Where do I start? Newbie X 1K......
 

Hello everyone,

I'm so new to 3d it's a joke. I started with the Ocean tutorial but it seems really complex. I can follow along but I'm not sure why I'm clicking here or there and what the reasoning is behind the choices Philip is making.

I would like to do simple modeling and lots of animation and surface texturing. Frankly at this point I'm just not getting the big picture yet.

Are there any tutorials about the basics of LW and 3d modeling and animation? something that would explain the relationships between the tools etc?

Thanks in advance. If anyone cared to list a course of tuts to be taken in order, I think thats just what I need.

Regards and happy holidays

Alan Bell

I would suggest go over to 3dbuzz and download their tutorials and try some of the tutorials at newteks website that will get you up to speed. A book is always good to have nearby and also will help you go through the basics with explanations and stuff,,, i am having the Inside Lightwave 7. Really good.

I like this site for online tutorials.
http://members.shaw.ca/LightWavetutorials/Main_Menu.htm

or better yet, stay around on this site and check out the free modeller UI tutorial for starters, then continue with some of the easier projects like the coffee cup tutorial and so on.. dont be afraid to ask questions here in the forum, even if it is what you think are stupid questions, everyone has been where you are now and theres a whole bunch of nice guys haning around just waiting to answer your questions..

For books, definitely get Dan Ablan's "Inside LightWave [7]" - this book should be mandatory for every Lightwave user. Other books to look out for are "Lightwave Applied" by Joe Tracy, Dave Jerrard and Jen Hachigian and "Lightwave 3D 7.5 Lighting" by Nick Boughen.

And you can brush up your Photoshop skills (for texturing) at SimplyPhotoshop

Are we good or what guys? ;)

thats an extra golden star for you Leovenous ;)

Newtek's own site has a few introductory tutorials which would be a good starting point:

http://www.newtek.com/products/light...als/index.html

They're on the left entitled "Introduction to Layout" "Introduction to Modeller" etc... Start with these - Modeller first - just to get an idea of the overall program and then go for some of the easier tutorials like "Modelling a bowl" or "Modelling a fork" to get an idea of the basic toolset and how to work with them.

Don't get too discouraged by the number of buttons you've got to work with. I've been using Lightwave for years and I still don't know what half the buttons do but it doesn't worry me since I know the modelling tools that get me where I want to go. You don't have to learn every aspect of Lightwave before you can make great models.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the help. I'll buy Tim Albans book and start with the intro's.

Regards
Alan Bell

opps make that Dan Alban :)

Thanks Mark and Alan.

And, make it ABLAN. :)

NewTek has some really great free introductory tutorials as well.

Huh is that Dan himself here on the forums, woa, Your book is simply great. When is version 8 coming out? Any advanced versions? hehe thanks for the detail out method.... Really useful for the dragon i did.

Makes me wish i had a job and i could purchase these cool books :(

Cheer up R4s1n , save some pocket money and try again when version 8 comes out.

Question: Is it best for me to buy the very first book Dan wrote and make my way up to the newest one?
Or should i just buy the new ones that are coming out?

Well i only have the version 7. But for photoshop i have most of the versions.

Edit> Well i think the latest one will be enough. As he goes through a lot of stuff, from ground up. But for some effects and direction, i need to get another book i guess,,,, Or save money and get spline god's character series.... Man thats a dream. But i will try it anyway.;)