Free Bryce 5.0

[ktinkel]

In a somewhat confusing offer, DAZ is giving away Bryce 5 (http://www.daz3d.com/program/bryce/bryce5free.php?trid=446713850&trid=919467712) (Mac and Win) through September 6, 2006. I say confusing because there is a limitation for Mac users as well as a good deal lurking in this offer.

Once you install and register it (receiving a bonus of Bryce 5 presets) you will receive a voucher enabling you to upgrade to version 5.5 (the current version) for $20. (The upgrade price for Bryce 6 will be available to registered users of versions 5 and 5.5 only.)

Gotcha, for Mac 10.4 (Tiger) users: This version will not run, so while you can download it, unless you can install it on a 10.3 or earlier version of OS X, you will not be able to register and qualify for the v. 6 upgrade deal.

Once you have Bryce you can choose from a bunch of optional add-ons, tailored to specific types of illustration, including Cloud City, Realistic Leaves, Tropical Palms, 500 Metals, and Seriously Real Materials (naming just a few). These packages seem to cost between $10 and $30. (Hmmm — are they giving away the razor knowing you will buy the blades?)

Anyway, if you like to create digital illustrations, especially 3D images or animations, Bryce is compelling software. I have not seen it since version 2 or 3 (and wondered if it had survived all the mergers of the 1990s), but even then thought it was pretty amazing. If you are curious about Bryce (or 3D illustration at all), now is the time — the price is right, anyway.

[terrie]

Pretty cool...just may do it...

Terrie

[Andrew B.]

Thanks for the heads up. I downloaded it and got it going. I was immediately reminded of how untalented I am with Bryce. :(

[Mike]

Gotcha, for Mac 10.4 (Tiger) users: This version will not run, so while you can download it, unless you can install it on a 10.3 or earlier version of OS X, you will not be able to register and qualify for the v. 6 upgrade deal.

Well, that's saved me $20 :(

[ktinkel]

Thanks for the heads up. I downloaded it and got it going. I was immediately reminded of how untalented I am with Bryce. :(Me, too. I always felt a bit helpless in the face of its many dramatic effects. But you have time to study it, right? And you are a pixel guy.

[ktinkel]

Well, that's saved me $20 :(That’s one way of looking at it, I guess. Or cost you $100 if you decide to buy it later. :)

[Cristen Gillespie]

Gotcha, for Mac 10.4 (Tiger) users: This version will not run, so while you can download it, unless you can install it on a 10.3 or earlier version of OS X, you will not be able to register and qualify for the v. 6 upgrade deal.

Well, I'm running Tiger and Bryce is running now too. I just downloaded it yesterday, and getting the serial number in and working took a few tries, but I've opened it and resized the document and placed a terrain. I made it into the terrain editor and materials editor. But I couldn't use Save As, so obviously there is something not quite right.

Since the serial number took, I *think* I should still be able to go for Bryce 6. But I'll have to do a bit of troubleshooting before I can say for sure it can be made to work. I have Bryce 5 on Windows, but thought I'd prefer the faster Mac with Cinema display. I do, apart from not knowing why it froze on a Save As, or if there are any more problems (probably are since there's that one big one<G>)

[Cristen Gillespie]

Okay, I've done a bit of research. It runs in Tiger, but the window takes over and Import, Save, etc. pops up behind the window. You can't get at it usefully. You can, however, run it in Classic. A bit more buggy, well, quite a bit more buggy, in my few moments with it than Corel's Bryce 5 on Windows, but nevertheless, it does run and save. So for acquiring Bryce 6, I think you're all set with this download if you want the upgrade price from 5 and don't own it yet. You're registered, you've gotten the serial no to take, and by checking run in Classic, you're okay to go.

[ktinkel]

Okay, I've done a bit of research. It runs in Tiger, but the window takes over and Import, Save, etc. pops up behind the window. Thank you! I decided not to try, as my poor G4 is cranky already. I have one with 10.3 in the other room, but it is not on the network. Since I have been meaning to fix that for weeks (months), probably should, and then just download it and register it there.

Meanwhile, is it lots better than in the past? What do you use it for?

[Andrew B.]

Me, too. I always felt a bit helpless in the face of its many dramatic effects. But you have time to study it, right? And you are a pixel guy.I studied it before, back when I had enough energy to stay at the computer for hours. And I got used to where things are. I just never got the hang of adjusting the grid in a way that let me zero in on what I wanted.

