QuickTips

This is the section that seeks to answer the type of questions that begin with "How can I...?" If you want to know the answers to questions that begin with "Why can't I?" then check out the FAQ.

How the QuickTip list was created

This initial set of QuickTips came from our beta testers. They were solicited while hanging out in--where else?--BryceTalk. (note: BryceTalk is verrrry handy that way!)

General

Don't forget to try Sree 3d as a display mode.

Allocate enough MB of memory to B4.

When you are working with complex object imports (such as Poser figures) go to Solo mode to assign material settings.

Turn off AutoLOD if you need to see greater wireframe resolution when moving a selected object

Don't forget to smooth your imported objects.

Don't forget selection by color!! (Mac users--it's baaaaaack! Windows users--see what you missed in Bryce 2 and Bryce 3D).

Before you launch Bryce4 make sure you have enough FOOD on hand! : )

Make sure to turn off "Link Sun to View" before starting a long animation where the camera moves around - unless you want the sun to follow the camera.

You can establish your own default Bryce scene:

• I set up a scene (ground plane only) the way I want to work when Bryce is launched, then save it as "default.br4" in the same folder or directory as the Bryce application.
• I even use it to force myself to try out new aspect ratios as default - or to start with a half-completed scene
• The only thing about the default.br4 file is that you must name your work after launching or you lose that as an empty scene.

Terrain

Press the Control Key while creating a terrain. You'll get a default gray instead of a random texture.

Use the zoom button to auto-tile terrains

Try using the KPT 5 Blur filters to smooth out terrains.

Sky & Fog

Fun way to position the sun or moon: Be in wireframe mode. Press the Control and Option/ Ctrl+Alt keys and double-click the Sun Control. Now continue pressing Control and Option/Ctrl+Alt and click in your scene where you want the sun to appear. A wireframe "asterisk" shows its position. (Pressing the shift key, Control-option-shift/Ctrl+Alt+shift places the moon in that position).

Rendering

When test rendering, use simple materials instead of complex ones, then replace later.

Change document render size to 1:0.25 too (quick, small renders)

Brycetalk

Option click (or alt click) the save icon to save log as HTML (cute!)

When in Bryce 4, shift T takes you to Bryce Talk

You can render in the background and talk in Bryce Talk. First, launch Bryce talk. Then, after beginning your render, mouse up to the application menu (or Start menu) and select BryceTalk. If you click Talk while a render is going, Bryce interprets it as stopping the render.