As a long-time Brycer, I find that I take certain things about Bryce for granted.  This was recently brought home to me by a question someone put to me (in a PM...).  So, I would like to know how the relative new-comers to our beloved program would respond to some related questions.

This is primarily aimed at those who have gotten Bryce since it was acquired by DAZ, but any old-timers who would like to chip in their twocentsworth are also welcome to comment.  This is purely a personal survey, with NO official weight, so don't feel like Big Brother is watching. 

Anyway, here's the questions:

1. Did you buy the boxed version (ie., with a printed manual) or get a downloadable version (with no printed manual)?

1a. If you have a manual, do you consult it, and how often do you consult it?
1b. If you do not have a manual, do you consult the online reference pages that DAZ has up? How often?
1c. Do you find either the manual/reference pages useful as reference material?  Easy to use? Annoying?  Frustrating?

Assuming you do not use the manual/reference pages, then:

2.  If you need information, do you like/dislike online tutorials?
3.  If you need information, do you like/dislike asking in a Bryce forum?

4.  I would like to hear general comments/opinions on the state of Bryce help/reference.  Please this is NOT asking for comments/opinions about the state of the program itself, just the state of and efficiency of resources for help for Bryce.
 

Anyway, that's the general survey. 

To get the ball rolling, here are how I would respond:
I have a manual, but consult it seldom if ever.  But that is more because I tend to stay within my comfort zone, and not venture into the scary depths of the DTE, for example.  I occasionally use/consult online tutorials, if I see that they are focused enough to meet my particular need at the time. 

Another question perhaps. Have you heard of/read/consulted Kitchen's bryce book?

I have Bryce 5.1 and Bryce 6 boxed.

Heh.  Yeah, that one too, Bryster.  grin

I got Bryce 4 off of a magazine; came with a CD....;)

Some people have problems with manuals. For those, there's also tutorials...check the title up above (masthead, Bryce back room).

I bought Bryce 5  and all later versions as downloads. First time I printed out the manual and read it - that gave me serious headache and I read a lot of tutorials...

Then I started using the forum for help and soon after, the RenderGods chat. That worked out perfectly for me. All I know, I learned from this forum and the chat :)

IMO, manuals are good, tutorials are better, forums are best.

I don't have Kitchen's book - but I do have "The bryce 3D Handbook". Didn't really use it though...

1. Boxed (version 4.0)

1a. Rarely consulted the version 4.0 documentation, BUT I studied the HECK out of Real World Bryce 4 (Susan Kitchens), and still reference it to this day. It is unrivaled in its DEEP knowledge of Bryce, even now as I use Bryce 6.

1b. Only went through Daz's online pages to see details of new attributes.

1c. Real World Bryce 4 by Susan Kitchens is STILL the Bryce bible. Like any bible it is vast, but I have found to be easily read (in smaller bites)

1. Online tutorials -  I prefer written tutorials, as I just need to get to the meat of the task. I don't really want to have to sit through video.

2. I have ALWAYS loved the forum here. SO many new ideas come out of asking how to do just one. Great synergy here over the years.

*Btw, Real World Bryce 4 can be found at Amazon right now for under $7 (used)

AgentSmith

Electronic download version, and I didn't realize there was a manual available - I've only had it a few weeks. 

Robin Wood's Bryce tutorials are where I've started.  I've also been looking at other tutorials, which I find to sometimes be a huge help if the writer explains what they're doing and why. 

I'm a newbie with Bryce..I started with the free download of Bryce 5 and then bought the download version and use Bryce 6.1 now.  I have the download manual but I use everything I can to learn...I watch the forum here and check the tutorials and check the manual.  If I need to know something, and i can't find it here...I ask questions.
plus...I do a lot of experimenting in the program.   :biggrin:

Bought boxed Bryce 5.0 before Daz's acquisition and Kitchen's book the same day.  The manual then was just a few pages.  I still refer to Kitchen's book (I actually read through it once; although my images don't prove it)  Daz's manuals are just taking up HD space.

I would ten times more rather have a hard copy book than a on-line tutorial or DVD based tut.  I like having something open and in front of me. 

Susan Kitchen should write an appended section for her book and put it back into print. 

HEY ,BRYSTER, WHY NOT THREATEN HER WITH COMFY CHAIR IF SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT. 

HEY, AS, WHY DON'T YOU WRITE THE UPDATES AND CONVINCE PUBLISHER TO REPRINT THE BOOK.

This may be sort of OT...

After reading AgentSmith's post, I went to Amazon to get Kitchen's book. Apparently they don't ship to Denmark.... O_O

Any ideas on what to do..?

*After reading AgentSmith's post, I went to Amazon to get Kitchen's book. Apparently they don't ship to Denmark.... O_O

Any ideas on what to do..?

*Move to the USA? :lol:

Very funny, Bryster.... :P

Barnes and Noble has it also..and they do list International shipping so maybe you can try it there..

cost was $6.68  for used book and a CD...no new copies.

