I tried to use a trial of VUE a few years back and just could not get the hang of it, same with Carrara. Since it seems likely that there will not be an official Bryce 7 maybe it is time to move on to some other software. I have really liked the ease of use for DAZ studio vs. Poser (ver.5). But I don't think you can do any real modeling in it which I would rather do then always using DAZwear.

What are you guys using and why and what are your results?

I switched to Carrara a couple years back for my renderer.  Use an old version of Rhino to model with.   Combo works well for me... http://nevanna.blogspot.com/

If Bryce 6.1 would be the last version of this software(but I don't think so!!!), I wouldn't change to an other one, especially not for rendering. The most modelling I do in Bryce and for special objects I use different other tools, like zbrush, hexagon etc. but the main-software stays Bryce. For me, I see no reason to change a good running team!!!:-)

Allibaba

Attached Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb75uyVWHXE

Also you'll notice a big improvement with render speed (unless you turn up the settings), doing some animation might begin to look more interesting.

I already have Vue 6 X-stream and Carara 6Pro, have used Cinema 4D for awhile now. I use 3D Studio 4.2 for the tiny bit of modeling that I do (modeling challenged), but mostly for tweaks and such. I have plans to use Vue mostly,..........once I get the hang of it, which may be quite a while.

I switched to Carrara as my main renderer a couple of years ago as well and I love it. The transition from Bryce wasn't hard for me because parts of the Carrara interface and the terrain and tree editors are similar to Bryce's. I use the modelers occasionally but still do most of my modeling in Wings3D and Hexagon. I really enjoy the surface replicators which allow you to put tens of thousands of trees, rocks, buildings, people etc. into your scenes, and the displacement mapping makes it possible to add tremendous amounts of detail to a model.
Carrara IMO is like Bryce on steroids!

Heresy!

ROFL!

Why all the talk about switching software, whats wrong with Bryce 6? it does everything I need it for.
Who says there will not be version 7, and if and when it comes, it will still be another learning curve since there has been talk of further code rewriting.

There is no need to switch nothing.

You can use Bryce and Carrara at the same time.

I have no plans to change. They can take my Bryce from my cold, dead fingers....

Download the demos and give 'em a try. Vue 6 PLE does not expire, so you can check it without hurring up. W.r.t. modeling, try DAZ Hexagon (again, 30 days demo).

Bye!!!

P.S.: I am not an heretical... because you have to believe in something to commit heresy...

Signed: A practising (and believing) atheist... ;-)

do we have actual knowledge that they're going to stop devloping Bryce? consider the interval between 5 and 5.5...years, wasn't it? If Bryce teaches us nothing, young grasshoppers, it teaches us patience...;)

They are going me to crucify for that, mainly the worshipers of Bryce like me.  
It is necessary to adjust the changes, we cannot use Bryce forever, unless a more updated version comes. 
My opinion is only mine, and it is based on the own experiences, but as I am not professional in 3D, I don't worry about the repercussion, good or bad.  
 
In my simple opinion the version 7 won't come (who a lot promises it doesn't accomplish), but to come, it won't be very different as it went of the 5 for to 6 and 6.1... a joke. 
If he/she wants to continue in the line DAZ, you have few options, one of them is to continue to use Bryce and to face all your limitations. 
 
1 - POSER is much better than DAZ.... 
2 - Carrara is forgotten, the current version doesn't convince.... 
3 - VUE is superior to BRYCE in all the senses (I CONTINUE USING BRYCE FOR PASSION).. 
4 - if you want to model, go to ZBrush, C4D, TrueSpace, Rhino, Blender, etc....  great tools don't lack... 
5 - one to prefer to continue in the line of Bryce, but with something superior and more realistic, go to VUE. 
 
Even so, with all that pessimism, it exists hope that have the so dreamed version 7 of Bryce about all the modifications that were already suggested. 
 
What leaves me onlooker it is the reason for the which DAZ didn't still show OFFICIALLY. 
It would be interesting (as somebody already suggested) that DAZ created a list of modifications and innovations suggested by the own users. 
 
Excuse for the relief. 
hugs. 
That text was translated of Português(BR) for Inglês(EUA).

Look I will most likely always use Bryce to some extent but that said. BRYCE 6.1 and VISTA do not play well together. Bryce plays mostly ok in XP. I have used Bryce since almost its creation, do I want to search for other software, no not really.

But I am tired of Bryce being bounced around from company to company not really improving the parts we really need improved (render engine). Heck if they do open source it might actually work better then it ever has (lots of propeller heads out there).

