Archive notice: This article was originally published on August 4, 2005. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Following the update to Lightwave 8.3, Newtek is now following up with version 9 of its program at Siggraph. The software contains new functions in the areas of rendering, animation and workflow.
Rendering:
- improved rendering engine through implementation of “BSP/KD Tree Algorithms”
- new raytracing core, up to two and a half times faster
- adaptive subdivision of a mesh depending on the distance from the camera
- Camera Lens Shaders enable UV map generation, multicamera output into a single image, spacewarp simulations, simulation of real camera lenses, 360-degree panorama renderings
- Timewarp for bullet-time, freeze-time and slow-motion effects
- the CCTV Shader defines the output of a camera as a map for objects.
- with the “Waterpool HyperVoxel Particle displacement Shader”, water surfaces can now be generated and manipulated even more easily
- with Tension maps, it is possible to control the strength of a bumpmaps depending on the local dynamic mesh deformation. This makes it possible, for example, to generate folds as soon as an object is bent
- the Sketch Image Filter makes the rendered image appear as a hand drawing
- a new shader enables the fast rendering of large quantities of volumetric particles
Animation:
- improved Bones accelerate the drawing, evaluating, creating and roptating of Bones
- with “Sticky”, an object can be animated on a surface or at a fixed distance from it
- Path-align independent of the animation speed
- Quaternion Rotations enables animation without the danger of a “Gimbal locks”
User interface:
- many modelling operations can now be carried out in the layout window
- vertex and weight maps can likewise be created and changed in the layout window
- character rigging has been simplified considerably
- Performace gain through reimplementation of OpenGL
- hardware shaders enable procedural maps to be viewed in the viewport
- The viewport can also be used as an image viewer
- Particle cloud generates a particle cloud from an image and a depth map
Newtek is holding out the prospect of Lightwave 3D 9.0 for the 4th quarter. The single-user license is then to cost 795 US dollars.
Further Links:
- More information
Topics
Modeling462 postsStart with a point, end with a world. Follow modelling tools and techniques for building characters, props and environments, with an eye on shapes that will survive the production pipeline.
Rigging149 postsGive digital characters their strings, joints and room to perform. Explore rigs, deformation and animation controls that help a carefully built model bend, move and express a little personality.
Shading95 postsDecide how a surface greets the light. Follow materials, shaders and look development as artists turn flat colours into glass, skin, metal and the occasional beautifully troublesome mystery substance.
Rendering882 postsThe scene is ready; now the pixels have work to do. Follow rendering engines, optimisation and production workflows that balance image quality, iteration speed and the available computing budget.
Workflow749 postsKeep the handoffs from becoming cliffhangers. Explore pipelines, collaboration and production practices that connect people, applications and assets, making room for creative work between the deliveries and revisions.
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