Brycetech: Bryce on the Edge 1

Download the PDF of this tutorial.

 

Create the Blade

Create a blank 512 x 512 pixel image with a black background in your image editor .  Draw a rough blade shape using white.

 

This can be done in the Terrain Editor, however I believe it is faster to do it this way
Using your fill tool, create a gradient from black to white and apply it to your image.
Make a little decorative triangle at the base of the blade and apply blur its edges so that it blends with the existing blade.
Next, while still in the editor, apply a gaussian blur to the image.  The effects of the blur will taper the transitions of light to dark as well as remove any rough edges that the blade currently has.  This will also produce a sharp edge on the blade.

Copy the image to your clipboard by going the edit menu and selecting copy (this will depend on your image editor.)

 

  • In Bryce, create a lattice and click the "E" to get into the Terrain Editor.  
  • Change the grid resolution to 512 x 512
  • Press Ctrl + V to paste the image in RAM as the basis of the Lattice. 
Clip the bottom of the lattice slightly by dragging the clipping tool.
Hold down the spacebar and press the smooth control in the terrain editor. 

 

This will turn on the "paint effect".  Now you can smooth areas of the knife that are rough.  I recommend that you smooth the transition between the base of the knife and the blade.  You may also want to smooth the actual cutting edge of the blade some more.
After smoothing the areas of the blade that you want to smooth. 
  • Change the method of Brush Behavior to "minimum". 
  • Change the level of the brush so that it's slightly less than white.
  • Set the brush to very soft.
Hold down the shift key which will constrain the brush to 90 and 45 degree movements and paint along the blade to make a flattened area.  Don't paint your blade base away.
You will need to get rid of the taper along the blunt edge of your knife or it will appear rounded and look unreal.   So let's do that next.
  1. Change the hardness to the hardest setting.
  2. Change the flow rate to the highest setting.
  3. Drag the level to the lowest setting.
  4. Change the brush behavior to Elevation.
  5. Hold down the shift key and drag along the blunt edge of your knife.
Ok, now apply your settings and put a metal material onto your blade.

Hey, you just made a knife blade!  Don't cut yourself!

Go to Part 2 of the Knife Tutorial.

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