is there a way to make your own shapes in bryce? like from scartch?

If you mean actual modelling, then no. However by using boolean, you can combine shapes to form much more complex objects. Or you can create a symetrical latice and go into the terrain editor (the E) and attempt to draw whatever your trying to make. Hope that helps.

Primitive can only be stretched & skewered. Boolean can be done, to create new shapes, by combining primitives. The terrain editor can be used to create a variety of different shapes. Metaballs can be used to create organic looking shapes.

At the moment, Wings3d is very popular for actual modeling...but Bryce can do many things if you havethe patience..... Wings3d.com The Bryster

Truespace 3 and Amapi 4 are also free downloads.

Attached Link: TRUESPACE 3 FREE

Attached Link: AMAPI 4.15 FREE

thanks everyone, by the way, does anyone know of any cool tiutorials that explain this?

Wings 3d has tutorials both on it's site, and in our Tutorials section. Truespace and amapi..I'm sure there's something..hang tite..
http://www.truespace.mania-online.com/truespace/index.html Truespace- truespace 1 is at http://www.pcplus.co.uk/article.asp?id=8556 Amapi can be downloaded from the Amapi forum, and several other modellers have links at the Modle Forum (both on this site). Truespace has a ...well, different interface, though Version 1 is light-years behind the current version. Amapi, takes some getting used to, I used it for awhile, then dropped it when Strata became available (great modeller, but the models are huuugge..;)
Also look for British Computer Arts, Digit, and 3d World magazines..have full versions of several programs monthly, if they ever show up (STILL waiting on Cinema 4d, hasn't shown up YET!..grrrrr..;). Anyway, this is enough to keep you in trouble for awhile..enjoy. and welcome.

maybe a silly question, but on the truespace site it says that it's only available for windows 95/98 and NT4. does that mean it will not run on XP?

I downloaded Truespace 3, and it runs fine on my XP system.

ok, thankie

Another modeler to check out is Rhinoceros, it's vastly powerful and you can actually MAKE real objects out of it!

Shadow: 'cuse me?

Bryster? I wasn't mocking other modelers, although they are all quite inferior to Rhinoceros in terms of raw power. By all I mean all of the ones I've used : Amorphium, Ray Dream Studio, Lightwave, 3DStudio Max, Amapi, Truespace, Wings, Blender, Bryce, ZBrush... Rhinoceros has inherent functions and can control many automated processes in a machine shop. It can be used for rapid-prototyping, such as making prototype car models, or to actually, mathetmatically, make a perfect screw (out of metal), for example. Or a screwdriver. Or a chain link. Or an entire plastic toy, such as a Transformer. Rhino was created for many purposes, but making REAL objects with it is one of it's best features. Head over to the Rhino galleries and you will see what I mean.

Shadow: Sorry! I read your post and got the impression that if you used Rhino and rendered say an elephant...it suddenly came charging out of the side of your pc.................LOL

Lol @ Bryster As far as modellers go, I think there's a comfort zone associated with which package you use, I've used/trialled most of the packages Shadowdragonlord mentions, plus some others (autocad - if it counts,maya, XSI) and yet have come out with Max as still being my favourite (ok XSI is my favourite until you take price into account) Max, is let down by it's lighting which I think is harder to get realistic then bryces......