New to Lightwave
 

Hey Guys... I'm new to this site and 3D in general and I'm very interested in learning lightwave in paticular.

I've tried learning from books but I always hit a mental block I currently own a excellent paper weight. in the form of 1160 pages of Inside Lightwave 7...

Now what i'm REALLY interested in is modelling cars I'm a car nut and this just generally appeals to me and low and behold this site may contain the key to motivating me learn lightwave.

The McLaren tutorial.....

I've done the first 'free' tutorial and I managed to do it... but i'm just worried if I continue it may go a bit beyond my experiance, and it is very limited with 3D in general these past couple of days I've just been messing around with the package in general.

So I guess the real question is "Will the McLaren tutorial become too advanced for someone as inexperianced as me"

Now bare in this is the 'ONLY' 3D image i've ever done and it was done with a rather boring tutorial.

Don't laugh

Hey
 

hey bud that looks excellent. Yes this mcclaren tutorial is not for the feint of heart but if you push through we will all help yu here. but it is kinda Pricey. Send mea email and ill get you some links of a free one thats on another site. I dont think its right for me to post it here as its not on or for this site thanks wizboy@3d-wiz.com

New as well
 

Hey I am new as well. I am sorta making a hobby out of all of this for now b/c I am not quite sure I want to make a career of it.

Anyhow, perhaps someone can answer my questions:

1. Are there any places with simple models/tutorials that a beginner can work with?

2. I have heard that there are many programs out there...Mayam lightwave, 3d Max etc... Are there programs that allow you to move models from one file type to another. I currently am using Maya and Lightwave b/c I heard its easy to model in Lightwave and animate in MAYA. Please give suggestions.

3. What are some good books on basic use of all the tools/features of mainly lightwave (perhaps Maya as well)?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Hi Apfelstrudel and welcome to the boards.

Take a look at the tutorials here on SLW - there are some very good beginners tutorials to help you get oriented with Lightwave (check out the coffee cup, tabasco, peppers and ocean tutorials, then maybe move onto the larger ones such as the Lava lamp, stratocaster, grassy knoll and McLaren)

You could also check out the resources at flay.com -- loads of links to plugins, tutes, resources, etc.

As for books, you definitely need a copy of Dan Ablan's "Inside Lightwave [x]" books (get the best one for the version of LW you have) - the best supplement to the manuals ever written.

For converting models, you'll find LW can convert many formats via import/export with varying results. If you want to outlay a few (hundred) bucks, then you could also try checking out applications such as PolyTrans or Deep Exploration.