I don't post much here I know, but I'm making a serious effort to get back to using Bryce (esp as it's the prog I started out on :oD ) and I'm wondering what the best way of creating a Cave or tunnel would be? My idea is to have the camera looking out of the cave/tunnel and onto the landscape. I'm using Bryce 5. Cheers in advance.

hmm... well, the first thing that popped in my head is a simple symmetrical lattice, with a hole made in the center through the editor. then it's just a matter of properly positioning the outside elements. a simple spotlight with low intensity light might do the trick behind the camera together with a bit of ambience on the actual lattice. drac

Ooo now that's a method I hadn't thought of, but sounds better than my few limited mind ramblings - I'll give that a try. Cheers

Yup, a lattice is what I'd use, or a terrain on its side can be a bit more controllable sometimes.

A terrain on its side was my first thought, I'll give both ways a try and see which has the best results for what I'm looking for.

.....or a terrain, with a negative terrain on its side carving a chunk into a hillside?

That might give a more natural look, hand't thought of that.

Actually, If you're lazy like me, 2 terrains, one right side up, 1 upside down.. and edit to get the right shape..that is, if you're inside looking out. Tried that in Terragen once, made good stalagmites/tites..;)
As for outside looking in, the folks above are probably the best way to go.

I wish I'd said that.. The Staircase Wit

anahl nathrak uth vas betude doth yel dyenvey..;)

This is the cave modeling method that I came up with a while ago. You can edit the interior formations as needed. Also.. . . I will post the gray/height map that I used in the tut as a starting point if you would like to use it. Have fun!! : )

Here's the height map.

Excellent! Many many thanks, I'm currently beating my head off my desk trying to get anything resembling a cave. This is nice and simple and yet looks really good I'll go and give it a shot. The grey/height map is a nice guide as to how to get that nice flooring effect. Not sure if I'll use those aspect in this particular image but it's good all the same and one I'll bear in mind for the future. Thanks again. :o)

One final suggestion. . .

Thought I'd say thanks also... I've tried caves before and was never too pleased with the results this just might help me out!

Cool tut Nuski. 8)

There are 10 kinds of people: Those who know binary, and those who don't. 

A whiner is about as useful as a one-legged man at an arse kicking contest.

Thanks from me as well. I have struggled with caves, never thought of this way.

The greatest part of wisdom is learning to develop  the ineffable genius of extracting the "neither here nor there" out of any situation...."

Attached Link: http://www.goodearthgraphics.com/virtcave.html

Are you attempting to get cave formations, or just stone? On the one picture I created that had a cave I found a combination of terrain objects and metaballs made great cave formations; however I was attempting to generate more of a show cave (lots of formations) than one with smoother stone. If you are looking for ideas for features, here is a great link to a variety of cave features. Won't be of value if you are only trying to show just the very edge of the opening only though.

sriesch: cheers for the link - I'll have a look in greater detail later (it's 5:30am GMT here and I've not been to bed yet :o) ) but to answer you're question, I know what I'm wanting to create but don't ask me to describe it cuz I can't without the aid of a white board, some marker pens and some coffee :oD The way my mind and things are going this is going to be one of those long term ideas that is worked on here and there as and when I learn the skills, and I might even end up using Painter for some or all of the landscaping, I juz dunno. The hardest thing I find is getting the idea from my mind into a conceptual form using the apps I have at my disposal. One of the joys and challenges of the hobby. Cheers though every link, suggestion is valuable, if not today then tomorrow or the next day.