Real World Bryce 4 [Paperback]

With such praise, why have I given it only four stars? Because not all the chapters are written with the same clarity as others (for example, Chapter 3 on Camera and Scene), and at times it is apparent in the exposition that a presumption exists that the reader has used earlier versions of Bryce, or has some familiarity with other 3D programs. This assumption at times makes the description of working within 3D space, various tools and instructions less than immediately accessible for the beginner, and is bound to lead to some temporary confusion on the part of the first time user. One might wish there was a 3D reference that learned from the example of Adobe's "Classroom in a Book" series, and provided more comprehensive tutorials and instruction. Though the latter are provided here, it is doubtful they are extensive enough to satisfy the needs of those just beginning to use the program. Fortunately, there are a large number of websites maintained by Bryce enthusiasts who are willing to share their knowledge and experience, and the authors themselves maintain such a site where additional tips are provided. My final quibble is that before I was even halfway through the book the binding had begun to fall apart, and as I suspect anyone purchasing this book will find themselves referring to it time and again, if for no other reason than that it is impossible to assimilate all the information present in a single reading, you may want to set aside some sturdy tape.

Nonetheless, this is an important resource for anyone intending to use Bryce, and, as I noted earlier, will surely set the standard of reference for anyone wishing to explore or use this extraordinary program.

I received Real World Bryce three days ago, and haven't put it down since. It's very well organized, has a lot of really good examples and TONS of useful information. I've been reading it non-stop, (it's 900 pages!) sitting at my computer with the book on my lap, and I have a whole new appreciation for what Bryce can do.

The accompanying cd-rom and website are great. You can view a ton of QT movies that let you see changes take place in front of you. And the animation examples are mind-blowers.

This is a great book.

Len Kaltman

If you need to lookup how something is used in Bryce 4, use the delivered User's Guide. If however, you want to really learn how to use Bryce 4, "Real World Bryce 4" is the only way to go.

Susan and Victor do an excellent job of taking you step by step through the use of the tools and discussions of objects in the Brycean world. The book contains caveats about things that are suppose to work but don't as expected, and tips and tricks to help the new user optimize design and render times. It is absolutely, an indespensible resource for all things Bryce. It's only shortcoming is it's extreme length. The reader is often times forced to wade through sideline commentaries that are scattered throughout the book. One wonder if this is to add more pulp since some of it was little real value in boosting one up the Bryce 4 learning curve. It's a small nit, but one that kept me from giving the book a perfect 5.

The buyer should also be aware that Corel released Bryce 5 in July 2001. The Sky and Materials Labs interface has changed from that in Bryce 4 ... some may say for the better, other seasoned Bryce may oppose. Additionally, there is a new Light Lab, Tree Objects, and Metaballs objects that are new to Bryce 5 that are obviously not in this book. Not withstanding the software differences, "Real World Bryce 4: Industrial-Strength 3D World Creation Techniques" is still a good starting point for learning even Bryce 5. I hope Susan and Victor are on the heels and currently working on a new book.