I think you may be thinking of it in the wrong way. Don't think of it as getting closer, think of making features at the scale you want to see them at. A terrain large and in the background can be a mountain. One small and up close (or with a tin can next to it) can be a molehill :-) The rest of what you are talking about, grass, sand, etc. is just a matter of textures. Also, it is a common trap to think that all the terrains produced by Bryce are just the default mountain shape. Play around with the other Fractals, and you'll probably find a piece of ground like what you are looking for. Does that make any sense?

Are you using File/Import Object? What happens when you do?

The shell doesn't necessarily have to end at the bottom of his feet... The duplicate and enlarge would work, but when you position him, make sure to always place the "solid" feet on the ground. It is a magic glow after all. And you could use an "atmosphere" type material (like for planets) and color it green. Just my 2 cents.

Yeah, POV is an outstanding renderer, and you can't beat the price ;-)

Another point - you might be asking if you need to put the files in a particular directory. No. In fact, I'm pretty sure that once you import them, they are kept in Bryce's database, and you don't even need to keep the .BSK files if you don't want to (although it would probably be a good idea in case you ever needed to bring them into a clean install).

Attached Link: http://www.phase2.net/claygraphics/Intro.html

I'm not where I can try it, but how about hiding it, then making it visible?

Yes, those could come in quite handy... Knowing how they are made would be even handier :-)

I don't know about Rhino, but it has been my experience importing objects into Bryce that I can Control-Shift-Click on the object and select individual pieces, without ungrouping the original. Perhaps you can use this to create your own groups. Hope this helps.

I know this won't help, but I did see this somewhere on the net. It was a tutorial. Try surfing some searches. If I run across it I'll post it.

Cool stuff, the only problem I have is that where the legs attach doesn't sit right somehow. Unfortunately I have no suggestions on how to do it different :-( By the way, can you share the secret of the forest and river? :-)

I do have the manual :-), but as with so many things, manuals and even 3rd party books tend to use 2 pages to explain something that could be said in a single paragraph. I was just hoping someone could distill the idea for me.

Looks great! You could really take off with this concept. You could try making the pyramids more like mirrors; not pure mirrors, but like a chrome or something, that way we'd see reflections in all directions (this will, of course, increase rendering time). You could repeat the structure a few times in random places off in the distance, suggesting that there are "parks" where Earth still comes through. You could scale down the terrain, perhaps making it look more like real mountains, forest, etc. Maybe even water? Another suggestion: I like the sunlight, but this might call for a bit more moody of an atmosphere. A bit darker. Anyway, I don't want to seem like I'm designing your piece :-) It just gets my imagination going. Happy rendering!

Neat! Really more imaginative than just plopping an island in a lake ;-) Here's a variation idea: make the thing in the middle of the pyramids like a rock texture, or even PUT a natural looking terrain there, so it is being "protected" by the pyramids in an otherwise techno landscape... Happy rendering!

Unfortunately, I don't have Photoshop, but I have Paint Shop Pro 5.0, which has many of the needed capabilities. I have read that section, and can't seem to reproduce it in PSP, although I think you'd be able to.