[Cristen Gillespie]

KT

Meanwhile, is it lots better than in the past? What do you use it for?

Bryce 5 was better than 4, sure. And perhaps 5.5 really does perform better than 5. I haven't used 5.5. But it's still not a true modeling program. The plus being that you can model with very basic tools, so less of a learning curve. The minus being that you have no built-in shortcuts to getting the job done, so you need to add your time to the mix to make it work if you want it to be highly realistic.

For those of us who are willing to put up with its lack of modeling tools just in order to be able to afford to have a bit of fun, the real drawback to 3D on even decent computers has been render time. 5.5 is said to address that issue, but I suspect it will always be an obstacle to our getting enough experience with modeling to be any good at it. It just takes so much patience to wait for renders, even plop renders.

Still, I've always been impressed with what people can do with Bryce. I keep promising myself I'll take more time and get better someday... I don't really do anything with it, anything productive, that is. But it's actually a good, inexpensive program for artists to mock up a scene they want to use for their art created in other programs. That part isn't difficult. You can create buildings with primitives and light the scene, for instance, without going to a lot of trouble to make it a proper 3D image. I understand Bryce is often used that way because it doesn't cost very much and there isn't a big learning curve for that.

[ktinkel]

But it's actually a good, inexpensive program for artists to mock up a scene they want to use for their art created in other programs. That part isn't difficult. You can create buildings with primitives and light the scene, for instance, without going to a lot of trouble to make it a proper 3D image. I understand Bryce is often used that way because it doesn't cost very much and there isn't a big learning curve for that.Great rundown. Thanks. You did a better job in a few paragraphs than the various Bryce developers have done in a ream of explanation. <g>

[dthomsen8]

Once you have Bryce you can choose from a bunch of optional add-ons, tailored to specific types of illustration, including Cloud City, Realistic Leaves, Tropical Palms, 500 Metals, and Seriously Real Materials (naming just a few). These packages seem to cost between $10 and $30. (Hmmm — are they giving away the razor knowing you will buy the blades?)


I suspected the razor/razor blade concept even before you mentioned it.

Tell me, though, can the beginner learn to do something reasonably good fairly soon, or is there a steep learning curve?

(Yes, the price is right!)

[ktinkel]

can the beginner learn to do something reasonably good fairly soon, or is there a steep learning curve?Honestly, I don’t know. In the real world I prefer drawing to painting, and this seems like a painting program writ large.

But in Cristen’s message this morning (http://www.desktoppublishingforum.com/bb/showthread.php?p=34518#poststop), she seems to think it is a good way for a non-pro to get into these effects without a huge investment. Read her message — I think it puts Bryce into good perspective.

[Cristen Gillespie]

You did a better job in a few paragraphs than the various Bryce developers have done in a ream of explanation. <g>

I think that's because they're trying to sell it<G> A free Bryce is a good Bryce, assuming it runs. If you watch the British mags, you can sometimes get a free Carrara Basics, a free Cinema 4D and this is the second time Bryce has been offered for free.

Bryce has always been a favorite because you can create nifty alien worlds with almost no understanding of what you're doing. Anything more and it's a bit more effort to bend your mind to the 3D world, but still, a lot of it is so basic, you don't spend aeons worrying about splines and vertices<G>

You will, naturally, sometimes see your 3D object scoot about your 3D world without your control, even turning it upside down, or showing you the underworld when you only meant to lower the horizon. LOL

[Cristen Gillespie]

I suspected the razor/razor blade concept even before you mentioned it.

Tell me, though, can the beginner learn to do something reasonably good fairly soon, or is there a steep learning curve?

(Yes, the price is right!)

What's reasonably good? Some artists do fanatastic work right away. They use Bryce without attempting to control Bryce, adding objects and materials that others have created. What they are doing is designing with a lot of presets, and if they're talented in their conception, they don't need to work hard at learning Bryce. Some of those who are making the materials and objects, otoh, have been through a fair learning curve. Compared to Maya? Bryce is a molehill.

Take a look at www. renderosity.com/ to look at Bryce galleries. It will give you a fairly good idea of what can be achieved at different levels of expertise.

[Paul]

According to the web site today, the ending date is now September 13, so there's one more day to download.