DAZ is offering the $19.95 upgrade if you create a profile (account) in their 'ArtZone', after which they will send you a coupon for the special upgrade price.
You can go here to check it out http://artzone.daz3d.com/
For those who have not looked, there should be (note - I am assuming they included this in the free version) a 'Bryce5_Manual' in: "C:\Program Files\DAZ\Bryce5" folder in a PDF file. If you see it there, it should have a tutorial that walks you through using most of the tools during various exercises, as well as helping to understand placing objects using the "Attibutes" menu (small "A" icon next to any selected object in your scene). If you are good with math, then this is an easy way to locate your objects in space.
On top of the program display area, there are the three main menus "Create" (create objects in your scene by clicking the shapes), "Edit" (manipulate the selected objects in your scene), and "Sky & Fog" (where you manipulate and edit the atmospheric components in your scene). If you click the "Sky & Fog" text to show the options (a bunch of small thumbnails displaying atmosphere attributes) - you can click the small 'cloud in a rainbow' icon to display the "Sky Lab" which can be used to set the sun location, fog and haze amounts, stars, cloud cover, and other attributes.
One helpful hint would be to recommend using the small white oval buttons located in the upper left area of the program display area (just above the small director's chair) to set you camera view settings. I always do the following to begin a document:
1 - Start program
2 - Go to 'File menu (in auto-hide titlebar) > Document Setup > designate the width and height of the image > set the 'Anti-Aliasing' quality (I use "Superfine" but this also lengthens the render time).
3 - Click the top 'small white oval' camera position button to set the original camera position, allowing me to return to this position anytime (especially for viewing the final rendered image which will also prevent a distorted view of objects due to angles and lighting). Note - this also allows one to play around with the camera view when manually moving objects with the mouse and return to the original viewpoint without concern.
After that it is basically create objects and use the material lab (which can be accessed using the small "M" icon beside a selected object) to apply materials to the objects.
That should get you started on a wonderful, if not confusing, adventure in the 3D world. Note - once the confusion turns to comfort, you can really have fun learning how to create the objects and materials you envision with this program.
Have fun....
