Getting Them DEMs

Full text of sidebar to 3D Artist issue #31, page 22 first look at Bryce 3D by Alex Kiriako

Tip by Alex Kiriako, 3DA Assoc. Editor

You can get USGS DEMs into Bryce 3D, if you have the computer system and software to handle these huge files, using the .3DS or Wavefront OBJ formats. 3DMF and DXF also work, but the files are larger.
___ For instance, both 3DS Max and LightWave write to .3DS, and you can import DEMs using free plug-ins for Max at www.habware.at/duck2.htm, and for LightWave 3D at amber.rc.arizona.edu/marvinl.html.
___ If your application doesn't have a DEM importer, or doesn't output to a file format accepted by Bryce, I recommend PolyTrans from Okino Computer Graphics, my favorite 3D file translator.
___ A word of warning: Reduce the DEM file mesh density before importing into Bryce. Once in, save the original and then apply smoothing. Also note that the import thermometer doesn't work very well when bringing in large files.

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Revised: 9 Sep 00 rev 2
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