Step 2: Now draw the basic form of a sword. For simplicity's sake draw a "basic" sword (ie straight with a triangular point). If you have freehand experience in Photoshop feel free to get as fancy as you want. You should have something like this:
Step 3: For this step what you want to do is "engrave" the sword. This means put any markings or symbols on it that you want. The color used for this should probably be a gray about halfway between black and white. For mine I used the font 'Symbol' and wrote 'Sword' down the side of the blade (to write vertically click and hold on the font tool until a menu pops up and then select the image with the T with a down arrow next to it.) As well as a few style markings along the side.
Step 4: First 'flatten' the image so that the text and the sword are on the same layer. Do this by going to the Layers menu and selecting Flatten Image near the bottom. Next go to the Filter menu and go down to Blur. Select Gaussian Blur and set it to about 1.5. The letters/markings you made should get a little fuzzy. Don't worry about it, this is supposed to happen. Save your work.
Step 5: Now we are going to work on the guard. Create a new photoshop document and set it up the same way that you had the sword set (512x512, black background).
Step 6: The guard is a bit trickier than the sword was. For the purposes of this tutorial we are going to make only one half of the guard and then use a mirroring technique to make it whole. Start by making the halfway point (a straight, verticle line). And choosing which side you want to work on, it doesn't matter which. Draw a figure resembling a guard. I find the easiest way is using the Freeform Pen Tool (Hit the 'P' key to get it). It might take a little while to get used to but its worth learning how to use it. You can also do some stylizing of the image if you want (in the same way as the blade).
Step 7: Now to mirror it. There are several ways to do it, but for now we'll do the way I am most used to doing it. First select the entire image (Hit CTRL + A) and then copy it (CTRL + C). Now go up to the Image menu and select Rotate Image, Flip Horizontal. This will flip your original image over. Now paste the copy onto the image (CTRL + V). What should happen is the original image will pop up and the new one will disappear. Don't worry, its still there. To get it back in view select the Magic Wand tool (W) and click on any black areas while holding the shift key. And then hit the delete button. Your flipped image should come back now. Now deselect everything (CTRL + D) and select the Move Tool (V). While holding Shift you can move the image back and forth along the axis until it lines up with the flipped image. When you have the two put together to your liking, flatten the image and Gaussian Blur it (see Step 4 if you need to remember how it is done) .
Step 8: Now you are ready to import into Bryce (Make sure both files have been saved, if you are using Bryce 3 then they need to be saved as .BMPs). In Bryce make sure you have a new scene setup. Select the Symettrical Lattice Icon (see picture below). Select the Lattice that is formed and click on the 'E' button. From their click on 'Picture'. Select the image that is going to be your blade. It should show up in the area to the right of all the buttons surrounded by red. Click on the check mark to approve this. Your going to end up with this really tall object. To fix this simply click on the edit tab and then on the Resize button. Resize the 'Y' value until you are satisfied that you have a thin enough sword. Then you can resize the 'X' value until the blade is long enough for your tastes.
Step 9: Repeat step 8 with your guard.
Step 10: The next step is probably the hardest, aligning the two pieces together. All I can really do here is to say keep plugging at it and do your best. This is all trial and error. Since there are so many factors that affect the way your blade and guard are created there can be no set way to do this easily. Keep pushing and work from multiple camera angels until you get it the way you want. Don't worry, after this step everything else is a breeze.
Step 11: Now you want to make the grip. The simplest and easiest way is to make a cylinder and attach it to the end of your guard. Simple. Add a small ball to the end of it and you have completed a very simple sword. You could use advanced techniques like using booleans and using more Symettrical Lattices (which are insanely more complicated than the other ones). For the fancy grips I normally go to an advanced modeling program like 3D Studio Max or Rhinocerous to get the job done.
Step 12: Tinker with it. Make new designs for the guard, blade and whatever else you want. Try more advanced swords like Scimatars or Katanas. Once you have the basic technique down it doesn't matter what the sword looks like. And as you get more advanced you can start working on really advanced designs.
