Bryce, Blender, Vue, Terragen, etc. ???

Need some user opinions

from WinCustomize Forums
I'm looking to add a 3D program to my library. I need HELP!! Opinions, good or bad. Personal experiences. Learning curve....etc.

I've looked around and I'm confused as to which way to go. I see a lot of Bryce stuff I like but at their website it looks like you could spend $1000 on all the different add-ons.Blender looks comparable, but a bit less user friendly. Terrragen and Vue seem to be scenery only and much more expensive.

I don't know what add-ons are "required" or "can't live without" kind of stuff and if I need to spend that $1000. If that's the case I'll probably just purchase Photoshop.

I actually have AutoCad which does 3D but is time consuming and difficult to use.

What I'd like to be able to do is the Orbs, torus's and "space" type graphics. I don't want to do people or animals. I might eventually like to do some scenery stuff but that's secondary.

Thanks for any input/opinions you can give me.
11,852 views 21 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Try Eovia Carrara --- http://www.eovia.com/
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I use Bryce 5.5 a bit, and you do not need to purchase any add-ons to work with the program.

Hopefully, the content pack still comes with it, as this includes many materials to apply to your objects, terrains, and sky. The one thing I do not like about Bryce is that you cannot create an object without assigning a terrain and sky (even if it is gray, black, or white). This presents issues if you want to create say a semi-transparent (translucent) object to use as an icon, a part in a skin, or on a wall - due to the fact that reflections are rendered, and therefore the reflections are based on the assigned terrain and sky. You can export image, and then export an object mask, which will allow you to remove the extra content in the image and leave just the object - but you still have the reflections from the extra content of the original image. I hope they can change this limitation.

If you want to create a wall completely in Bryce, create parts for skins that use the materials created in Bryce (which are limitless) and reflections are not an issue, then you are good to go for fairly cheap. If the orbs, torus's, and space images that you intend to make will not be limited by the transparency issues raised above - it may be worth checking out.

As for the other programs, I do not use them.

I find that I use Photoshop and CorelDRAW as staples, and when I have time, I play around with Bryce. Learning how to create materials, and applying them in the correct fashion is - in my opinion - the hardest part of the learning curve for Bryce. The object creation and understanding the axis positions and origins (both global, and relevant) are fairly easy to grasp, especially for one such as yourself - who has used AutoCAD.

Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Bryce can make some cool things. I've used 3d Studio Max, but that is way too complex. It's more for 3d animation. If you just want to make some cool designs for wallpapers and whatnot, Bryce is pretty good, and not too difficult to use.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Bryce. Fairly inexpensive and you can do most anything your imagination will let you. There are materials and some models downloadable for free, just google and spend some time looking. Learning curve is not too bad, just spend some time playing with it and read a few tuts. PS or PSP are good for any postwork you might want to do.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks BX. It looks cool, but it's a bit pricey compared to the others.

As usual Corky, your a fountain of information. I appreciate it.

Thanks Adamness I checked out 3D Studio and if I ever decide to make a movie I'll seriously consider it.

Boss, your walls are the kinda thing I want to be able to do. I've already got PSP X.

I guess I'm gonna go for the basic Bryce. Thanks for the comments.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Cool. You're all set then. If you need anything, just email me and I'll do what I can.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I just picked up Carrara 3 at Purplus for 50$. They have Carrara 4 for about 120$. They have some good deals on older version graphic programs. Some in retail boxes, some OEM, and some just a CD and registration number. Link

I figure 50 bucks is a good price for learning. It comes with Amapi 3D version 5 also. Took about 10 days for it to arrive in the mail.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

They recently released some updates for the Vue line of 3d software.  Although it's more toward scenery, it can accomplish other tasks also.  They have entry level software starting for less than $100.  You can download demos from their site.

http://www.e-onsoftware.com/

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Personally, even though it dosn't allow commercial uploads, I believe the free MAYA Personal Edition is a great learning tool for 3D graphics in general.

Of course, not that I've learned anything! But it seems reasonable as a teaching 'one step at a time' formatLink
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I might have to take you up on the offer Boss. Thanks. I just purchased it. At this price I'll not regret it.

That's a steal considering the price I saw for Carrara on their wesite Majik7. Never heard of Purplus before but now that I've seen it (googled it) I might spring for Corel Suite 12 too.

Thanks ID, I've been going through their list of Demos the last few days. The Power bundle may be a good deal.....that's one of the reasons I started this thread.

