How many have tried the Bryce 5 update? I don't see a damn bit of difference, particularly in tree lab. The same crappy trees are there. If you pick any conifer it does not produce anything like a conifer. Makes me wonder if the download worked. Paul

The tree lab is kind of complex. You have to adjust a lot of the parameters to get the desired effect. I agree it should be easier to use, but I always manage to get the effect I'm looking for. I'm using the update and the one feature that was supposed to be fixed (terrain clipping) still does not function correctly. I'd suggest reporting the problem to Corel Bryce Support, they're the only ones who can do something about it. I notice a lot of people come here to complain about how they can't do something in Bryce. The majority of the time the fault lies with the user not knowing enough about the software to achieve the effect they want. Out of frustration they blame the software. To be perfectly blunt, all 3D software can be deceptively easy to use, but it all can take a lifetime to master. I've been using Bryce for almost 6 years and I'm completely self taught. Despite that I still learn something new everyday and I don't consider myself a "master" by any means. Try experimenting with some dial adjustments in the tree lab and you'll see how you can make all kinds of trees with just slight adjustments.

Alleycat169: Thanks for your reply. I agree many question are just a matter of learning more about Bryce. I have been using it since Bryce 2 and learn at least one new thing every time I use it. But that is kind of the problem, I want to use it to create something, not necessarily have a learning experience. Speaking of dial adjustments, how do you get rid of the curve that is in all tree trunks when viewed up close? Or what adjustments do you use to put a curve in a tree trunk (where you want it) or cause a bend in a tree trunk to make it look natural? These are the quality issues I mean. I feel Bryce has great potential, but so far none of the owners are willing to develop it. None of the other "more expensive" programs have some of the potential that Bryce does, particularly in landscape scenes. The lab concept is a great idea, but the tree lab as it stands is not worth much for making realist looking trees. Paul

There are a few lil things that were added to the patch. Try holding down your alt+command keys and click on the create treeicon in the menu bar, a screen comes up in your bryce folder, choose the trees folder and some pre made trees are located there, not all the types of the trees were done, but there are some good ones in there. And the reason the tree trunks have a lil buldge to them is because they are spawned from metaballs.But with some tweaking you can get a clean trunk.

Clay: Thanks for your suggestion. I have tried to get rid of the deformed tree trunk...what do you tweak in the tree lab? Thanks again; Paul

I guess it's true then "Only God can make a tree". To be honest I've never seen any expensive programs that could make a perfect tree either. If you want an easier way to nicer trees there is always the "Delvin Forest" CD, available at www.3dplants.com for around $50. It has a huge assortment of every kind of tree, and a large selection of conifers. Well worth the money if you are not happy with the tree lab in Bryce. In my opinion the tree lab is a vast improvement over the measly few tree meshes and textured spheres that are still in the "create" menu. By the "curve" do you mean the little bulge in the middle of the trunk? If so I haven't figured out how to get rid of that either. I usually just do a little post render touch up to get rid of that. I do the same thing to get rid of jagged edges on Poser models and other imported meshes. You can curve the branches down or up using the Gravity slider, I don't know of any way to bend the trunk...yet. I gave up on waiting for someone to turn Bryce into Lightwave a long time ago. For the money it is hard to beat, but I never expect it to be perfect. If you're waiting for all the "issues" to be fixed before you create something, you'll be old and gray before you post your first picture. I've got a six page gallery here full of images created with this imperfect software. I know it's flawed, but I prefer to see the glass as half full and not half empty. I have my learning experiences as I am creating things, and sometimes I just "play" looking for new tricks. You should just make the best of what you have and start posting some images. You'll be surprised at how much more you'll learn when you see your own work next to other people's. No one expects your work to be flawless, you shouldn't either. Jump in, the water's fine. ;-)

Hit ALT and click the tree icon, and a list of preset trees will pop up.

Alleycat169: Thanks for your reply. I have been do computer art for years. I would not want Bryce to be Lightwave, actually I think Bryce has more potential than Lightwave for landscape and even perhaps still life art which are my interests. I agree the tree lab is a great improvement over the "ready made" trees included with Bryce, but the "ready mades" were totally useless. Everyone says for the money Bryce is worth it. That may be so, but I think Bryce could be so much more, perhaps Bryce should do as Lightwave did...have a Bryce Light and a Super Bryce. I would not mind paying more for an advanced Bryce. As I have said I really like the "lab" concept and the format of Bryce. The procedure for producing realistic trees in Lightwave or Maya for that matter is ridiculous. I don't mind learning processes and procedures, but I don't want to spend my time finding work-a-rounds. I would rather spend time creating art than correcting software issues, particulary ones that could be easily fixed like the tree trunk curve. Or adding a bending capability for trunks. Paul

If you alt-click on the tree icon, select the trees that they offer, you can get some great trees out of bryce... This is the douglas fir.. This is crack out of the box with no tweaking.. I think it looks great.. However, a tree like this takes a long time to render cause of all the leaves...

Hey, you're preaching to the choir. Tell Corel Bryce Support enough times and maybe Bryce6 will have those improvements. All I'm saying is that if you sit around waiting for the software to be perfect, you'll be sitting by yourself. Software, like life, is full of "work arounds". You make do the best you can with what you've got. Or you can sit around, complain and get nothing done, your choice.

BTW if you want real close close-ups of tree trunks instead of making them in the tree lab try using the terain editor if you dont need the top of the tree in your scene. You'll get a much better trunk to work with and could probably even bend it a bit. Just a suggestion.