Always good to refresh the basics - never underestimate that...

Past as Future

Just wanted to share some anecdote situation that happened to me. Despite me using Bryce for several years already, I only NOW realized that "Copy Matrix" exists.

I mean, I was often repositioning objects by taking a sceenshot of one object's attributes window and then manyally typing in the needed values and thinking "I wish Bryce would have ability to move object in the place of existing object". Sure, I did see "Copy Matrix" menu command, but for some weird reason I always assumed it was related to Material Lab just like "Copy Texture" above it. Recently that wish crossed my mind again, and I decided to blow away some dust from the great and allmight "Real World Bryce 4" book by Susan Kitchens (which is still an absolute marvel regardless of which Bryce vesion you're using). And, to my surprise.. Yes. Yes it is. Yes it is indeed. "Copy Matrix" does the stuff I wanted to and thought that Bryce didn't have. Oh, all the aliens from cheesy sci-fi tv show can now laugh at me.

So the moral is simple. It's always good to go and refresh the basics, especially if you're returning to software after a long pause. 

Past as Future

Oh, and this leads me to question now... is there some kind of "dummy" object I could use as targets for repositioning? Perhaps that would help when working on scenes...

Horo

Past as Future - I use copy matrix and paste matrix often. I usually set up a scene with a low resolution terrain and when I am happy, I copy the matrix, delete the terrain and get a higher resolution one from the library and just click on paste matrix.

Using a "dummy" object, like a cylinder works somehow. The object you paste to the copied cylinder will get the correct position but also the size.

If you want to render with depth of field, for example give a few trees or objects the feel of near and far unsharpness but the centre of the scene sharp, you can place an object (e.g. a cylinder) at the distance you want sharp and focused and select it. In the Render Options select Premium, Depth of Field and for the Focal Length click on Select To Current Selection and you get the distance from the camera to the centre of that object. The object can be deleted or hidden.

And yes indeed, the "Real World Bryce 4" book by Susan Kitchens is probably one of the best Bryce "helper". Only the options for the newer versions are missing.

Past as Future

Thank you for sharing example of your workflow!