[Simmo1111]

I am interested in learning more about 3D modelling, animations etc and am currently using Cinema 4D. I am looking for another application to use to be able to get an idea of how easy/difficult my current application is compared to others available. Does anyone have any feedback as regards Lightwaves capabilities and ease of use compared to Cinema 4D ?

Thanks in advance

D

[Johnny9ball]

I would have to say Lightwave is the most user friendly program I have ever used. I can really compaire it to other packages because I have never used any other 3d software for more than 5 minutes without wanting to puke.

One thing you can do is download a free tutorial like Peppers and see it in action as Philip uses it. That will help you get an idea of how LW works. Peppers is a good tutorial to because Philip takes you through modeling and rendering so you will go through modeler and layout.

http://simplylightwave.com/movie_pag...tml?tut_id=512

[Simmo1111]

Thanks for that mate....
I,ll have a look

D

[Johnny9ball]

Also if you like there is lots of free tutorials here that cover a variety of subjects.

http://www.simplylightwave.com/movie...html?cat_id=23

And for the ones that cost points you will never find better more complete and detailed video tutorials for LW at this cost, its nearly a steal.

[philip]

thanks johnny

[Johnny9ball]

I only speak the truth

[Fallenswordsman]

You're going to be splashing out a lot of cash so this kind of decision is not one to be taken lightly. What I would suggest is that you download the evaluation version of each piece of software and spend some time with them and see which suits you best. Not all software appeals to everyone in the same way.
Cinema 4D can be got from
http://www.maxon.net/index_e.html
Lightwave can be got from
http://www.newtek.com
I have to say when I was making my purchasing decision, I quite liked Cinema 4D, I could make it do things and get some nice renders up pretty quickly. I fell in love with Lightwave mainly because of the modelling tools and the price.

[kumar]

I agree with Fallenswordsman,,,, i even downloaded Maya PLE and XSI,,, now playing around with Maya myself,,,, ooops So a educational edition is good to try out the software and see how well it takes to you... But i have to tell you the learning curve is steep... On Maya especially,,, hehe.

But Lightwave is still the best polygon modeller i have seen around..... think someone once said that ... i agree... and its user friendly too,,, no unwanted pictures for icons.... just plain direct to the point.

[drdoe]

I've used Cinema 4D & Maya, and I am currently learning LW... actually I'm just sniffing around, as all three apps are on my college's computers.

I started with Maya, because that's what I'd heard about, but when I opened C4D one day, and tried a tutorial I found online, I was completely taken aback; it was so much nicer (at least I thought so). And most importantly, I could get it to render stuff smoothly... something I couldn't get Maya to do for me.

And now I'm on to LW. I must admit that since I stuck with C4D for a long time, I had only a faint clue as where to begin with LW. I didn't understand much of it... also I had gotten used to HyperNURBS in C4D, and I've yet to find a substitute in LW.

however, I must say that LW does have some excellent features, abeit convoluted if you're used to C4D.
I still go back to C4D when I need to create something fast that still has to look great. But simply me being more used to it

I spend a lot of time in LW nowadays, trying to learn.
So if you switch from C4D to LW, expect a somewhat steep learning curve (at least in the beginning).

To sum up: Try LW before making any decisions (as others have rightly said). I have it easy, because I don't have to pay for the software, as long as I'm on a college computer, but if you're looking to invest in software, try it out.
If you want to hold out longer, I suggest you work towards the limits of C4D (such as the work on this site http://www2.jan.ne.jp/~yutakai/ It's amazing! But of course there's a lot of specialist plug-ins and such involved in making somthing like the stuff on that page), before moving on. The learning curve when switching to LW, after getting really pro in C4D, will be steeper than it would be right now, but as all 3D apps have a lot in common, learning one will give you alot of background and help you learn another (once I got a few basics down in LW, things started to make sense).

anyway, what do I know? I'm just fooling around with this stuff...

[Simmo1111]

Thanks very much for the advice drdoe, ive been messing with C4D for a while now and can accomplish plenty, fairly quickly, as you found yourself.
Ive now purchased Dan Ablans book "Inside Lightwave 7" (Its Huuuuge !!!!) and am going to try and work through that one so that i can get an idea of how the 2 applications compare from various points of view..
Cheers mate
D

[Mark]

You'll probably find that once you get used to the workflow in LW, then you'll pretty much drop C4D for modelling purposes. I've used Maya, Max, Truespace, XSI and C4D as well as LW and it has to be the single best poly/subd modeller I have come across...

[hmshood]

THE SINGLE MOST SIGNIFICANT CRITISISM OF LIGHTWAVE IS THE NON-EXISTENT HELP.
REAL DUH! OF NEWTEK NOT PROVIDING IT.

[Mark]

Two things:

(1) Stop shouting

(2) The help is supplied as a set of web pages - they should be on your LW7.x CDs, or you can download them from the Newtek FTP server (it is 80Meg mind):

ftp://gecko.newtek.com/pub/Patches/L..._Windows/lw75c