NewTek Lightwave 3D: Modifying Lightwave Objects

Animation VModifying Lightwave Objects

Object Properties Properties dialogue

box Some neat tricks you

can do to your object Morph your object

into another object Change the way the

object appears Shortcut = p

Let’s Get Started Start up Lightwave

3D Select Load Object

(+) In the Landscape

folder, select Ground.lwo

Loading Objects Whoa, what

happened? When loading large

objects, Lightwave changes the grid size to fit the object on the grid

The camera moves back so it can shoot the large item

Scaling Things Back to Size

Select the Camera Check the settings

on the numerics Grid size jumped to

500 meters! Camera is back

from center nearly 5 kilometers from center

Scaling Things Back to Size

Select the View tab

In the Grid section, select Grid Size

Type in 2 and press OK

Now the ground really covers the whole space

Bring the Camera Back

Select the Camera In the numerics box

change the settings: X = 0 m Y = 1.75 m Z = - 8 m

This is raise the camera and back it up a little from center

Let’s Look at Something

From the Items tab, select Load Object

From the Animals tab, select Triceratops

Change your view to the Camera view (6)

Press F9 to see what you have so far

Clean Up the Lighting

Select the Light Switch to the Top

view (2) Using the Modify tab,

move the rotate the light so it’s lighting the dino better

Do another test render to see how he looks

How About Some Background?

Lighting is better, but he needs a backdrop

Select Windows > Backdrop Options

How About Some Background?

Lighting is better, but he needs a backdrop

Select Windows > Backdrop Options

Turn on the gradient backdrop

Do another test render

Modifying Object Properties

Under Objects, make sure Triceratops is selected

Click on the Properties button (p)


Select the 2nd tab Deform Morphing Displacement map Enable Bump


Morphing Change your object into

another object

Displacement map Warps your object based

on an image or texture map

Enable Bump Roughs up the surface of

your object

Add a Displacement Map

Click on the T button under Displacement Map T stands for Texture

Under Layer Type, select Image Map

Since our dino is mostly a cylinder, under Projection choose Cylinder

Under Image, choose Load Image


In the Reflections folder, select FractalReflections.tga

Change the Texture Amplitude to 0.5


Do another test render to check him out This displacement is

caused by an image and doesn’t change over time

Modify the displacement by choosing different Texture Axis


Render this frame (F9) and Save the frame as Displacement.jpg to the desktop.

Take a Picture for your Homework

Animated Displacement

Change the Layer Type to Procedural Texture

Change the Procedural Type to Ripples

Press the Play button to see how this displacement map changes over time

Animated Displacement

Change the settings: Texture Value = 0.05 Wave Sources = 1 Wavelength = 0.5 Wave Speed = 0.02

As you change these settings, watch what happens to dino!

Decisions, Decisions Once you have your

settings the way you like or don’t like, it’s time to choose Use Texture Remove Texture

Reset the Board At the bottom of the

Displacement Map dialogue box choose Remove Texture This turns it off for

now, but you can go back and turn it back on if you like

We are going to try out some other tricks for now

Render Tab Changes how the object is

seen on camera Or not seen if you like

Options Change to a solid color Make it semitransparent or

invisible Make parts of the object

invisible Whether it casts a shadow or

can have a shadow cast on it

Clip Map Makes parts of

the object invisible based on an image or texture

Make a Clip Map In the Render tab,

select the T button for Clip Map

Under Layer Type, choose Image Map

Under Projection, choose Cylindrical

Under Image, choose FractalReflections.tga

Make a Clip Map This effect you

can’t see until you render

Press F9 to check it out


Save a JPG of this render to the desktop and call it ClipMap.jpg

Make a Clip Map Change the Texture

Axis to Y and X and render those versions!

Like the displacement map image, these will not change over time

Make a Clip Map If you want them

to change over time, use an animated texture like ripples

Render Tab Matte Object

Turns your object into a solid matte color

No shading or highlights to the object One flat color Interesting effect

with a clip matte

Make a Matte Turn off the Clip Map

texture if needed. In the Render tab

select Matte Object Click on the black

square and select a color

Render the frame and check it out

Render Tab Object Dissolve

Turns the whole object to whatever opacity setting you would like Opaque Semitransparent Invisible

Distance Dissolve Makes the object become

completely invisible as it moves away from the camera Kind of like in a fog

Make a Ghost Turn off the Matte

Object In the Object

Dissolve window, drag the arrows until you have a setting @ 50%



Save a JPG of your render to the desktop and save it as Dissolve.jpg

Using an Envelope Allows you to change

parameters over time Key frames for

parameters, rather than for the object itself

Any time you see an E box, that setting can change over time

Make Dino Vanish Over Time

Set the Object Dissolve to 0%

Next to the Object Dissolve box, click on the E to open the Envelope The Graphic Editor

opens up Looks complicated,

but it’s pretty easy


Click on the Key icon just under the chart

At frame 120 click on the line This sets a

keyframe for Dino at 0% No transparency


Click another key frame at frame 60

Switch to the Drag icon Now we are going to

change this value


Drag this key frame up to 100 % You should see the opacity ramp up from 0%

from frame 0 to 100% at frame 60, then back down to 0% at frame 120. If not, use the drag tool to make these settings


Drag the Timeline slider and notice how your object fades out to nothing and then reappears Scary!!

Turning Off Envelopes

Not as easy as Textures Hold the Command key

and then click on the E box

Choose Remove Envelope

You can turn it back on by clicking on the E again if you want


Hold down the Command key and click on the envelope box

Choose Remove Envelope

Drag the Dissolve slider back to 0%

Other Render Settings

Unseen by: Makes the object

unaffected or unseen by various effects

Can even be hidden from the camera

Shadows Turn on or off the ability to

cast a shadow or receive a shadow from something else

Edges Tab Polygon Size

Changes how big the polygons APPEAR to the camera Too small or too big =

interesting effect

Edges Highlights different lines

that make up the object

Tinker with Polygon Size

Drag the Polygon Size slider to 50%

Render the frame and check it out Notice that you can

envelope this effect to have the polygons change size over time

Tinker with Polygon Size

Select over 50% and change the size to 1000%

Render the frame and check it out Polygons are too

big making Dino chiseled

Bring the Polys Back to Normal

Drag the Polygon slider to change the size back to 100%

Paint the Edges Check the

Silhouette Edges box

Under Edge Color, choose a color

Render a frame and check it out

Paint the Edges Uncheck Silhouette Select Other Edges Change the Size to

Medium Change the color

and render a frame to check it out

Just the Edges On the top change

the polygon size to 1%



Save your rendered frame as a JPG to your desktop and call it Edges.jpg

Animation VModifying Lightwave Objects

Education

NewTek Lightwave 3D: Modifying Lightwave Objects