November 2012 LightWave Newsletter
A Roundup of LightWave Community and Industry News
Posted: Mon 19 Nov 2012
LAST Chance to Save $499
Purchase a full version of LightWave® 11 or upgrade to LightWave 11 from an earlier version of LightWave and receive Smith Micro’s Poser Pro 2012 software free (a $499 savings). As an added bonus, purchase the LightWave/Poser bundle and get a free downloadable upgrade to LightWave 11.5 software (upon availability).
The combination of LightWave 11 and Poser Pro 2012 is a powerful way for professional artists and production teams to easily add pre-rigged textured 3D characters to their projects. With more than 3GB of content libraries, Poser Pro 2012 is the perfect complement to LightWave. Don't Miss Out! Offer ends November 30, 2012.
This offer is not available in Japan. Please visit www.dstorm.co.jp for LightWave promotions in Japan.
Power Artist: Brett Murrah
After all the research, client conferences, and consultations with medical experts and scriptwriters are complete, artist Brett Murrah of XVIVO Scientific Animation turns to LightWave 3D to translate his creative vision of client projects to onscreen masterpieces.
“After 15 years of working with LightWave, I know the ins and outs of the software and how to get things done quickly without hurdles or bottlenecks. Compared to other 3D animation systems I’ve used, LightWave is a very stable program, with improved workflow tools and super fast rendering, so I’m never stuck pulling all-nighters to make a deadline." – Brett Murrah
“Blood & Chrome” Takes Off
Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome, a new science-fiction drama currently playing on Machinima Prime’s YouTube channel and slated to air on Syfy in February 2013, falls on the timeline between Caprica and Battlestar Galactica in the tenth year of the first Cylon war. To bring the highly anticipated series to life, the artistic team at NBCUniversal relied on LightWave 3D throughout the pipeline to get the job done.
"LightWave is the little engine that could, and did; it defied all the odds on a show that by all rights we never should have been able to pull off.” – Doug Drexler
“So say we all.”
Insights from a Visual Effects Pro
Doug Drexler, a television production veteran and longtime LightWave 3D artist, has won Emmy® awards and numerous accolades for his inventive visual effects work on myriad science-fiction television programs, including multiple Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica series. Over the past three decades, he has been integral part of various art and VFX departments and TV production workflows, including Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome, which he credits as the most efficient, creative, fulfilling and cost-effective of his career.
"When I was in the art department of Deep Space Nine, Scenic Art Supervisor Michael Okuda had a copy of LightWave 3D in his office unopened. Every time I would go in his office, I’d look at the box and the cool stuff on it until I finally said, ‘Hey, Mike, are you ever going to open this up?” He said, ‘Nah, I don’t have the time’ and he gave it to me—that was the beginning of it. I started using it in the art department—a first in the industry."
Rig It Like You Mean It
Back by popular demand is LightWave Rigging Revealed, authored by the LightWave Group’s own rigging expert Lino Grandi. This downloadable video, priced at $49.99, shows you what it takes to create impressive character animation using LightWave 10 or higher. Learn about rigging in LightWave—start to finish—from more than five hours of instruction. Lino also shares how to create a refined workflow that allows for very fast deformations. Let's rig!
60 Days of LightWave 11
Ready to test drive the impressive features in LightWave 11? From now until the end of 2012, download a FREE full-feature 60-day trial version of LightWave 11 and experience firsthand the powerful tools that create an end-to-end production pipeline.
After downloading your 60-day version of LightWave, head over to the Learn section at LightWave3d.com and explore the full library of LightWave video tutorials designed to get you started.
Once your 60-day trial is over (or before if you’d prefer), it's easy to purchase a fully registered version of LightWave 11 and keep the production going. Download your 60-day version of LightWave 11 now!
Architectural Visions
Long before a project ever breaks ground, architects, builders and interior designers must help clients visualize and comprehend a finished building or living space. See how Render Vision Finland helps its clients peer into the future with 3D visualizations created with LightWave 3D.
Moving to LightWave from Other 3D Programs
Making the move to LightWave from a different 3D software program? Our resident LightWave evangelist Cody Burke helps make the transition easier with a video tutorial detailing how to quickly get up to speed with LightWave Modeler.
One for You, One for Me!
Who doesn’t love a really cool t-shirt? Especially one that makes you look like you just stepped off the hollow deck? As the holiday season approaches, consider giving everyone on your list (including yourself) the Limited Edition LightWave t-shirt. From now through December 31, 2012 save $5.00 on each tee ordered in the LightWave store. Click here to shop!
Save and Learn from 3DGarage
Dan Ablan, author of 10 books on LightWave, including the “Inside LightWave” series, is offering $30 off his $99 Lightwave 11 video training courseware at 3DGarage.com.
The video series is structured for beginning to intermediate artists and covers everything from instancing to flocking. See a sample of the flocking instructional video here then head over and get your savings on the courseware.
Renderosity Holiday Contest Gets Underway
It’s that magical time of year when everyone is designing holiday images of comfort and joy. Renderosity kicks off its 2012 Holiday Creative Contest on November 21, 2012 with the theme of a “Magical Holiday.” The LightWave 3D Group is sponsoring the contest and encourages you to submit your work for consideration. Lots of great prizes will awarded to the winners—the luckiest winners, of course, will receive LightWave 11 and LightWave 11.5 (when available).
