LightWave 3D 8 Revealed

433 Pages·2005·16.956 MB·English

by  Kelly L. Murdock

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LIGHTWAVREE 3VDE®A8LED
Kelly L. Murdock
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Publisher and General Manager of Senior Editor: PTR Editorial Services Coordinator:
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Kevin Harreld
©2005 by Thomson Course Technology LightWave 3D 8 is a registered trade- or completeness of any information
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A true friend doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor,
Only that you are happy.
A true friend doesn’t require fame or glory,
Only that you’re pleased with your success.
A true friend isn’t demanding,
But is always supportive.
A true friend never laughs at your embarrassments
Until much later with you in private.
A true friend knows how you’ll act in certain situations
And still likes you just the same.
A true friend knows all the buttons to set you off
But chooses not to use them.
A true friend is someone you trust
And someone who trusts you.
A true friend is there to comfort you
When the world has turned against you.
A true friend will give you the shoes off his feet
And gladly receive the shoes off your feet.
A true friend has a true friend.
To Christian, Todd, and Todd, 2005.
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Acknowledgments
A
I would like to acknowledge several individuals who were
C
great to work with on this project. First of all, thanks to
K
Kevin Harreld, who has been my main point of contact with
N Thomson. He has made me feel like I could do no wrong.
O
I’d also like to thank Karen Gill, who worked as project edi-
W
tor. In addition, I’d like to thank all the people at Thomson
L who work behind the scenes to create such great titles.
E
Juan Gonzalez Diaz, thank you for creating and allowing us
D
to use the stunning cover image. I contacted Juan at the last
G
moment, and he was extremely helpful in his support.
M
His work is representative of the types of images that are
E possible with LightWave and is an example to us all.
N You can view more of Juan’s work at his Web site,
T http://www.genesisvisual.com.
S
Thanks to Chuck Baker and all the great people at NewTek for
software support. And thanks to the super development team
for creating such a great software package.
As always, I’d like to thank my family, without whose support
I’d never get to the end of a book. To Angela, for often driving
me harder than I drive myself; to Eric, for helping me with
my other business so I could work on this book, and to
Thomas, for occasional breaks that helped me keep my sanity.
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About the Author
A
KELLYL. MURDOCKhas a background in engineering, special-
B
izing in computer graphics. This experience has led him to
O
many interesting experiences, including using high-end CAD
workstations for product design and analysis, working on U
several large-scale visualization projects, creating 3D models T
for several blockbuster movies, working as a freelance 3D
T
artist and designer, doing 3D programming, and writing
H
several high-profile computer graphics books.
E
Kelly’s book credits include five editions of the 3ds max

Bible,Maya 6 Revealed, two editions of the Illustrator Bible, A
Adobe Creative Suite Bible,Adobe Atmosphere Bible,gmax U
Bible,3D Graphics and VRML 2.0,Master Visually HTML T
and XHTML, and JavaScript Visual Blueprints. H
In his spare time, Kelly enjoys rock climbing, mountain bik- O
ing, skiing, and running. He works with his brother at his co- R
founded design company, Logical Paradox Design.
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Revealed Series Vision xix Chapter 5
C Author Vision xix Constructing and Detailing Objects 137
O Lesson1 Reduce and Remove Objects 140
N Chapter1 2 Combine Objects 147
Learning the LightWave Interfaces 3 3 Convert Object Types 153
T
Lesson1 Launch the Layout and Modeler 8 4 Weld Points 157
E
2 Use the Pop-Up Menus 12 5 Align Polygons 161
N
3 Work with Files 17 6 Adjust Curves and Edges 164
T 4 Set Interface Options 21 7 Use the Measure Tool 168
S 5 Explore the Viewports 25
6 Get Help 30 Chapter 6
A Surfacing Objects and Mapping Textures 173
Chapter 2
T Lesson 1 Apply a Surface 176
Creating and Selecting Objects 35
2 Use the Surface Editor 179
A Lesson1 Create Primitive Objects 38 3 Set Surface Properties 183
2 Create Text 44
4 Use the Texture Editor 188
G 3 Create Points and Polygons 50
5 Use Environment Settings and Shaders 194
4 Create Curves 55
L 6 Use Vertex Maps 198
5 Select Objects 59
A 7 Work with Vertex Color and UV Texture Maps 201
6 Use Layers and Hide Objects 63
N
Chapter 7
C Chapter 3
Using Objects, Cameras, and Lights in the Layout Interface 209
E Transforming Objects 69
Lesson 1 Load and Save Scenes 212
Lesson 1 Translate Objects 72
2 Use the Layout Viewports 216
2 Center, Align, and Snap Objects 78
3 Work with Objects 221
3 Use the Falloff Options 83
4 Add Lights and Cameras 225
4 Rotate Objects 87
5 Set Object Properties 229
5 Size and Stretch Objects 91
6 Set Camera Properties 233
6 Transform and Distort Objects 94
7 Set Light Properties 238
Chapter 4
Chapter 8
Extending, Duplicating, and Dividing Objects 101
Modify Layout Objects 247
Lesson1 Bevel Faces and Edges 104
Lesson 1 Translate, Rotate, and Transform Objects 250
2 Extrude and Lathe Shapes 111
2 Work with Bones 255
3 Create Specialized Objects 116
3 Work with Skelegons 260
4 Duplicate Objects 122
4 Morph Objects 264
5 Work with Arrays 127
5 Deform Objects 268
6 Subdivide Objects 130
6 Add Fur and Hair 274
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Chapter9 Chapter 13
Animating Objects 281 Using LScript 379 C
Lesson1 Use the Animation Controls 284 Lesson1 View Command History and Enter Commands 382 O
2 Set Keys 288 2 Use LScript 384 N
3 Work with Motion Paths 292 3 Add Plug-Ins 387
T
4 Use Animation Modifiers 297
E
Index 393
Chapter 10 N
Working with the Graph Editor 307 T
Lesson1 View Animation Curves 310 S
2 View Different Curves 316
3 Edit Keys 320 A
4 Edit Curves 325 T

