Why have a lightwave thread?

[apaps]

I'm surprised that they still have a Lightwave thread. You will read about everything else other than Lightwave in this mag. Even the tutorials are about Photoshop and after effects but noooooooo Lightwave. Maybe they don’t realize that Lightwave is a 3d software and Photoshop is not! There are lots of dedicated Photoshop mags out there and if someone needs some tutorials on the software they can take there pick.

[Richard Hill]

Originally Posted by apaps

You will read about everything else other than Lightwave in this mag. Even the tutorials are about Photoshop and after effects but noooooooo Lightwave.

Apart from the LightWave tutorials in five of the six issues of 3D World published so far this year. And the review of LightWave 10. And LightWave-centric articles like the BBC Outcasts effects piece.

Originally Posted by apaps

Maybe they don’t realize that Lightwave is a 3d software and Photoshop is not! There are lots of dedicated Photoshop mags out there and if someone needs some tutorials on the software they can take there pick.

Photoshop magazines don't typically do tutorials with CG production and post-production in mind. And there's room for both Photoshop and LightWave: it's not an either-or proposition.

Richard


Richard Hill / Acting production editor, 3D World

[apaps]

Didnt mean to upset you mate!

But I still aint convinced that you cover Lightwave enough. You should have Lightwave and all major and not 3d packages covered beffor you start a Photoshop tutorial.

Do you realy think that "Give your render the Technicolor look in Photoshop" isnt found on Photoshop mags? Its simple color grading and usualy its all they talk about. Dont get me rong! I do whant Photoshop tutorials like how to make better use of my render passes or how to make better texture maps and bumps etc. That is alot more cg than color grading.

And as for the After effects tutorials, you should check out http://www.videocopilot.net/
to see what after effects and cg is all about. plus they give you the project files for free. You will really need to try harder than just changing a sky .

Lightwave-centric articles like the BBC Outcasts I never got to read because although I am a subscriber I'm still not getting all my issues. Yesterday I received my May issue.

[lardbros]

Are you being serious?? Nearly every issue has had a tutorial or tip on Lightwave related things. Don't alienate the whole community by acting like a 10 yr old. The Lightwave users tend to get a bad rep for being like you are in here, but the truth of the matter is you can take tips from most software and apply them in Lightwave anyway... the mag is pretty good at the moment, and despite taking a few things from 3D Artist mag, i think they are still both worth subscribing to!

[Peter Satera]

Suggesting that there is enough Lightwave content in the mag as it is isn't true. I've bought this mag since 2005 and suscribed since 2006. With every issue I get the first thing I do is dash through it to see what packages have been touched on. With us being brutally honest Maya, Max and Zbrush always dominate the mag, with the look in of other packages.

It's not that it doesnt get mentioned, but when it does it's always from a limited aspect. In all seriousness when was the last time we had a tutorial like issue 146 "Model a stylised car in maya", or in the latest issue 147 "creating a fluid simulation in maya", heck lets even go back another few to issue 145 since i have it handy to see 7 pages of how to create big game environments...in Max.

Instead as pointed out Lightwave is mentioned but to the extent of "how to extrude an object", when flipping the page only to read "How to create photorealistic textures in blender". Or things like Volumedic 3.0 plugin is out or how to alter small surfaces to make it frosty. It's mildly insulting as a bullet biten Lightwave 10.1 user and devoted subscriber to read tips that are somewhat googable (yes i just made up a word.) Suggesting that we have similar weightage in comparison with other applications isnt realistic, reviews dont really class, as 3DWorld review almost everything on that side of things, plugins too.

Over the duration of my subscription ive seen some great tutorials for lightwave, but over the last year ive seen it drop, a lot, instead small hints of how to do basic things, like displacements and node surfacing. Lightwave has taken a stroll down Integration Lane, but it's been brushed on. Again only being mentioned.

I can understand why though, you only have to look at the portfolio and image submission to see why its been led down this route. Almost 90% of submissions have Max or Maya in the pipeline, so to keep the mass happy its obvious. However, even though it sounds harsh, it's inexcusable to suggest that lightwave gets its fair share in the mag in comparison to others. It really doesn't.

3DWorld should be thinking about looking at lightwave with new aspects, such as:
> Integrating character animation from Maya to lightwave for rendering (since this is a common thing)
> Blocking in character animation
> Modelling detailed cars and characters.
> UV mapping
> colliding Water, collision or explosion effects.

As well as loads more. In fact all you have to do is look at all the tutorials done for Maya and Max recently in the mag, and really realise that there's nothing like that at all for the LWcommunity.

[cinnsealach]

I think you lightwave boys and girls do pretty well compared to my weapon of choice, softimage.

It's swings and roundabouts - can't cover everything. Certainly can't please everyone.

The last couple of issues have been great. It was a good move getting Glen Southern on board.

[Peter Satera]

I wouldnt say its swings or roundabouts. Especially since its 80% max and maya.

[apaps]

I really enjoyed the coverage of lightwave on page 004 of this mag. Thanks guys

[VoltisArt]

I know that this is an old thread, but I feel it's worth revisiting. I too have thumbed though my favorite mag many times in the last couple years, dissapointed not to see something more complex than five steps for my favorite design suite. In 3DW's defense, however, those tutorials are driven by both user questions and user submissions.

Lightwave remains a strong contender in the industry, but it's grown quiet among the teens and twenty-somethings that want to be the next game designers. As was pointed out by Peter, not enough of us are submitting stunning artwork for the Portfolio section. It's all the Maya, Max and C4D kids who are showing off and showing us up.

So...though I write this as part of the problem, I know the solution. WE need to be more gung-ho. We need to load up 3DW's mailbox with shinies to light up readers faces. We need to write in when we come across a technical or artistic problem, instead of dragging out the manual and spending a few hours banging our heads against the screen...and when we do have an epiphany, we need to document it and either write a tutorial, have a friend do it or make a suggestion to the mag, with whatever info we can share.

It's only through our own activism that Lightwave has a chance of returning to its former glory among AutoDesk's juggernaughts. As the saying goes...if you want something done right, do it yourself.

[atdrocker]

LightWave 11.5 Revealed at SIGGRAPH 2012
New features create a robust end-to-end 3D pipeline

https://www.lightwave3d.com/news/art...siggraph-2012/