You hold in your hands the best-selling guide to NewTek's LightWave 3D animation software, completely updated for LightWave v9 by award-winning animator and trainer Dan Ablan. Rather than rehash the documentation like other books, this down-to-earth, easy-to-follow guide offers an invaluable set of project tutorials that teach you the ins and outs of LightWave and show you the techniques you need to master this powerful 3D software. Inside LightWave v9's accompanying DVD features hours of high- quality video training tutorials that will help you take the projects in the book to new heights. No other book has taught more LightWave 3D users than Inside LightWave. Featured tutorials cover: Insights into the new LightWave v9 workflow Powerful new surfacing with the Node Editor Character modeling Bones and rigging for character animation Particle animation Hard body and soft body dynamics Rendering concepts with the new Global Render options Advanced camera tools Accompanying DVD-ROM offers hours of unique training videos created just for this book, exclusively from 3DGarage.com (requires QuickTime); a demo of LightWave v9 for Mac OS and Windows; all of the projects from the book; royalty-free textures and reference images; and full-color screenshots from the book!

This best-selling guide to NewTek's LightWave 3D animation software has now been completely updated for LightWave v10 by award-winning animator and trainer Dan Ablan. This down-to-earth, easy-to-follow guide offers an invaluable set of real-world project tutorials that teach you the ins and outs of LightWave and show you the techniques you need to master this powerful 3D software. Inside LightWave 3D v10's accompanying DVD features hours of high quality video training tutorials that will help you go further with each chapter. No other book has taught more LightWave 3D users than Inside LightWave. Featured tutorials cover: In-depth tour of the new LightWave v10 interface Powerful surfacing with the Node Editor Bones and rigging for character animation Particle animation Hard body and soft body dynamics Rendering concepts Advanced camera tools All of Peachpit's eBooks contain the same content as the print edition. You will find a link in the last few pages of your eBook that directs you to the media files. Helpful tips: If you are able to search the book, search for "Where are the lesson files?" Go to the very last page of the book and scroll backwards. You will need a web-enabled device or computer in order to access the media files that accompany this ebook. Entering the URL supplied into a computer with web access will allow you to get to the files. Depending on your device, it is possible that your display settings will cut off part of the URL. To make sure this is not the case, try reducing your font size and turning your device to a landscape view. This should cause the full URL to appear.

Includes companion DVD with trial versions of LightWave v9.2! Essential LightWave v9 offers an unparalleled guide to LightWave 3D. Written to help users quickly take control of the software, this book is filled with easy-to-understand explanations, time-saving tips and tricks, and detailed tutorials on nearly every aspect of the software, including the new features in LightWave v9.2! Key features: learn to model, light, surface animate, and render within the first seven chapters!; master the LightWave v9 Node Editor for advanced surfacing, texturing, and deformations; learn to model with polygons, Catmull-Clark/Subpatch SubDs, and splines; uncover the secrets of distortion-free UV mapping and high-quality texturing; learn to seamlessly composite 3D objects with real-world images; create professional-quality character animation using FK, IK, and IK Booster; enhance your animations with expressions, particle effects, and dynamics; set up a render farm to rip through complex rendering tasks.

Companion CD included with 30-day demo of LightWave v9! The process of creating accurate and pleasing lighting in CG environments demands both an understanding of the fundamentals of light and knowledge of the available tools. LightWave v9 Lighting addresses these issues in a practical guide that shows you how to achieve your lighting goals using the latest version of LightWave 3D. With this book discover the tools and features of LightWave v9 that can improve your lighting; understand lighting concepts including color, shadow, intent, and style; explore a number of tutorials that demonstrate specific lighting setups; learn how to enhance your lighting with volumetrics, lens flares, projection images, and radiosity; find out how the proper lighting can turn a good shot into a great shot.

"Inside LightWave 3D 5.5" offers complete coverage of LightWave's capabilities by building on the program's documentation. In addition, it covers all the new features of version 5.5 and explains the most popular plug-ins available. The CD-ROM features exercise files, sample animations, and models and demos.

LightWave v9 Texturing takes you behind the fine art of surfacing your 3D objects using LightWave 3D. Because many artists find texturing and prepping objects for texturing intimidating or confusing, this book breaks down the process and makes it easier to understand by guiding you through LightWave’s powerful surfacing toolset and a number of helpful tutorials. LightWave v9 Texturing also demonstrates how easy it is to create surfaces using LightWave’s new, powerful node-based shading system. With this book go beyond texturing theory to find out what makes a great realistic texture; learn how to build textures using both LightWave’s classic layer system and the new Node Editor; discover how to unwrap and edit UV maps; find out how to create a variety of surfaces through a series of tutorials; enhance your surfaces with gradients, image maps, and procedural textures.

digital Cinematography and Directing is unlike any other cinematography or directing book you've seen. This book was written entirely for 3D animators. Based on real-world photographic and cinematic principles, it teaches you essential skills and concepts that you can apply to any industry 3D application, such as LightWave 3D, Softimage XSI, 3ds max, CINEMA 4D, Maya, and other leading programs. This book does not focus on using software but rather teaches you how to understand and use the camera within your 3D application. Master focal lengths, f-stops, and apertures within your 3D aplication. Learn how pre-production planning can guide and enhance your project by applying essential storyboarding techniques. Use light as not only an illumination source, but as a tool for cinematic storytelling. Learn how to direct your digital cast with proper staging techniques "Dan Ablan's years of innovating digital production techniques and his undeniable expertise at teaching CGI, FX, and Film, makes digitalCinematography and Directing a must-have!" -Dave Adams, Dreamworks.