Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=279328&Start=1&Sectionid=2&WhatsNew=Yes&Form.sess_id

Hi all, I'm new to Bryce (and 3D rendering as a whole really!), and I would really appreciate some feedback. Mostly because one of the skills I need to learn and master is being able to spot whats good and whats bad in my renders, and a good way of doing that is to learn via feedback.

The image I've posted here is something I'm using to learn Bryce. I'm taking it slowly, and one step at a time. If you follow the URL, you'll see my first version that some of you may have seen in my gallery.

So anyway, what I really to know is whether you think I've achieved a more interesting landscape?

One of the difficulties I've had is making the Red/Orange sun bright enough to match its actual light source. I've used a volumetric flat shaded sphere (as per the tutorial at: http://www.brycetech.com/tutor/bryce/multiplesuns1.html). Unfortunately I've just not been able to colour or brightness match its material against its light source properties. In this image I've added a haloing effect with PSP to attempt to make the sun look brighter. Has this worked?

Thanks in advance for any advice you care to administer :o)

Yep halo effect has definitely worked. I really like the crackling texture on the hills. It seems to give it a wood like quality.

Yes, it's looking better now there's more detail and less orange light. The black shadows are distracting, as they are coming from a light source behind the viewer, so I would tend to decrease the back light and get rid of its shadows.

The shadows in the foreground are way to dark, but other than that I really like the image. Really cool texture on the hills like ttops said. It something that immediately stood out.

Looks great, makes me homesick.

I like it and yes, we've all been there. Only thing I see, is the light from the right casting shadows that go to the left, but the sun in the image is in from of you. The shadows should be going in the tother direction towards the viewer. Nice low fog, also.

Looking Good. One question where'd you get those rock textures? Love them.

This is a very imaginative land/sea scape. I really like the mist on the water in the distance. Not sure about the suns though. The Bryster (Chris)

Love the land/sea scape and texture. very well done on those.

As others have suggested turn off shadows for the light behind the camera and maybe even turn down the intensity so that it gives just a soft fill light glow.

Thanks for all the feedback everyone :) :)

I've dropped the rear light source to a silvery grey colour, and stopped it casting shadows. It certainly changes the feel of the foreground doesn't it?

The suns have always been behind the cloud layer, though I had unfortunately washed away the visible cloud layer of the sun in post whilst adding the sun "halos". I've tried to tone it down a bit this time. Hopefully making the suns look a little less "fake". Still not entirely sure how to improve them, but maybe I'm trying to run before walking there ;)

Btw, the hill texture is derived from the Eroded Grante material already appearing in Bryce, and then replacing its bump map with a simple Texture created from Noise in the DTE (Stone Cliff type, MultiFractal mode).

The foreground rocks use the "Veiny Stone" texture, but with a very simple bump applied.

Thanks again for the feedback. Maybe it's time to take the next step and move onto another composition!

Looks great. You're getting the hang of it ;)

Too homesick now, going to pack my bags. Well done.

Cool. You're a fast learner.