Brand New User
 

Hi, I'm pretty much completely new to Lightwave and have only really been using it for about 3 weeks now, however I'm now facing a major academic project using it so I have to garner up as much info as I possibly can. You guys all seem pretty friendly, so please be kind with my current ineptitude :)


Ok, my first question is..
I've seen a few really cool animations with ships flying around in space etc, and I've seen a load of tutorials for creating this kinda thing. However, I'm not sure how to go about creating the actual space backdrop, and I haven't seen many tutorials on this either.

Is it normally done using just a single image file or is everything set inside a large textured object? I'm asking because in some of the flyby animations i've seen, if you see a ship being followed by the camera, the stars in the background change as the ship flies past. I'm wondering also how to also make gas nebulas an stuff in space too. Looking for a good tut link if possible :)


Second Question
I'd like to create a warp tunnel, not just the opening to it, but actually inside the conduit as well so I can for instance show a ship entering, cut to a new scene following it through, and then cut to it coming out the other side, how is this done? And could anyone point me towards some good tuts for this?

Theres a myriad of other little things i'll probably have to post about in the future but if anyone could help me with these in the meantime i'd be very appreciative.

Thanks a lot for any help! ;)

Well, there's a number of different methods for achieving exactly what you want. Possibly one of the best resources for Nebulae and Starfields is Kier Darby's Betterspace site:

http://www.ap3d.com/betterspace/


This should provide you with all the information you need there.

As for a wormhole effect, here's a link to one tutorial you may find helpful:

http://www.hi.is/~nonnib/3dtut3.htm

Plus there's this one over at lw3d.org (no images though)

http://www.lwg3d.org/v3/tutorials.php?id=102

Great! Thanks very much for helping me. :)

welcome :)

Hmm, dunno how I managed to post twice there, thanks for the welcome, good dog. For the record, I just managed to create my first starfield, looks real nice too! I can feel myself getting addicted to this...

Heh heh. We got another one. ;)

Welcome enjoy the site. Try some of the free tuts :D

Thanks very much, I will! :)

yes, the "better space" tutes are really good. So good in fact, that it wouldn't make too much sense making another one here.
...Unless 50 of you start camping in my yard, waving banners and screaming for one, that is :p

Where
 

where do you live Philip and will there be snacks.

Dae

oh and Fade welcome to the new and improved Simplylightwave:)

Sounds like we've got a new method for getting tutorials out of Philip! *starts packing portable barbecue and tent*

Welcome Fade! Hope you enjoy your stay!:D

Thanks all, I feel most welcome! :D

When it will be? I want to camp too... How big can be the banners and flags?

Big as you like - they just have to be created in Lightwave! :D

I'm looking for a good way of converting 3d studio .max files to .lwo files. At the moment the advice I have is to load them into max and then export them out as .3ds files which Lightwave can load.

However, I'm finding this method pretty unreliable, any seasoned suggestions?

P.s. If any suggestions involve buying more software, ie Polytrans, please bear in mind that i'm a skint student, who can't afford such luxuries. ;)

Cheers

The problem you have with .max files is that they aren't meshes in the traditional sense of the word, but are instead an instruction stack to 3DStudio telling it how to replay the commands you have entered in order to build the object in the first place.

Therefore, you need a copy of 3DStudio in order to replay the files. I also believe that Discrete haven't actually released the format for the .max files.

So, unfortunately the problem still remains - you need to load the .max files into 3DStudio and then export them as .3ds meshes.

Hmm, thats really unfortunate. Thanks for the Info. :)

I am new at Lightwave...Well i got it yesterday but if lightwave can import any of the following files/meshes then u are in luck.

.dwg
.prj
.dxf
.ige, igs, iges
.stl
.wrl , .wrz

These are all the files/meshes 3D Studio max can export and import.

OK, well I know LW can't do .dwg files as I have had this problem myself in the past. However, it will import DXF files.

As for the other formats I'm not entirely sure.

http://www.hades-studios.com/starfield

really good tutorial that uses layer effects and procedural textures. No medeling needed.:D