Hi! Can anyone tell me how to create a flexible wire or electric cable for a scene I'm working on? Something like an electric extension lead.... Regards The Bryster (Chris)

If you have Bryce 5, metaballs along a path are fairly easy and look pretty good.

Aldaron: Nice idea......but maybe a bit fiddly? The Bryster (Chris)

my solution would be as usual to use metasequioa - select a tube and keep cutting and bending where neccesary.

The other thing to try takes a good deal of pre work but it can come out ok. -Start in your graphics prgram with a black background. -Draw your cable shape in a relatively darkish grey make it somewhat wide too...maybe 6-10 pixels. -Make a copy of the shape in white, but narrower, 3-5 pixels this time and lay this new shape right down the center of the first one. -Blur the white until your result looks like a line the has a gradient running from light in the center to dark at the edges. (I use microsoft image composer which comes with MS frontpage...this is all very easy to do in that package.) What you have now created is an image map that will render a rounded line because of the gradient. Use this as your image map in the mirror tool in Bryce...the one that creates a rock that is the same top and bottom. With a little careful removing of borders in the image you can get a pretty good rounded cable. The whole trick is to be sure the shape you draw is the shape you want. I like stretched metaballs myself but you are right...that method is a bit fiddly. Hope this wasn't too confusing. -Claymor

15 minutes - its not great but

Wow! Thanks, guys! I d/ld metasequ and have just installed it. I guess I have to learn how to use it now....LOL Airflames: You wouldn't like to send me that rope file would ya??? Please!! Claymor: I'll try this, I'm thinking it might have other application stoo. Again, thanks to you all! The Bryster (Chris)

There are various solutions, as others have stated above. Anything hose or wire is going to have to be fiddled with, they are just kinda difficult by nature. Use Metaballs. Do it in Photoshop in post work. Use a free modeling program (metasequioa) If you have Poser there are free posable ropes which can be used. AgentSmith

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Here's Bryce 5 Metaballs.

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Here's a Posable rope from Poser.

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Another program that I like to use isn't originally made for wires and hoses in mind, but I've tailored it to my needs, is called KnotTyer3D. It takes planning to use it, but makes great meshes. I've used it here for rope, but can be used for anything else similar. It comes with a lot of premade settings, but you can also create from scratch. http://www.abbott.demon.co.uk/knottyer3d.html AgentSmith

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Or you can try spiralizer.

If you dsperately need it Chris wait till my email is working - looks like there's more on offer - any metasequioa questions fire away

Many many thanks to all you guys for helping out. I'll post the result as soon as it's done. The Bryster (Chris)