TEAM LinG LIGHTWAVE 3D ® 8 REVEALED Kelly L. Murdock TEAM LinG Publisher and General Manager of Course PTR: Stacy L. Hiquet Associate Director of Marketing: Sarah O’Donnell Marketing Manager: Heather Hurley Manager of Editorial Services: Heather Talbot Senior Acquisitions Editor: Kevin Harreld Senior Editor: Mark Garvey Marketing Coordinator: Jordan Casey Project Editor: Karen A. Gill Copy Editor: Carla Spoon Technical Reviewer: Angela Murdock PTR Editorial Services Coordinator: Elizabeth Furbish Interior Layout Tech: Susan Honeywell Cover Designer: Steve Deschene Indexer: Katherine Stimson Proofreader: Kezia Endsley © 2005 by Thomson Course Technology PTR. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without written per- mission from Thomson Course Technol- ogy PTR, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review. Thomson Course Technology PTR logo and related trade dress are trademarks of Thomson Course Technology PTR and may not be used without written permission. LightWave 3D 8 is a registered trade- mark of NewTek, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Important : Thomson Course Technology PTR cannot provide software support. Please contact the appropriate software manufacturer’s technical support line or Web site for assistance. Thomson Course Technology PTR and the author have attempted throughout this book to distinguish proprietary trade- marks from descriptive terms by following the capitalization style used by the manu- facturer. 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ISBN: 1-59200-582-9 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2004114415 Printed in Canada 05 06 07 08 09 WC 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Thomson Course Technology PTR, a division of Thomson Course Technology 25 Thomson Place Boston, MA 02210 http://www.courseptr.com TEAM LinG 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. TEAM LinG IV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge several individuals who were great to work with on this project. First of all, thanks to Kevin Harreld, who has been my main point of contact with Thomson. He has made me feel like I could do no wrong. I’d also like to thank Karen Gill, who worked as project edi- tor. In addition, I’d like to thank all the people at Thomson who work behind the scenes to create such great titles. Juan Gonzalez Diaz, thank you for creating and allowing us to use the stunning cover image. I contacted Juan at the last moment, and he was extremely helpful in his support. His work is representative of the types of images that are possible with LightWave and is an example to us all. You can view more of Juan’s work at his Web site, http://www.genesisvisual.com. 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. TEAM LinG V ABOUT THE AUTHOR About the Author KELLY L. MURDOCK has a background in engineering, special- izing in computer graphics. This experience has led him to many interesting experiences, including using high-end CAD workstations for product design and analysis, working on several large-scale visualization projects, creating 3D models for several blockbuster movies, working as a freelance 3D artist and designer, doing 3D programming, and writing several high-profile computer graphics books. Kelly’s book credits include five editions of the 3ds max Bible, Maya 6 Revealed, two editions of the Illustrator Bible, Adobe Creative Suite Bible, Adobe Atmosphere Bible, gmax Bible, 3D Graphics and VRML 2.0, Master Visually HTML and XHTML, and JavaScript Visual Blueprints. In his spare time, Kelly enjoys rock climbing, mountain bik- ing, skiing, and running. He works with his brother at his co- founded