Chapter 11 A
Enabling Dynamics 333
G
Lesson1 Create Hard-Body Objects 336
2 Create Soft-Body Objects 341 L
3 Create a Cloth Object 344 A
4 Create a Particle Emitter 348 N
C
Chapter 12
E
Rendering the Scene 355
Lesson1 Add Backdrop Options 358
2 Add Fog Effects 363
3 Work with HyperVoxels 367
4 Render Scenes 372
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Revealed Series Vision xix Steps: Load a file 19
C Author Vision xix Save a file 19
Export a file 20
O
N LESSON 4
Chapter 1 Set Interface Options 21
T
Learning the LightWave Interfaces 3 Setting the Content Directory 22
E
Using the Undo Feature 22
N
Setting the Number of Viewports 22
Tools You’ll Use 5
T Positioning and Hiding the Toolbar 22
S LESSON 1 Setting the Default Units 22
Launch the Layout and Modeler 8
Steps: Set the default Content Directory 23
Launching the Modeler and Layout Interfaces 9 Change the viewport layout 23
Learning the Common Interface Elements 9 Change the system units to kilometers 24
Using the LightWave Hub 10
LESSON 5
Enabling Automatic Saving 10
Explore the Viewports 25
Switching Between Interfaces 10
Moving, Rotating, and Zooming Viewports 25
Steps: Launch LightWave 11
Maximizing the Viewport 26
Use the LightWave Hub and enable Automatic Save 11
Manually Changing the Viewport’s Size 26
Switch between interfaces 11
Changing the Viewport’s View 26
LESSON 2 Changing the Viewport’s Display Mode 27
Use the Pop-Up Menus 12 Working with Grids 27
Using Keyboard Shortcuts 12 Steps: Navigate and maximize a viewport 28
Editing Keyboard Shortcuts 13 Change the viewport view and display mode 29
Switching Menus with the Menu Tabs 13 Turn the grid off 29
Understanding Menu Button Colors 14
LESSON 6
Editing Menu Layouts 14
Get Help 30
Steps: Use a menu command 15
Accessing the Online User Reference 30
Create a keyboard shortcut 15
Viewing the Help Line 31
Change the menu layout 16
Step: Access the online reference 32
LESSON 3
Work with Files 17 What You Have Learned 33
Key Terms from This Chapter 33
Learning the Native File Types 17
Loading a File 18
Saving Files 18
Importing and Exporting Files 18
Learning the Supported File Types 18
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LESSON 4
Chapter 2 Create Curves 55
C
Creating and Selecting Objects 35
Sketching Curves 55
O
Using the Bezier Tool 56
N
Tools You’ll Use 37 Drawing Splines 56
Creating a Spline Cage 56 T
LESSON 1
Creating a Curve from an Equation 56 E
Create Primitive Objects 38
Making a Curve from Selected Points 56
N
Creating Primitive Objects 38
Steps: Sketch a curve 57
Modifying New Objects 39 T
Compare Bezier and spline curves 57
Creating Accurate Objects with the Numeric Panel 40 S
Create a star-shaped curve 58
Creating More Objects 40
Steps: Compare ball types 41 LESSON 5
Select Objects 59
Use the Platonic Solid Tool 42
Create gears 43 Using the Selection Modes 59
Selecting Points and Polygons 60
LESSON 2
Selecting with a Lasso 60
Create Text 44
Deselecting All 60
Loading Fonts 44
Selecting Entire Objects 60
Adding Text 45
Using the View Menu to Select Object Parts 60
Manipulating Text 45
Using Selection Sets and Parts 60
Using the Multi Text Tool 46
Steps: Select points and polygons 61
Creating Logo Text 46
Select a loop of polygons 62
Steps: Create text 47
Designate a part 62
Create Multiline text 48
Create logo text 48 LESSON 6
Use Layers and Hide Objects 63
LESSON 3
Viewing an Object Name 63
Create Points and Polygons 50
Selecting a Layer 64
Using the Point Tool 50
Showing Layer Objects as Background 64
Spraying Points 50
Moving Between Layer Sets 64
Adding Points to an Object and Randomly Placing Points 51
Moving Objects Between Layers 64
Creating Polygons with the Pen Tool 51
Hiding Objects 64
Making Polygons from Selected Points 51
Steps: Access a new layer 65
Creating Metaballs and Metaedges 52
Hide objects 66
Triangulating Polygons 52
Steps: Manually create a polygon 53 What You Have Learned 67
Draw polygons with the Pen tool 53 Key Terms from This Chapter 67
Work with Metaballs and Metaedges 54
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