Get Animated about Lightwave 9.0 Animation Software
by Sue Booth
sue.booth@animationschoolreview.com
Animation School Review Columnist
As an animation school student, you will need to be in the know when it comes to the latest innovations in the animation industry. Lightwave 9.0 is new and improved animation software for film, video, games, and websites that may be helpful for your budding animation career.
Lightwave 9.0 101
Upon first launch of the Lightwave v9 animation software, you may expect to see some major design or interface changes like the transition from the 7.0 to the 8.0 versions; however, the interface is the same as version 8.0. So what’s so great about this software?
Here are a few of the highlights/improvements of the Lightwave v9:
- Modeler: Building objects is much easier. With Edge Selection, you can refine your models. Instead of having to pick several points or polygons to move them, you only need to select the edge between polygons. Edge selection also works with many animation Modeler tools.
- Layout: You can use Modeler Plug-ins that work on the model directly inside Layout instead of using two different applications to model and animate. It’s more convenient for you as an animator.
- List Manager: You can group objects together to find them easily and alter them. This is particularly convenient if you have a scene with thousands of animated objects; it could be difficult to find them in a drop-down menu.
- HV Deformer: This new version stretches and squashes the Voxels according to distance and particle interaction. It also uses less memory (40x less) than earlier versions, so you’ll be able to render fast.
- Dynamic Motion Paths: With wind effects, you can get your particles to flow by dropping null objects in the path. You can resize and rotate the nulls for better animation effects.
It is important that an animation school student be up-to-date on the latest animation software. Understanding the ingenuity of Lightwave v9 and pursuing an animation school education can be stepping stones to a successful career in the industry.
Sources
Digital Producer: First Look Lightwave 9.0 Part I
Digital Producer: First Look Lightwave 9.0 Part II
About the Author
Sue Booth is an arts and education freelance writer with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and has experience with CAD.
Posted on April 9, 2007 at 1:40 PM
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