I am working on some product designs which my engineer is developing with a CAD software package called SolidWorks. I would like to export models from SolidWorks to be worked on in Bryce, but we can't determine which file formats to use.

According to the SolidWorks website, we can "exchange CAD data using a wide variety of file formats including: CGR (CATIA graphics), HCG (CATIA highly compressed graphics), Pro/ENGINEER, IPT (Autodesk Inventor), Mechanical Desktop, Unigraphics, PAR (Solid Edge), CADKEY, IGES, STEP, Parasolid, SAT (ACIS), VDA-FS, VRML, STL, DWG, DXF, TIFF, JPG, Viewpoint, RealityWave, and HSF (Hoops)."

I'm not sure how to get from any of those formats to something Bryce can import. Can anyone help?

Bryce can import both DXF and VRML, though the latter one depends on the version of VRML. So, DXF is the safe bet. OTOH, you might export some things as jpg or tiff and see what you can get in the terrain editor.

Use DXF... Then if needed export back out of Bryce as an Obj format so you can have it to import into most 3DPrograms and if you plan on Wanting to down the road use a higher end software or just wanr to make your own custom Textures,Make sure you get Steve Cox's FREE program UV Mapper and then you can make the templates...