This Story Posted:
March 2nd

 
 

[2:57 PM]
MetaCreations Announces Bryce 4
MetaCreations has announced the imminent release of Bryce 4. Bryce 4 is MetaCreations very popular 3D landscape creation software. The new version includes a variety of feature enhancements. According to MetaCreations:

"[Bryce 4 includes] the ability to export textured terrains to most 3D modeling/animation applications such as NewTek's LightWave, MetaCreations Ray Dream Studio (.RDS), and Infini-D (.ID4), Bryce 4 will additionally feature an extensive range of import and export formats for all Bryce generated objects, textures, models and scenes, including output to the MetaStream (.MTS) format, for viewing, manipulating and streaming textured Bryce models and terrains on the Web. Such time saving features as the ability to preview animations prior to rendering will further appeal to professional modelers/animators, as well as serious hobbyists, yet Bryce 4 will remain intuitive and easy to learn for beginners to 3D.

As well, the program will feature the all-new Sky Lab, an area within Bryce that provides deep, precise access to all controls governing aspects of sky generation. Also valuable to designers will be the ability to import United States Geological Survey DEM (Digital Elevation Maps) and the latest USGS standard, SDTS formats. Users will now be able to import the terrain map of the Grand Canyon directly from the USGS Web site, and by using pre-set texture maps already included in Bryce, quickly create an amazingly realistic, digitally generated model, perfect for animations, still images or output to the Web.

Bryce 4 will provide customers with new Web functionality and ease-of-use features, such as the ability to export scenes to HTML with image mapped links, export options that include RealPlayer movies, VRML and QTVR for animations and still images on the Web. The MetaStream output features will allow users to create and stream 3D objects and terrains for dynamic 3D Web sites. Additionally, the all-new BryceTalk Web area will provide users with an instantly connectable forum from within Bryce to trade information and URLs. The BryceTalk area will feature regularly hosted presentations on Bryce, including technical support personnel for customer support, and the ability to post links within the talk area."

Bryce 4 will be shipping on a hybrid Mac/Windows CD and retail for US$249. Registered users can upgrade for US$99. More information can be found at the MetaCreations's web site. The product is expected to be released later this month.

MetaCreations