design company, Logical Paradox Design. TEAM LinG VI CONTENTS AT A GLANCE Revealed Series Vision xix Author Vision xix Chapter 1 Learning the LightWave Interfaces 3 Lesson 1 Launch the Layout and Modeler 8 2 Use the Pop-Up Menus 12 3 Work with Files 17 4 Set Interface Options 21 5 Explore the Viewports 25 6 Get Help 30 Chapter 2 Creating and Selecting Objects 35 Lesson 1 Create Primitive Objects 38 2 Create Text 44 3 Create Points and Polygons 50 4 Create Curves 55 5 Select Objects 59 6 Use Layers and Hide Objects 63 Chapter 3 Transforming Objects 69 Lesson 1 Translate Objects 72 2 Center, Align, and Snap Objects 78 3 Use the Falloff Options 83 4 Rotate Objects 87 5 Size and Stretch Objects 91 6 Transform and Distort Objects 94 Chapter 4 Extending, Duplicating, and Dividing Objects 101 Lesson 1 Bevel Faces and Edges 104 2 Extrude and Lathe Shapes 111 3 Create Specialized Objects 116 4 Duplicate Objects 122 5 Work with Arrays 127 6 Subdivide Objects 130 Chapter 5 Constructing and Detailing Objects 137 Lesson 1 Reduce and Remove Objects 140 2 Combine Objects 147 3 Convert Object Types 153 4 Weld Points 157 5 Align Polygons 161 6 Adjust Curves and Edges 164 7 Use the Measure Tool 168 Chapter 6 Surfacing Objects and Mapping Textures 173 Lesson 1 Apply a Surface 176 2 Use the Surface Editor 179 3 Set Surface Properties 183 4 Use the Texture Editor 188 5 Use Environment Settings and Shaders 194 6 Use Vertex Maps 198 7 Work with Vertex Color and UV Texture Maps 201 Chapter 7 Using Objects, Cameras, and Lights in the Layout Interface 209 Lesson 1 Load and Save Scenes 212 2 Use the Layout Viewports 216 3 Work with Objects 221 4 Add Lights and Cameras 225 5 Set Object Properties 229 6 Set Camera Properties 233 7 Set Light Properties 238 Chapter 8 Modify Layout Objects 247 Lesson 1 Translate, Rotate, and Transform Objects 250 2 Work with Bones 255 3 Work with Skelegons 260 4 Morph Objects 264 5 Deform Objects 268 6 Add Fur and Hair 274 TEAM LinG VII CONTENTS AT A GLANCE Chapter 9 Animating Objects 281 Lesson 1 Use the Animation Controls 284 2 Set Keys 288 3 Work with Motion Paths 292 4 Use Animation Modifiers 297 Chapter 10 Working with the Graph Editor 307 Lesson 1 View Animation Curves 310 2 View Different Curves 316 3 Edit Keys 320 4 Edit Curves 325 Chapter 11 Enabling Dynamics 333 Lesson 1 Create Hard-Body Objects 336 2 Create Soft-Body Objects 341 3 Create a Cloth Object 344 4 Create a Particle Emitter 348 Chapter 12 Rendering the Scene 355 Lesson 1 Add Backdrop Options 358 2 Add Fog Effects 363 3 Work with HyperVoxels 367 4 Render Scenes 372 Chapter 13 Using LScript 379 Lesson 1 View Command History and Enter Commands 382 2 Use LScript 384 3 Add Plug-Ins 387 Index 393 TEAM LinG VIII CONTENTS Revealed Series Vision xix Author Vision xix Chapter 1 Learning the LightWave Interfaces 3 Tools You’ll Use 5 LESSON 1 Launch the Layout and Modeler 8 Launching the Modeler and Layout Interfaces 9 Learning the Common Interface Elements 9 Using the LightWave Hub 10 Enabling Automatic Saving 10 Switching Between Interfaces 10 Steps: Launch LightWave 11 Use the LightWave Hub and enable Automatic Save 11 Switch between interfaces 11 LESSON 2 Use the Pop-Up Menus 12 Using Keyboard Shortcuts 12 Editing Keyboard Shortcuts 13 Switching Menus with the Menu Tabs 13 Understanding Menu Button Colors 14 Editing Menu Layouts 14 Steps: Use a menu command 15 Create a keyboard shortcut 15 Change the menu layout 16 LESSON 3 Work with Files 17 Learning the Native File Types 17 Loading a File 18 Saving Files 18 Importing and Exporting Files 18 Learning the Supported File Types 18 Steps: Load a file 19 Save a file 19 Export a file 20 LESSON 4 Set Interface Options 