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I need advice. I'm just getting back into some graphic production after a few years hiatus. I have an old copy of Bryce 2 and an old copy of Poser 2. I also now have Photoshop 6. I've recently upgraded to Poser 5, but am not so sure about Bryce anymore. I've heard a lot of good stuff about Vue d'Esprit, not the least of which is its ease of use. I never really learned Bryce 2 very well anyway, and, frankly, I need as easy a learning curve as I can find since it seems I have so many things to learn these days. So I have some questions. How easy or difficult are these two packages in comparison to one another? -- or even in comparison to other programs if you want to offer an opinion. And how compatible are Poser 5 and Vue 5? How about export formats? I may also be using POV-Ray, and hope to do some C++ programming stuff with OpenGL in the near future. What I'm wondering is how many of these differing tools can I expect to get to work together? Do Poser figures really work in Vue as well as they claim they do? I understand you can reposition the figures, and that they have a complete Poser animation add-on package. How does that ease of use of Poser in Vue compare to Bryce? And just for another example, if I create something in Vue I really like, will it be possible to auto-convert any of that to OpenGL code, or vice versa? What about POV-Ray issues? Any compatibility there? I posted a similar message in the Bryce forum and will try to weigh all the responses in both forums to make a decision. The one thing I know is that the Bryce upgrade would cost me quite a bit less ... Anyway, I will appreciate any and all feedback about the pros and cons of each package, compatibility issues, etc., etc., and will be checking in, probably, on a daily basis. Thank you all very much in advance for your thoughts.

Well first go to the section Cool & Groovy stuff and read all about what the difference the two programs have. This has aready been done.. There is no Vue 5 and Poser 5 currently has problems with Vue. The only thing that Vue exports is pictures, alpha, depth and terrains. Oh and a pluggin to atmospheres for lightwave. That's it if that is what you need for OpenGL your in luck. It's 1/4 times easier to learn and it's 1,000,000 times more powerful IMHO. Take a look in the gallery. Search for most viewed. See for yourself !

Sorry to miss the Cool & Groovy ... Thank you.

Vue d'Esprit

I was completely 100% new to this computer art world when I started and had 0 experience in any kind of art. I tried the Bryce demo and the Vue demo. Vue won me over. Easy to use and works great. I HIGHLY recommend you try the Vue demo and see for your self how it fits your needs. :)

far as the price... If you own Bryce I think there's a competitive upgrade available for Vue.

I'm always a bit amused by these queries. On the Vue forum, of course the answer will be Vue. On the Bryce forum - Bryce. Not to belittle the question. It's not easy to part with a couple of hundred dollars, so I don't blame anyone for asking. I just get a kick out of it. What can I say, I'm easily amused. ;-) Anyway, my two cents... I had Bryce at work and hated the interface. Tried the Vue demo and loved it so much I bought it for myself at home, and wish we had it at work. Download the demo and give it a whirl. I'm sure you'll be convinced as well. jon

I did't say that cause I never tried them both. I own them both. Not bryce 5 though the older metacreations one. I got Vue demo somehow tried it and liked it so much I bough it that very same day and I am never going back to Bryce ever! I tried Bryce 5 demo. Delete.... Vue rules! You can actually do what you want in it with no problems really. It works as advertised. The difference is user friendly (Vue) and friendly user (Bryce). If you can figure that out then it's simple really. Actually ask around this forum you'll find a lot of people here that owned bryce and switched. I wonder why they all did that? Hmmmmm.....

Thanks everyone for the comments, even those of you who were amused or a little put off by my naivete and my question. I will probably go for Vue, and I may even upgrade Bryce as well, but I am too strapped for money to do it now ... ;*( Thanks again!

Oh, I was not at all put off by your question, and apologize. I probably should have held my tounge (or fingers in this case) and not made the first part of my reply. As I said, it's hard to part with more than loose change, so better to ask than to be sorry later. I think you'll like Vue. Be sure to try the demo before commiting any cash. jon

I tried Bryce, after an hour I still was no where. With Vue I had a picture creation in 5 minutes.