I recently purchased Bryce 5.5 after seeing the fantastic digital art that can be created with it. But upon opening I find this program to be extremely hard to use and understand...

I am wanting to create stuff like the wallpapers on this site. Awesome 3d models with awesome mirror like textures.

Can anyone help me with Bryce and start me off in the right direction.

Thank you

SUBLIMAX

Click here for a simple bryce tutorial. It basically covers the basics. Bryce also (well, it should), have some tutorials. Try looking in the "help" menu.

I've never actually used Bryce 5.5, but I'm familiar (not a master) with Bryce 5.0. Also, there is a free program called "Spiralizer" (just search on google for a download), which, uh, basically makes 3d spirals.

Basically, the only way to learn is to keep playing around.

Embrace this example of "Spiralizer"

I've never managed to get the smoothness "Embrace" has. My spiraizers always come out...meshlike (one of my renders in my gallery is a good example. it's blue).

Also, if you use certain textures ('glass' works like a charm on this one), your render time takes FOREVVVEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRR (but this only happens if you do something really wierd, like a mountain, and then 500 glass balls covering it...yeah, that will do the trick)

Noah, if I read the description correctly the object is created in a seperate application (ie "spiralizer") and then imported into Bryce to be rendered. I don't think it's possible to acheive results like that using Bryce alone.

This should get you started-

http://www.robinwood.com/Catalog/Technical/BryceTuts/BryceTutSet.html

Oh, so it's not bryce and spiralizer alone..hmm, ic. Thanks.

Link that HauntingMorgana gave

Thanks to everyone for the positive feedback

:-)

If you want to render scenes, I would recommend Terragen far over Bryce...

terragen is a one trick pony

IMO, it is more intuitive...

If you branch off into something besides Bryce, I'd personally look into Eon Software's Vue line of products.

Or the software i use! MO-ray & POV-ray somewhere on this website.