The 5 best features of LightWave 10

Version 10 of NewTek's modelling and rendering application, LightWave, is here. Combining their CORE, Modeller and Layout technology, NewTek have dubbed their latest venture the ideal solution for "immersive filmmaking" - specifically for those looking to create 3D animations and special effects.

To welcome in the new edition of LightWave, we've put version 10 through its paces and picked out our favourite features.

1 - Virtual Cinema Tools

Plug in a 3D mouse, video camera or tablet and wander around a scene, finding the perfect shot. LightWave 10 provides the ultimate in directorial control, letting you preview the final render of the shot you've walked through. James Cameron took this approach when making Avatar - he hooked up a tablet, monitored the display, and compared the live footage with the 3D footage. By viewing footage in a realtime, Open GL preview, angle tweaking is done by simply moving around or pointing at the desired spot.

2 - Viewport Preview Render (VPR)

A massive time-saver, filmmakers can now preview a final shot in the viewport without having to faff around rendering and then correcting. Industry rivals such as 3ds Max and Maya have also recently introduced this sort of tech in their software. As NewTek got there first, they've been able to pimp their version of LightWave 10 and stay ahead of the game by including support for stereoscopic views, bump maps and ambient occlusion - to name but a few.

3 - Linear Colorspace Workflow

Keeping things consistent, LightWave 10's Linear Colorspace Workflow is the don of accurate colouring and lighting in 3D renders. Over the past year or so, all of the big five (3ds Max, Maya, XSI, CINEMA 4D and Lightwave) have introduced or refined their workflow specs - Lightwave have kept their competitive edge throughout. Linear Colorspace Workflow places emphasis on lighting and subtlety, allowing for changes in lighting without damaging details or depth, and eliminating the harsh glare often found around scene lamps.

4 - Bullet Rigid Dynamics

Explosions, collapsing buildings and generic smashing times all benefit from the inclusion of this feature. LightWave has raised its game by adding an advanced physics engine to this package, keeping apace with other industry favourites (CINEMA 4D, for example). Complex simulations can be set up without having to animate each individual component, helping to cut production and staffing costs whilst delivering second-to-none special effects and animations.

5 - Camera Projection

This feature lets you get all of the right textures in all the right places. Once upon a time, not so long ago, this would have involved slowly, painstakingly matching bitmap coordinates with points on the model, trying to avoid visible seams and furry edges. LightWave 10, in a nutshell, lets you drop a texture (or bitmap) over a model, and adjust it accordingly, avoiding those nightmare edge joins. This generally speeds things up, and lets the focus rest on the creative flow, rather than technicalities.

Have a gander at some of our LightWave products, call us on 03332 409 309 or email 3D@Jigsaw24.com.