newtek lightwave 3d: working in 3d space
DESCRIPTION
Understanding how to manipulate objects in 3D space in Lightwave 3D.TRANSCRIPT
Animation IVWorking in 3D Space
Loading an Object Loading an Object
In the Items tab Object button
Shortcut +
Object Layer If the object was saved
in separate layers you can load the layer items separately as separate objects
Loading an Object From Scene
Neat trick of loading an object from another scene
Brings in all the animation that came with the object Can even import the
lights that were used in that scene if you want to
Let’s Get Started Start up
Lightwave 3D
Select the Items tab
From the Load section, select ‘From Scene’
Let’s Get Started From the Aviation
folder select ‘MustangLowRes’
In the Load from Scene dialogue box, scroll down to the Lights folder and select all 3 lights
Don’t select the camera
Select OK
Let’s Get Started Switch to Camera
view (6)
Drag the timeline slider and notice that the airplane already has motion applied to the object without you doing anything! All you need to do now
is move the airplane around
Working in 3D Space Direction
X value – left & right -X = going left from
center +X = going right from
center Red arrow
Working in 3D Space Direction
Y value – up & down -Y – going down from
center +Y – going up from
center Green arrow
Working in 3D Space Direction
Z value (Assuming the
camera is in front of your object)
-Z = Moving towards the camera from the center
+Z = Moving away from the camera from the center
Choosing What to Move
Current item pop-up menu Sometimes an object is
made up of one piece Cow for instance
Sometimes an object consists of several pieces The Mustang airplane Choosing what to move
is VERY important
Choosing What to Move
Who’s the boss? When an object is
made of of several pieces (or other objects) typically, one object controls all the other objects
This is called parenting Whatever the parent
does, the children do the same thing
Moving Things Around
Press M to bring up the Motion Properties dialogue box
Click on the Parent Item pop-up menu
Notice that ‘m-body11’ is the top dog or parent for the whole object If you want to modify the
whole object, this is what you choose
Moving Things Around
Select the Modify tab
Select the Move button (t)
In the Current Item pop-up menu select ‘m_body11’
Moving Things Around
Using the Camera view and Top view move the Mustang away from the camera and to the upper left
Working in 3D Space Rotation
Heading Rotating along the
horizontal axis Y axis Red circle
Working in 3D Space Rotation
Pitch Rotating along the X
axis Nodding up and
down Green circle
Working in 3D Space Rotation
Banking Rotating along the Z
axis Rocking back and
forth Blue circle
Moving Things Around
In the Modify tab select the Rotate tool
Select the bank, pitch and horizontal circles to straighten the plane so it appears to be heading toward the camera (you)
Moving Things Around
In the Auto Key Modifier pop-up menu choose Auto Key Modified This allows us to
modify the object we loaded from a scene that had key frames already added
Move the timeline slider to 120
Moving Things Around
Select the Move tool
Using the Camera and Top view, move the mustang closer to the camera and to the upper right. You should see a
motion path from frame 0
Moving Things Around
Move the timeline slider to 60 Halfway through
our animation
With the Move tool, select the green arrow and make the mustang dip low
Working in 3D Space Size vs. Stretch
Size Scaled equally along
all axis points Stretch
Allows you to scale each axis independently
Working in 3D Space Sizing
Simply drag left and right on the object to make the object smaller or bigger
Can also use numerics window to set an exact value
Working in 3D Space Stretch
Red handle Stretch along the X
axis Green handle
Stretch along the Y axis
Blue handle Stretch along the Z
axis
Add a Little Perspective
Move the timeline slider to 0
Select the Size tool and scale down the mustang to 0.500
Add a Little Perspective
Move the timeline slider to 120
Select the Size tool and scale up the mustang the 1.250
Drag the timeline slider back and forth to check out the animation
Aligning to Path Rather than setting all the
heading, pitch and bank settings manually, have the object Align to Path instead
This option works only if the object was made facing toward the +Z plane Our mustang faces the
wrong way so this won’t work
Isolating Motion Turn on or off axis
points using the numerics box Only the control
handles still active appear on the object
Use the sliders for the axis point you wish to change
Add a Little Perspective
Switch to the Top view
Go to each key frame and align the horizontal motion to follow the path
Add a Little Perspective
Switch to the Camera view
At each key frame change the pitch value to follow the motion Use the P value in
the numerics window Click on the green
circle
Add a Backdrop Easy way to fill the
background of your animation with: Solid color Color gradient Image
Add a Little Perspective
In the Windows pop-up menu select Backdrop Options
In the Backdrop tab, check the Gradient Backdrop Zenith to nadir color
sets the range of color from top to bottom
Add a Little Perspective
This gradient actually works well the way it is for our sky so after checking the box, close the window
Press F9 to check out a frame of your animation
Making an Animation Lots of different
types of animation outputs in Lightwave
We use only one QuickTime (.mov)
Make an Animation Select the
Render tab
On the left select Render Globals
Animation Settings Select the General
tab This sets what part of
your scene to render
Check the settings: First frame = 1 Last frame = 120 Step = 1
Leave off everything else
Animation Settings Check out the
Render tab This sets what
Lightwave should render Shadows,
reflections, transparency, lens flares and other effects
Animation Settings Check out the
Camera tab This allows you to
change the camera focal length, render dimensions, motion blur effects
Animation Settings Check out the
Lights tab This allows you to
change the settings to any of the lights in your scene
Animation Settings Check out the
Output tab This sets how you
wish to save your animation
Lots of options, but we only need one QuickTime
(.mov)
Animation Settings Check the Save
Animation box
Click on the Type pop-up window and choose QuickTime (.mov)
Click the Animation File box
Name and save your animation file to the desktop
Animation Settings Once your Render
Globals settings are set, click Render Scene (F10)
The Render Status window comes up and shows you each frame as it’s rendered out.
Save a Copy of your Scene for your
Homework Select File >
Save Scene As
Save the scene file (.LWS) to the desktop
Later, you will attach this file to an email to me
Animation IVWorking in 3D Space