 'Computer Arts' isn't fully accurate. It is possible, therefore, that Bryce5 may have additional features to those mentioned. What is certain is that you don't know the full specification of Bryce5 yet, and so it makes sense to delay any decision until you do. Then again, there is supposed to be a new version of Inspire coming out (which may be marketed as a 'light edition' of Lightwave) that is supposed to be quite cheap. If this new version is to Lightwave6 what Inspire was to Lightwave4, then it will blow both Bryce and Vue out of the water. I'm not going to rush to buy the new version of Bryce like I have with all the earlier efforts. I'm going to bide my time, wait and see what the users say once the novelty has worn off, and check out carefully what the competition is offering.

Good advice all around. I think I'll wait. Thanks.

Beware of what you read in "Computer Arts" they don't seem to be fully awre of what they are talking about half the time. A very overpriced mag if you ask me! Bryce 5 will reign supreme. Vue is cool, but Bryce blows ot off the map in everyway possible. Spend your money on Bryce. to further compliment Bryce go to eovia.com and get Carrara Studio 1.1 for all of your modelling needs, a great program. Bryce is the answer.Not Vue, it's not nearly as versatile, and it doesn't do a fraction of the cool things Bryce does.

Kaom: Thanks for the info, but could you be more specific? What does Bryce do that Vue can't? How does Bryce blow Vue off the map? In the Poser forum there's a thread named, "Landscapes Generators." It's currently message #44 on the second page. Anyway, the general feeling there is that Vue is the better choice, and some of those people have both programs. I'm waiting to see how everything shakes out and how Bryce imports Poser figures. By the by...I do use Carrara. Haven't got the patch yet, tho. May go for the $99 upgrade.

Bryce does more than just landscapes. It can create some amazing scenes(indoors,outer space,architecture,strange cool models,Dem and SDTS translation,uses photoshop filters, the list goes on). Plus Bryces renderer is amzing, slow but worth it.To me Bryce is as intuitive as a piece of software can be, the interface is truly a work of art combined with pure funtion. If all you want is to do Landscapes, then Vue would be fine. Another program worth checking out for landscapes is Natural Scene Designer, it's onlt about $90.00 and can do things neither Bryce or Vue can do, I bought it about a year ago and use it in conjunction with Bryce with great results,check it out.

Interesting point about "Computer Arts". Future publishing are renowned for producing populist crap aimed at late teens. Technically they are always behind. In UK, if you want a good graphics mag, get Digit. It's the same price and far superior.

I like 3D Artist(VERY CHEAP) and helpful, Computer Graphics World, and once in a while DV does some great coverage on 3D software.

Folks, can Vue create interior scenes, the way Bryce can? i'm asking because Vue intrigues me, but i've been a Bryce user since Year 1. i think Vue's plants may be way better than Bryce 5's, from looking at screen shots, but can one even extract anything from Vue to be used in other programs? Hmm. If i brought Vue would i be stuck with Yet Another Landscape Generator? i do NOT need more default lumpy terrains. ;^) If anyone would care to go more into a comparison, i'd be happy to read it! Nan

Nfredman: I emailed the Vue people with some questions. Here is a direct quote from their response: Question 1: I read on Renderosity (Bryce forum) that with Vue you have to buy every tree you need separately. Is that true? Answer: Vue 4 ships with 30 different species that can be edited to a certain extent - you can check out the tutorials on the web about how that can be done. We also regularly release extra vegetation, some for free, some paying ($10 each). Question 2: What are all the file types Vue 4 can import (*.obj; *.3ds, etc.)? Answer: COB, 3DS, LWO, OBJ, DXF and DEM, all with texture information. Question 3: In Bryce, you can only export terrains. What can you export in Vue and in what file formats? Answer: That's the same. You can export in all of the above + PoV, together with maps. Question 4: Is there a competitive upgrade price for Vue? Answer: Yes, $169 from Bryce 4. Check out our pricelist for full details. END OF QUOTE I don't really understand his answer to #3 when he says "It's the same." Did he mean the same as in Vue can only export terrains like Bryce, or that Vue can export the same file formats as it can export?

Well Bryce can export anything that it imported plus terrains but I know that most Vue items cannot be exported. I think you can export the imported things but I am not sure.

sigh So buying Vue to generate nice vegetation is basically a waste of money, eh?

Just get Bryce, you'll be happier in the end. Vue doesn't compare to Bryce, Bryce is an all around Capable 3D program. Vue is strictly for landscape outdoor scenes, and in my opinion doesn't do as good of a job at it as Bryce,if you need vegetation, there are hundreds of 3D veg models on the net, or use Carrara and make your own. There are also programs out there that excel at doing nothing but making vegetation. There is no argument for buying Vue over Bryce. Bryce wins hands down, it's more than just a piece of software, it's a lifestyle.

A simple fact that has remain unmentioned is this: the person behind the mouse probably has a greater effect on the final image than the program used. Bryce and Vue are similar yet different. You will find spectacular work done with either program but you will also find an awful lot of mediocre imagery done with both. Ask this same question in the Vue group and you will probably get the same answers except they will tend to be pro-Vue. What else would you expect? If you are having trouble choosing yet still want to decide soon try this. Spend an afternoon looking at both Vue and Bryce galleries so you will see what a good cross section of people can do with these programs. Soon you will start to see the strengths and weaknesses of each. Go with the program that plays best to your needs and style. Whichever you choose, if you create marvelous work it will be your doing, not the program's. Likewise, if you produce garbage don't blame your tools.

So buying Vue to generate nice vegetation is basically a waste of money, eh? Not at all. Used within its own environment you can do wonderful plant imagery. It is only a waste if you need to use the veggies in other programs. Vue is not marketed as such a tool. For that you might try something like XFrog. http://www.xfrog.com

I have both Vue d'Esprit 3.1 and Bryce 4. I like both programs. At the present Bryce 4 has the advantage over Vue 3.1 on volumetric textures, caustics, and some transparency funtions. Vue 3.1 takes the edge on trees, vegetation, natural lighting, and soft shadows. Vue 4 has corrected almost all of the disadvantages it had in comparison to Bryce 4. I read here that Vue does not do indoor scenes well. I would strongly disagree on that one. Just spend some time on looking at some of the work that others have posted here and other sites on the web and I am sure you will agree. As to Vue's trees and vegetation. To those of you that do not have the program, Vue actually grows the plants so to speak. If you click to generate a lets say a pear tree, you will not get the same tree several times, but several different versions of the same species of tree. It is very easy to edit the trees appearance, leaves, trunks etc. This is the one area where Vue realy socks it to Bryce 4. I get the impression that Bryce 5 will address this problem. As to which to buy if you could only have one, I would say wait to see what Bryce 5 will have when it is finally released, then look at what is being posted here to assist in your final choice on which to buy. Both are great programs and I will most likely continue to use them both. Happy rendering!