Lightwave Modeler

3D Animation II

Working in 3D Space What is an object in 3D

space made of? Points

Building blocks where lines can be joined together

Like a TinkerToy hub Polygons

Surface created when 3 or more points are joined together by a line

The form of the polygons makes the object’s shape

Modeling in 3D Space

Making a 3D object Made by creating,

combining, and modifying simple shapes into more complex shapes

Basic building blocks Called ‘primitives’

Cubes, spheres, cylinders, etc.

Before making a model Think about what primitive

shapes compose your object

Modeler Interface Workspace divided

into 4 views Each view is looking at

the same object at a different angle

Default settings Top, back, right,

perspective You can change any view

to your liking

Let’s Get Started Start up Modeler

Select File > Load Object

In the Characters folder select ‘Big Ted’

Modeler Interface Menu tabs on the top

Selectable items on the left based on the selected tab

Upper right of each view Viewport position

controls

Change Your Point of View

In the Back viewport change the view to Front

Click & hold on the Dolly and Zoom button to change your view Notice how this

changes your other views as well

Change Your Point of View

Click on the last icon (Expand button) Now you can focus

on just one view at a time with more room to move around

Click on the same button to return to the default view

Working with Layers Works like Photoshop

Separate pieces of the same object kept in separate layers

Can work on one layer while seeing other layers Allows you to create, size

and align one piece of your object to another without effecting other pieces

Active & Inactive Layers

If the top part of the layer is selected The layer is active and

can be modified

If the bottom part of the layer is selected It can be seen, but it

cannot be modified Handy for lining up

pieces of your object

Change Your Layers In the layers section,

click on the top part of layer 2 Notice that Ted is gone Nothing in this layer

Click on the bottom part of layer 1 Ted is back, but you

can’t change him Now you can make a

hat!

Change Your Layers In the layers

section, click on the top part of layer 1 Now Ted is ready

to be modified

Loading & Saving Objects

Loading Objects File > Load Objects

If the object was saved in more than one layer, those layers will also load

Most finished objects are saved into one layer

Loading & Saving Objects

Saving objects File > Save Object Saves the object in the

active layer(s)

Warning If you load a default object

and change it, be sure to save the modified object as something else! Otherwise the original will

forever be modified File > Save Object As

Save a Version of Ted Select File > Save

Object As…

In the Characters folder save as Big Ted 2 Now we can tweak

with Ted and not mess up the original

Selecting Parts of an Object

The Golden Rule When nothing is selected, everything’s selected!

If no points or polygons in an object are selected, then whatever you do will effect the entire object in the active layer

Selecting Parts of an Object

The Golden Rule If part of an object is selected, only that part will be

modified

Selecting Parts of an Object

Polygon selection Selected points are

highlighted in yellow

Polygon de-selection Once you have selected

points and release the mouse button, drag the mouse over the selected points to de-select them

Selecting Ted with Polygons

Click on the horizontal dividing line and pull down so the top view is bigger

Click on the zoom tool to make Ted fill the space

Selecting Tedwith Polygons

Selecting Ted with Polygons

Click on the Selection tab

On the left, click on Sel Polys

Selecting Methods Hold the mouse down

and drag over the polygons you wish to select

Hold down the Command key and draw a circle around the polygons you wish to select

Selecting & Deselecting

Once you select a part of your object and release the mouse, you are in deselect mode

If you need to select more points or polys, hold down the Shift key

Deselect Everything To deselect any

points or polygons click inside the numerics box in the lower left

Selecting Tedwith Polygons

Hold down the mouse and drag over the outer part of Ted’s cigar The polygons you

select become highlighted

Modifying Parts of an Object

Select what you want to change

Select a tool from the Modify tab

Find the viewport that works best for the modification

Have at it!

Modifying Ted Select the Modify

tab

Under Translate, select Move (t) Cursor now a plus sign

Choose a viewport and move the selected polys to make the cigar longer

Modifying Ted Select Rotate (y)

Cursor now a curly arrow

Give the cigar a twist

Switch back to Move (t) and tweak your cigar to your liking

Modifying Ted

Modifying Ted In the Modify tab,

whatever tool you have selected, turn that tool off Cursor is now in

selection mode Looks like an X

Drag over a row of polys to deselect them

Hold the Shift key down to re-select them

Modifying Ted By selecting and

deselecting polygons, select & deselect parts of Ted’s cigar then move and rotate different parts to whatever shape you would like

Selecting Ted with Points

Works the same way as selecting polygons

Drag over the points you wish to select or hold the Command key and draw a circle over the points you wish to select

Selected points are highlighted in orange

Selecting Ted Select the

Selection tab

On the left click on Sel Points

Hold the Command key and draw a circle around Ted’s left ear

Modifying Ted Select the Modify

tab

Select Move (t) tool

Drag Ted’s ear out

Modifying Ted Select the Size

tool (H)

Put your cursor inside the selected points and drag your cursor

Modifying Ted Using the

selection tools, select and deselect what parts of Ted you wish to modify to complete your finished Ted!

Saving Your Work Don’t forget to save what

you are working on

Select File > Save Object As To name your object as

something different If this is a default object DO

THIS

File > Save Do this if you have already

saved your object previously

Saving Ted Since we have

already saved Ted as Ted 2, all we need to do is update our object.

Select File > Save Or press Command S If you HAVEN’T saved a

Ted 2 version then be sure you Save As your object

Save a Copy for your Homework

Select File > Save As

Make a copy of your modified Ted object to the desktop

Later, attach this file to an email to me

Lightwave Modeler

3D Animation II