[Oldenburg]

Hi all,

I just started Lightwave and I would like to ask what to do if you're an ABSOLUTE noob at Lightwave. Can someone give me some tips on what books to read and what (video)training to do. I am not asking for the easy way out. I know it will take a lot of hard work and a lot of frustrating moments before I will be able to produce just the simplest of renders.

My aim is to be able to make machine animations.

Can someone also tell if I should use a graph pad (or not)?

Just general noob information would be very much apreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Oldenburg.

[Claudio]

Hello Oldenburg, I will tell you as Noob too.

- I tried so hard to learn by my self with books, and all I got was frustration and no go.
- My first real thing came after this site. I give the honors to the site because here I found great tutorials (video) and most important the members.
- Watch the free tutorials and practice, I know that very soon you will be posting your work here.
- try to get the basic first and than go to something more complex. you will see that it's all the same principal. Once you know where to find the right tool, you will be able to use all the complex stuff easiers.

[Mark]

Also, make sure to get a copy of Dan Ablan's Inside Lightwave book. This is the best supplement for the manual going.

Other good books include:

Lightwave Applied Versions 6.5 & 7
Lightwave 3D 7.5 Character Animation
The Lightwave 6.5/7 Project Handbook

among others...

[Oldenburg]

Ty guys,

I will have a look at all the books and all the videos.

Hopefully I'll be able some nice pictures not too long from now.

Muchas Grachias,
Oldenburg.

[puREp3s+]

You should go to the Newtek website, their tuts are really good and cover a whole range of features.

I also found Lightwave 3D 7.5 for Windows & Mac: Visual Quickstart Guide really good for getting to grips with controlling lightwave

[Erwin]

Just to add to the other books already mentioned, Timothy Albee's Essential Lightwave 3D is a good book for absolute beginners.

Also, http://www.3dbuzz.com has a Lightwave VTM (Video Training Module) for free. The tutorials are very introductory - great for beginners. Here's a list of the available LW VTMS:

1 Introduction
2 Layout UI
3 Modeler UI
4 Viewports
5 Selections in Layout
6 Selections in Modeler
7 Transforming
8 Animation
9 Rendering

When you get comfortable with LW, I highly recommend you move on to Philip's tutorials here at simplylightwave.

[chuawenching]

I saw the Dan Ablan Inside Lightwave book (if not mistaken, the front cover had a girl with a lightwave logo)

I tried that cd and notice many missing files. I tried to follow the tutorial in there, and at the end, i am lost in space.

Is Dan Ablan book, really that good? I had no idea. I see many ppl recommend that.

Any idea? Thanks.

[Mark]

Dan's Inside Lightwave books are simply the best accompaniment for the Lightwave Manuals. My copy of Inside LW7 is almost permanently open on my desk at some page or other.

However, Dan's books do assume a little working knowledge of the Lightwave UI and workflow. I'd suggest starting out with some beginners tutorials (either from this site, or Newtek's website has some), and also read the first few sections of the manual (dry and dull though it is), and above all else practice the toolset whenever you get chance.

Don't expect to be able to create the next Jimmy Neutron or Starship Troopers to begin with. Just practice with simple geometric shapes until you get the hang of how things work and build up from there...

[K Dawg]

Originally posted by Mark Dan's Inside Lightwave books are simply the best accompaniment for the Lightwave Manuals. My copy of Inside LW7 is almost permanently open on my desk at some page or other. However, Dan's books do assume a little working knowledge of the Lightwave UI and workflow. I'd suggest starting out with some beginners tutorials (either from this site, or Newtek's website has some), and also read the first few sections of the manual (dry and dull though it is), and above all else practice the toolset whenever you get chance. Don't expect to be able to create the next Jimmy Neutron or Starship Troopers to begin with. Just practice with simple geometric shapes until you get the hang of how things work and build up from there...

Taking the words out of my mouth.

To me, I´m more a ca. 5 month noob. I know the most therories fpr newbies, but don´t know everything.
Now I also have the Inside Lightwave 7 Book from Dan and I´m on the Head tutorial after 6 months of having the book. (I don´t work every day on it cause it is still just a hobby and I have other things to do too)
Now the Book is great and nope, there are not realy any missing files. If you have a OS like Win ME or 98, and the files were done on XP, youwill have to load the textuers etc. manualy. Or you set the content directory of Layout to the cd. That should stop them errorous loadings

nowMark had a good tip there. Don´t be going out for the next Monsters Inc. or so, cause you will fail and fell depressed for not beeing that good.
I did it and that took me more than 3 Months to get back to LW.

I have Lw about a year now. for those who just think, how can this guy be a 5 month noob, have the book for 6 and stopped for 3 That is the total status I think I´m at. A 4-5 month Noob status.

Now from Noob to Noob.
take it easy, Look for very good video tutorials. I know theire hard to find, but now I found this site
Look for very good text Tuts. I prefer the Vid and Text Tuts that even real stupid people can follow. Like Click here or Hot key this and pull to this point like this etc.
Thats the best way for a noob to follow and understand what he is doing.

I might not be that stupid, but it´s the best way I think is for all noobs to learn and not just pay for the good stuff.
Thats what I call quality

O look at me, all new here and getting away like this. i guess I won´t make any freinds here like this lol

Oh by the way. My probleme isn´t the tools anymore. The probs are more, how do i make something without tuts or help

[chuawenching]

Haha.. i won't be doing that.. next Monster Inc...

Last time, when i started in game programming i want to implement many cool stuff. Until the end, i fail to do so. Yikes .. horrible experience.

Well now i am different. But to lightwave, i better pick up slowly or else i end up a horrible experience.

yeah, you remind me about the book. It is not the missing files. Just i never get the texture to work. I open the cd casing (i think there is such tutorial on cd casing right ???) file, and i never see the textures. Any tips, how you get that done?

Thanks.

[kumar]

Inside Lightwave....... Nothing further said.

Hehe I also have the book beside my comp at all times. Even when i am not using it. And i also have another one called Photoshop 7... from IDG pub..the pro version. These two are always within my reach.