Big thanks Donna.....I knew Autodesk re-acquired Alias but I was not aware that Maya was an Alias product. Autodesk has about $50,000 of my money since the 80's (AutoCad R2.52 to present) so it's nice to have something free from them I can actually use. (270mb download in less than 5 minutes 590K+ average) I'm actually impressed with my internet provider tonight. (Roadrunner)
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I might be in over my head. I opened up Bryce and it took me 10 minutes just to figure out how to close the program. Damn autohide menus.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I just downloaded Maya also, 24 minutes on my brand new upgrade from dial-up, 1.5 DSL. All kinds of new opportunities have opened up for me on the internet. 10 hour download on dial-up. So far Maya is working for me even though I don't have XP Pro and the other hardware requirements. Fingers crossed it will keep working. Thanks for the link.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Bryce is a great out of the box type program. You can literally install the program and get right down to it without having to delve into the manual right away. As far as add ons, DAZ (the new owners of Bryce) has a bevy of add ons, but it's the way of the beast when you are dealing with a program that has had a strong following in the "world" creation department. Terragen isn't bad, impressive at times, but as far as add ons and the like, it doesn't compare.

Granted, this is all my opinion.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

You can literally install the program and get right down to it without having to delve into the manual right away.

Only danger there is with the 'gee whiz...look at that, wow' production that is a bunch of defaults that everyone has actually seen too many times before....the stuff that gives Bryce such a 'bad' name...

Horrid little proggy...

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
well.., right now i´m using 3ds Max(3D Studio Max), it´s a little bit hard to know how to use it but u can find it out..
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
has anybody tried art of illusion? Link
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I might be in over my head. I opened up Bryce and it took me 10 minutes just to figure out how to close the program. Damn autohide menus.

Took me a few on that one too..

Just run through the manual to get a feel for the tools, and do the tutorial that is included. This will give you the understanding of positive and negative attributes to form complex objects, as well as some foundation on the materials.

As Jafo states, it is easy to use the presets, but that is how you will gain an understanding of the tools. I believe the learning curve on any of the 3D scene programs will have a similarly "steepness" to begin with.

Once you get the math part (understanding where your object is in relation to the origin coordinates) you should be on your way. You can use the mini menu (seen next to an object when selected) with the little "A" (Attributes used to set the location) on top and the "M" (Materials lab) on the bottom - to place the object in relation to the center of your scene and to assign a material to it.

Hint - There are two types of coordinates used in the 3D space:

1 = Global location expressed using the X, Y, and Z coordinates based on the center of the scene (or world) which is always 0, 0, 0.

2 = Relative location expressed using the X, Y, and Z coordinates based on the center of the object. This describes parts of an object in relation to itself (such as a persons head in relation to their center).

Other helpful items:

1 - On top of the scene you will see the words "Create", "Edit", and "Sky & Fog". Clicking on these show the tools for use.

2 - Clicking the small arrow head to the right of the words listed in #1 will invoke the presets available for those categories.

There is also a nice assortment of tutorials on the DAZ web site to get you going.

Hang in there, Lantec.

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Only danger there is with the 'gee whiz...look at that, wow' production that is a bunch of defaults that everyone has actually seen too many times before....the stuff that gives Bryce such a 'bad' name...


Yeah, I remember when everyone was using Photoshop's lens flares left and right. Not to mention plastic wrap.


But yeah, learning any high end program these days isn't an overnight thing. I usually screw around with a few of the more basic features, and then explore the program and find a few new things to play around with. Of course, doing this with a program like 3d StudioMax would take ten years, but that's another story.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks to everyone who responded. It was just the kind of info I need.

Nice x-mas ornament there Jafo.

Corky_O, you now have a start on that Bryce tutorial you'll be posting in a few weeks....Thanks!

I figure I'll spend the next few evenings going through the manual and then start on the tutorials. I like to do all my reading before I start playing. It makes it easier to know where to get answers when you get stuck.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I vote for 3DS Max the best 3D software i ever tried.
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
There's a book available called Real World Bryce 4 by Susan Kitchens. A VERY detailed book but works wonders. I've used it with Bryce 4 and Bryce 5.5. One of the BEST that I've seen (and I've seen several on Bryce). The material on Bryce 4 will carry over to Bryce 5.5 very well (most of that didn't change). The new material added in Bryce 5 (Tree lab and metaballs) aren't covered, but they're pretty well a) self-explanatory, b) semi-well covered in the manual or c) well covered in online tutorials.

When I bought this, it was $49.95, but Amazon can usually get you a better deal.

Hope you enjoy your Brycing!