Bryce book at BB

if the link doesn't work just search for it..   :biggrin:

Lets see, i started with a Free Cover CD version of Bryce 4 on 3D World magazine, and the tutorial within about booleaning a walker robot.
I read the PDF manual (well skimmed to the bits i needed as i needed them), then i watched this forum, listened and learnt the many tips and tricks that came through (AS posted many useful solutions in those early days). Plucked up the courage to ask a few questions that i had,that had not yet been answred. Followed the links to various tut sites. (Brycetech's wonderful resource - it was a proud day when he wanted my animations on his DVD). Never bought a manual book. Just self taught - Upgraded, buying 5.5 and V6. (And will probably buy 7 as well when its released in 2030 - :)

Susan Kitchen should write an appended section for her book and put it back into print

I talked with Susan some years ago. I think it may have been when Daz acquired Bryce. She expressed interest in writing updates to her book, to cover the new attributes of Bryce. Her thought was to distribute them via pdf. Unfortunate that it has never happened.

AS

I have had Bryce since version 3. I have always gone through the manuals. I also have appriciated the many tutorials that come with it as well.

I started out with Bryce 2.0 off a Zip disk. That dates me.

I was doing some graphics for a friend who wanted me to add some 3D graphics to the work I was doing.  He was a game developer and some how was connected to the 2.0 development team. Don't ask how, I don't remember. As you may have guessed it didn't come with any manuals. I had to self teach myself the program. And not to well I mite add. I learned enough to finish the project.

Then when 4.0 came out I bought the boxed version. Read the manual front to back. Unlike some here I didn't have any problems with the tutorials. In fact I found the book version to be the most understandable manual I have ever read for any software I have used to date.

When I upgraded to 6.0 online only DAZ. I tried to use the online and PDF manual to lean the new features. They were a pain in the ass to use. Mainly because you can't have the program and the screen versions open it the same time. They just don't work well together.

I have found the DAZ online one is good for a quick guide only. If I need something beyond that I print a page when I need it or search the web. And if I really get stuck I'll come here to pick some brains. 

I started with Bryce 2 off a magazine disk, and have 4, 5 and 5.5 all from the same source. I have never read a tutorial or even seen a manual or online help. Learned the whole program from pushing buttons. A LOT OF TIMES.

I started off with I think Bryce3D off a magazine - or it might have been Bryce4.  I think the mag was 3DWorld.  No manuals.

Got Poser around the same time, think that might have been 3 too.

No longer have either, lost somewhere on one of our many moves.

I got Bryce5 as a boxed version but I never had a manual.

Got 6 as a download off Daz.

I started on a Bryce forum at Compuserve, then moved to Renderosity.

I never got on with Daz's efforts at documentation, but I was very pleased to acquire a nice copy of The Bryce Bible aka Susan Kitchens' and Victor Gavenda's "Real World Bryce 4" - which I have ever since found absolutely invaluable!

As Kirk says, even with Bryce6.

It's a great pity that Susan Kitchens hasn't done an update for Bryce 6, a real shame.  I would have bought it.

but the Bible notwithstanding this forum has been just the best place to learn and pass on stuff once learnt.  The community spirit here makes such a difference.

Tutorials - so long as they are NOT video ones - have also been a great help, some of which I've printed and kept.

I also did a Bryce course with the Eclectic Academy - an online system, that went through Robin Wood's tutorials (with a live tutor available as well) - which is how I found those and that led to Brycetech, VanLippe, Zhann, AS etc etc...

I got Bryce 4 from a friend who wanted to do more with 3dsmax (after sending me a few show-offs about the modeling I have never seen a render from him again)

Then I got the opportunity to buy Bryce5 at a site for studentssoftware...
So I have a boxed version with manual and I bought a secondhandversion of the Kitchen cook book..(the disk was missing)..

The manuals are not always easy to use...after a certain point they assume that you know where all the buttons are....
I love onlinetutorials......they are easier to use...and most of the time in simple language (because for some of us english is our second,third etc language)
and what is more important : they have PICTURES....lol....fantastic screenshots...!!!!

If I want to know something I usually search the forums.....tuts.....and than maybe the manuals...I do not ask very often...I like to find out myself..

(I've been reading the answers with fascination!...Interested to see the different approaches everyone took to come into the Bryce fold.)

 I started with Bryce 4, the boxed version, and read the manual and did the tuts within. I also have the Kitchen book which has turned out to be the best book buy I have ever purchased. I went from Bryce 4 to 5 and then 5.5 and now have 6.1.

I have learned the new features of later versions by just trying them out and seeing what happens. And also by consulting online tuts and pdf's. But I haven't used DAZ's much. Mostly going to 3dcommune and Peter Sharp's website and also Brycetech. I much prefer written tuts with photos and screen shots over video tuts.

The forum here is also a great place to learn new tricks. The people here are very knowledgeable and always willing to help. The atmosphere is friendly (well, most of the time) and laidback and I don't feel intimidated to join in on a thread whenever I have something to contribute.