Bryce is a 3D modeling

3D modeling

In 3D computer graphics, 3D modeling is the process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional surface of object via specialized software. The product is called a 3D model...

, rendering

3D rendering

3D rendering is the 3D computer graphics process of automatically converting 3D wire frame models into 2D images with 3D photorealistic effects on a computer.-Rendering methods:...

 and animation

Computer animation

Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....

 program specializing in fractal landscape

Fractal landscape

A fractal landscape is a surface generated using a stochastic algorithm designed to produce fractal behaviour that mimics the appearance of natural terrain...

s. The name is taken from Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is a national park located in southwestern Utah in the United States. The major feature of the park is Bryce Canyon which, despite its name, is not a canyon but a giant natural amphitheater created by erosion along the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau...

—a rugged region with many of the same landscapes that were first simulated with the software.
The original Bryce software arose from work with fractal geometry

Fractal

A fractal has been defined as "a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be split into parts, each of which is a reduced-size copy of the whole," a property called self-similarity...

 to create realistic computer images of mountain ranges and coastlines. An initial set of fractal based programs were developed by Ken Musgrave

Ken Musgrave

Dr. Forest Kenton "Ken" Musgrave , formerly a professor at The George Washington University and currently CEO/CTO of Pandromeda, Inc, is a computer artist, working with fractal images.- Education :...

 (who later created MojoWorld

MojoWorld Generator

MojoWorld is a commercial, fractal-based modelling program for the creation of digital landscapes. Marketed by Pandromeda Inc., it was originally created by Ken Musgrave. MojoWorld can generate entire planets through mathematics using a simple interface which can then be navigated and a particular...

) a student of Benoît Mandelbrot

Benoît Mandelbrot

Benoît B. Mandelbrot was a French American mathematician. Born in Poland, he moved to France with his family when he was a child...

, and extended by Eric Wenger

Eric Wenger

Eric Wenger is a computer programmer.-Biography:Eric Wenger, with Ken Musgrave, created the Bryce software in 1994. Wenger later met and worked with software artist Kai Krause to design a basic user interface for the software. He later went on to create several music applications for the Apple...

.