Alien Stonehenge2

David, I think it locks up because I end up using resorses that take up too much of the virtual memory that Bryce needs. If I don't do other memory intensive things before working in bryce then it's fine now. Could be the new computer.

. Could Horo perhaps explain why moderate size Bryce files don't render on host computers using lightning. Also, have anyone else noticed that bryce now uses 85% cpu when lets say a file needs 75% of virtual mem., but only 85% is avalible. (yes 10% more then needed).

You've had a lot of good suggestions here, so I won't labour any of those points. I'm more concerned with your problem of bryce locking up after five hours. There are three ways of rendering in Bryce, you can render on the screen - which I image is what most people do. Render to disc - which perhaps you have already tried. And then there is network rendering... which you could try, I think, even if you are only using one computer, it might be worth investigation if it get's you past this limitation? Horo would know more about Networking rendering, he is the undisputed world master of that subject.

A particularly good job is the light for the main subject, the person holding staff and sphere. The expression on the face is very convincing. I wonder how much shadow on the ground is really necessary with a sky at dusk.

The ground is glowing cause of the odd fog. The buildings in the back are relics of the past and nolonger lived in. This is an alien world. So nothing is what it seems. I'll try to get the shaddows to show up in the next render. LOL I got so busy with Studio I forgot to concentrate and make sure the shaddows show up. Also for some reason when I try to do a render that takes more than 5 hours the program locks up. Don't know why. I had the same problem with 5.5 And on different computers.

Yes, you're right Gat. The lack of shadows has a huge impact on the sense of depth. I have seen this before with Alex so I can only assume that she does not want shadows for a particular reason. I think she's trying to keep it light in a way even though it's set at night time. I'm curious where she plans to take this piece.

. I think the problem is not only ambient chanel, but that there are no shadows on the ground at all. hmmmm

I like everything except the ground plane. Either there is ambient or there is sky dome, but something is making the ground plane glow a bit too much. The upright objects in the distance seem very dark. What you need is to add some additional lights in the distance to represent the inhabitants of the village, such as torches. A couple of weak lights would lift the shadows without resorting to ambient. The foreground is properly inclusive, and is the obvious focus of the scene. This scene is great but could be better. Five hour renders are considered lighting fast in my book. Heck, even ten hours means it will be done by the time I get home from work. It'll be close to done when I wake up the next morning. I try not to limit myself because of an extra hour or two of render time. Adding 2 or 3 additional light sources that are of linear or of a ranged falloff would hardly effect render time because their light would not strike all objects in the scene, only the local ones. Your daz studio work is great as always, a simple pose but well rendered in bryce, with very good material expression and nice hair. Nice work!