I just want to keep my options open and start at least dabbling with another program as this one has taken me a long time to at least get comforatable with let alone master.

Great tips wonder if they have as much fun in their forums as I have had in here...

Vile, VISTA it doesn't play him/it well with anything, only with the safe$$$$ of Micro$$oft. 
But if you are tired of Bryce, then don't waste time, change soon, if not you will be making heresy with yourself same, and that is not good for your spirit. 
 
Remember that all the tools are good, excellent they are the professionals that use them.

Hugs Bryceanos.

What problem with Vista?
I didn't have any problems w/ Vista + Bryce; but I disabled all the Vista 'eye candy', and other useless junk, right after install. Then optimized it for maximum performance. Maybe you just need to tweak the OS...

Hey,.......don't get me wrong, I love Bryce and will continue with 6.1, in fact I have a render working right now.  I find Vue very irritating with a steepish learning curve(using alpha maps for instance), Carara 6 pro is yet to be fruitful (bugger crashes every time I get near something acceptable,....what's up with that), might be those trees with about 3 million poly's ? Anyhow,.....I love Bryce and will continue to use it as my main 3D app for a while. But unless someone steps up and does the right thing by it,.........it will eventually fall away to the back of the closet like that much cherished but abandoned teddybear of my long ago youth.

Like I said I will still likely use Bryce to some extent. But man I have never had so many crashes I blame Microsquash more but still they should be working together.

dvlenk6, for translation problems am not going me to prolongate a lot, let to correct my citation on him it VISTA. 
I mentioned him/it it not VISTA because I have problems with him and Bryce, just because it is a system for use in small scale. 
I have 25 computers in net for software development, and that with the current version of the VISTA would be impracticable, we are awaiting SEVEN, Bill's next invention. 
With relationship to Bryce, he is installed in a XP 64 bits and it works very well. 
I believe that in an equipment with it VISTA him/it well configured, Bryce would not have problems.

hugs

what makes everyone so certain that a next windows isn't going to be a piece of junk, like ME was? :laugh:

Unhappily we don't have more options for domestic atmospheres, awaiting new tendencies or to bet in the ones that already exists... in any way we have to use one of the available options, be Mac, Win, Bryce, Vue, Carrara or I know there me that more..... hehehehe. 
In the end of the history us the users are that built all this...... let us be then happy.....

hugs for all....

@ dvlenk6..... I thought the latest windoze was the same as ME.

Regarding Bryce 7, perhaps Daz will roll Bryce,Studio,Carrara and Hexagon all into one app ?????

Cheers
GG

Quote - what makes everyone so certain that a next windows isn't going to be a piece of junk, like ME was? :laugh:

Well since no software is complete, all software could fit into that catagory, but at least with windows you get a regular stream of updates... :laugh:

A lot depends on what type of scenes you want to render.  Right now, for pure terrain, I think Terragen 2 has the edge.  It's still in beta but some of the scenes I've seen are so close to photo-realistic that it would be very difficult to approach with Bryce or Vue.

I'm not a big believer in  "all-in-one" applications (modeling, terrain generation, texturing, etc.) but then you can make some great scenes if you have the talent and persistence.

There are some very nice programs that are reasonably priced that one can make a nice suite from: Silo, Blender, Make Human, Gimp, 3D-Coat, Terragen, Genetica come to mind.

a few days away from you guys..and you shock the wits out of me...
writing from obsessively health and spiritual conscious and Hong Kong.. .

1. Hope... and never give up..so as for bryce 7..hope..think positive..it will happen...
2. Is there another windows coming up? Ignorant me thought vista was the end of windows. Thought my good ol windows xp was something to hold on to, given that gold and oil prices up..maybe i could put it up in the share market out here and it will make me a billionaire...
3. give up bryce?? for what? Tai chi teaches you patience that you need while rendering and modelling.... So go learn that.
   4). I'm glad i don't live here..my laptop would have moulded by the time bryce renders something and the humidity gets into the laptop's system.

Cheers all...

I really don't think Bryce will ever be "obsolete", no matter how many bells and whistles they add to other programs. There still is some very high-level work coming out of this program. It has been the very introduction to the hobby, or profession of 3D art for many people, including myself. If DAZ makes Bryce "open-sourced", as has been publicly considered, it might just be the boost that this program needs.

Tai Chi ??? I've heard of Chai Tea,.........but.. Actually,..........as far as all this 3D stuff,.........I might just give it up entirely and go buy an Etch a Sketch.