21 Setting the Content Directory 22 Using the Undo Feature 22 Setting the Number of Viewports 22 Positioning and Hiding the Toolbar 22 Setting the Default Units 22 Steps: Set the default Content Directory 23 Change the viewport layout 23 Change the system units to kilometers 24 LESSON 5 Explore the Viewports 25 Moving, Rotating, and Zooming Viewports 25 Maximizing the Viewport 26 Manually Changing the Viewport’s Size 26 Changing the Viewport’s View 26 Changing the Viewport’s Display Mode 27 Working with Grids 27 Steps: Navigate and maximize a viewport 28 Change the viewport view and display mode 29 Turn the grid off 29 LESSON 6 Get Help 30 Accessing the Online User Reference 30 Viewing the Help Line 31 Step: Access the online reference 32 What You Have Learned 33 Key Terms from This Chapter 33 TEAM LinG IX CONTENTS Chapter 2 Creating and Selecting Objects 35 Tools You’ll Use 37 LESSON 1 Create Primitive Objects 38 Creating Primitive Objects 38 Modifying New Objects 39 Creating Accurate Objects with the Numeric Panel 40 Creating More Objects 40 Steps: Compare ball types 41 Use the Platonic Solid Tool 42 Create gears 43 LESSON 2 Create Text 44 Loading Fonts 44 Adding Text 45 Manipulating Text 45 Using the Multi Text Tool 46 Creating Logo Text 46 Steps: Create text 47 Create Multiline text 48 Create logo text 48 LESSON 3 Create Points and Polygons 50 Using the Point Tool 50 Spraying Points 50 Adding Points to an Object and Randomly Placing Points 51 Creating Polygons with the Pen Tool 51 Making Polygons from Selected Points 51 Creating Metaballs and Metaedges 52 Triangulating Polygons 52 Steps: Manually create a polygon 53 Draw polygons with the Pen tool 53 Work with Metaballs and Metaedges 54 LESSON 4 Create Curves 55 Sketching Curves 55 Using the Bezier Tool 56 Drawing Splines 56 Creating a Spline Cage 56 Creating a Curve from an Equation 56 Making a Curve from Selected Points 56 Steps: Sketch a curve 57 Compare Bezier and spline curves 57 Create a star-shaped curve 58 LESSON 5 Select Objects 59 Using the Selection Modes 59 Selecting Points and Polygons 60 Selecting with a Lasso 60 Deselecting All 60 Selecting Entire Objects 60 Using the View Menu to Select Object Parts 60 Using Selection Sets and Parts 60 Steps: Select points and polygons 61 Select a loop of polygons 62 Designate a part 62 LESSON 6 Use Layers and Hide Objects 63 Viewing an Object Name 63 Selecting a Layer 64 Showing Layer Objects as Background 64 Moving Between Layer Sets 64 Moving Objects Between Layers 64 Hiding Objects 64 Steps: Access a new layer 65 Hide objects 66 What You Have Learned 67 Key Terms from This Chapter 67 TEAM LinG [...]... Snap Objects 78 Centering Objects 78 Aligning Objects 78 Using the Snap Drag Tool 79 Moving Polygons to the Ground Plane 79 Steps: Align objects 80 Create a pyramid object Create a table 81 80 LESSON 3 83 Using Linear Falloff 83 Using Radial and Point Radial Falloffs 84 Using Point and Polygon Falloffs 84 87 Setting the Action Center 87 Rotating Objects 88 Bending and Twisting Objects 88 Using the Dangle... Chapter 9 Animating Objects Use Animation Modifiers 297 281 Tools You’ll Use 283 LESSON 1 Use the Animation Controls 284 Using the Time Line 284 Learning the Animation Preview Controls 284 Accessing the Dope Track 285 Learning the Keyframe Options 285 Setting Animation Options 286 Step: Move objects Parenting and Targeting Objects 2 98 Applying Modifiers 2 98 Animating an Object Following a Curve Using the... Adding Cyclical Motion 300 Using Dynamic Parenting 300 2 98 Steps: Parent objects 301 Use animation modifiers 301 Create oscillation motion 303 What You Have Learned 305 Key Terms from This Chapter 305 287 LESSON 