DAZ 3D, Inc. a technology leader in 3D content and software, announced the immediate availability of the 3D environment and animation software Bryce 5.5 for free via Download.com, a popular software site. Bryce 5.5 joins Bryce 5.0 and DAZ|Studio as the latest addition to DAZ 3D’s lineup of free software. Bryce 5.5 is a major upgrade from Bryce 5.0 and is equipped with several advanced features and simplified workflows that deliver a greater level of power, precision and control to professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Web, video, and art professionals who render and composite images in 3D will appreciate how simple and flexible it is to load, edit, and import thousands of 3D figures, vehicles, wildlife and more into their Bryce scenes directly via the DAZ|Studio plugin.

"Having a full version of Bryce 5.5 for free is a much better option than a feature-limited demo of Bryce 6," says Dan Farr, president of DAZ 3D. "We know that thousands of potential 3D artists are simply lacking the tools to unleash their creativity. By offering these programs for free, those individuals are able to begin realizing their potential today and join the growing wave of 3D enthusiasts.”

Other upgraded features include an improved terrain editor, OpenGL support, improved network-rendering with Bryce Lightning 2.0, and over 50% render speed increase.

DAZ develops powerful software applications that support its content, including Bryce®, a 3D environment and animation package; Carrara™, a complete 3D modeling, animation and rendering solution; DAZ|Studio™, a free 3D digital art creation tool; Hexagon™, polygonal modeling software for the creation of ‘ready-to-render’ 3D models; and Mimic™, a lip-synching application.