i'm back playing around with bryce, no not bryce 6 cause i wont install it on my computer yet.

anyway here is my problem, i want to add a bit of atmosphere to this image and improve the lighting as well. truth is i'm trying to get my mind back into using bryce/D|S, so here you go.

PS: ignore POV as i'm still working on that.

what kind of atmosphere are you trying to add?  My specialty seems to be with smoke, steam and clouds if I listen to the hype. ;c)

i posted the image again with an idea of where i mean, i think you might get an idea.

Attached Link: Midnight

thanks ICM, i have been cruising the galleries for inspiration. it was an image by woodhurst called "Detective story pt II" that actually started me off with this one.

Is this model available for me to give it a twirl in Bryce....

tom you can buy it from Daz3d.com, its called urban future by stonemason

Thank you... I'm on my way...

Agrees with ICM.  There is a lot of sci-fi machinery in that room.  Could be a lot of wierd light sources occuring in there, both on and off screen.

Ok, first of all, this has the feeling of an outdoor scene with the current lighting, which generally means shadows should remain quite sharp. However, you could try to incorporate a little bit of an outdoor feeling by adjusting the lighting.
If you can, create a sort of AO-like render. Grey everything out, no specularity, no ambience, just plain grey or white diffusion. Then light with a light-dome and render it out. Try and get the render's light as soft as possible.
If you want to go try something really hot, attempt to adjust your lights in your lightdome do cast light in the colors of the point they represent in the sky. White/yellow towards the horizon, babyblue going upwards, darker blue going to the top. Maybe adjust brightness to match up with the sun position. Kinda like simulating some HDRI. It can add just that extra bit realism, or maybe that little extra special touch.
The resulting AO-like render can be merged with your main render in photoshop, using either multiply or overlay mode, or whatever fits your wishes. Also dont be afraid to fiddle a little with the levels of this AO layer when compositing, it's a powerfull tool to adjust the look you're after. The general idea of this layer is to make the endresult look more tactile and lifelike.

If you want to make glows, draw them in photoshop. Use screen or dodge layer(s) with blurred versions of your renders. If you're looking to add specular glows to specific objects with specific materials you can render dedicated passes in bryce too. (full black material except for the specular channel).

I know all this sounds like horror to the purist brycers, but I'm a great fan of using post effects to improve an image's overall appeal.