2 Set Keys 288 Creating Keys 288 Deleting Keys 289 Enabling Auto Key Mode 289 Moving All Keys 289 Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Keys 289 Steps: Create keys 290 Use Auto Key mode Tools You’ll... 1 78 Step: 179 Saving and Loading Surfaces 180 Loading Surface Presets 180 Changing Edit Mode 180 Using the Surface List 181 Copying and Pasting Surface Properties 181 Changing Preview Options 181 Step: Load surface files and use preset surfaces 182 Coloring Points 201 Using Vertex Paint 202 Adding UVs 202 Viewing UV Texture Maps Adjusting UVs 203 203 Steps: Paint vertices 204 Use a UV texture map 183 ... backdrop 362 Tools You’ll Use 381 LESSON 1 View Command History and Enter Commands 382 Viewing Command History 382 Entering Commands 382 Saving a Command List 382 Step: View Command History 383 LESSON 2 Add Fog Effects LESSON 2 363 Use LScript Adding Fog 364 Using Volumetric Plug-Ins 364 Adding Ground Fog 365 Step: Add ground fog Step: 366 384 Create and execute an LScript 386 LESSON 3 LESSON 3 Work with... HyperVoxels Add Plug-Ins 387 367 Selecting a HyperVoxel Type 367 Setting the HyperVoxel Size 3 68 Shading the HyperVoxel 369 Selecting a HyperVoxel Texture 369 Saving HyperVoxel Settings 370 Blending HyperVoxels 370 Step: 384 Using the LScript Commander Compiling LScripts 385 Create a HyperVoxel effect 371 Adding and Editing Plug-Ins 387 Accessing Master Plug-Ins 388 Steps: Scan for plug-ins 389 Access master... Properties 184 Setting Advanced Surface Properties 185 Step: Edit a subpatch weight map LESSON 7 LESSON 3 Set Surface Properties 1 98 Creating New VMaps 199 Setting Map Values 199 Painting Map Values 199 Using Weight Maps 199 LESSON 2 Use the Surface Editor 194 C O N T E N T S Chapter 6 Surfacing Objects and Mapping Textures 173 187 LESSON 4 Use the Texture Editor 188 Layering Textures 189 Loading an... software, and I hope you will, too V I S I O N —Kelly L Murdock XX TEAM LinG LIGHTWAVE 3D 8 REVEALED TEAM LinG TEAM LinG CHAPTER 1 LEARNING THE LIGHTWAVE INTERFACES 1 Launch the Layout and Modeler 2 Use the pop-up menus 3 Work with files 4 Set interface options 5 Explore the viewports 6 Get help 3 TEAM LinG CHAPTER 1 LEARNING THE LIGHTWAVE LightWave consists of two main interfaces: the Layout, where you position,... Windows, click the Start button, click All Programs, click NewTek LightWave 3D, and then click the Modeler icon To launch the Layout interface from Windows, click All Programs, NewTek LightWave 3D, and then click the LightWave icon On a Macintosh computer, you can launch the programs using the Modeler and LightWave icons in the Applications, LightWave folder Learning the Common Interface Elements The Layout... interface to switch to the other interface Learning the LightWave Interfaces Chapter 1 TEAM LinG Launch LightWave 1 To launch the Layout interface in Windows, click the Start button, click All Programs, click NewTek LightWave 3D, and click LightWave For Macintosh systems, open the Applications folder, open the NewTek LightWave folder, click the LightWave icon, and press Enter 2 To launch the Modeler . Objects 87 Setting the Action Center 87 Rotating Objects 88 Bending and Twisting Objects 88 Using the Dangle and Vortex Tools 88 Rotating About Other Axes 88 Steps: Create fan blades 89 Create. Line 284 Learning the Animation Preview Controls 284 Accessing the Dope Track 285 Learning the Keyframe Options 285 Setting Animation Options 286 Step: Move objects 287 LESSON 2 Set Keys 288 Creating. Commander 384 Compiling LScripts 385 Step: Create and execute an LScript 386 LESSON 3 Add Plug-Ins 387 Adding and Editing Plug-Ins 387 Accessing Master Plug-Ins 388 Steps: Scan for plug-ins 389 Access