Covering the basics of Lightwave 3D Modeler. This is lecture 1 of 2. Learn how to select and manipulate points and polygons.

1. Lightwave Modeler
3D Animation II

2. Working in 3D Space
 What is an object in 3D
space made of?
 Points
 Building blocks where
lines can be joined
together
 Like a TinkerToy hub
 Polygons
 Surface created when 3
or more points are joined
together by a line
 The form of the polygons
makes the object’s shape

3. Modeling in 3D Space
 Making a 3D object
 Made by creating,
combining, and modifying
simple shapes into more
complex shapes
 Basic building blocks
 Called ‘primitives’
 Cubes, spheres,
cylinders, etc.
 Before making a model
 Think about what primitive
shapes compose your
object

4. Modeler Interface
 Workspace divided
into 4 views
 Each view is looking at
the same object at a
different angle
 Default settings
 Top, back, right,
perspective
 You can change any
view to your liking

5. Let’s Get Started
 Start up Modeler
 Select File > Load
Object
 In the Characters
folder select ‘Big
Ted’

6. Modeler Interface
 Menu tabs on the top
 Selectable items on
the left based on the
selected tab
 Upper right of each
view
 Viewport position
controls

7. Change Your Point of
View
 In the Back viewport
change the view to
Front
 Click & hold on the
Dolly and Zoom
button to change
your view
 Notice how this
changes your other
views as well

8. Change Your Point of
View
 Click on the last icon
(Expand button)
 Now you can focus on
just one view at a time
with more room to
move around
 Click on the same
button to return to
the default view

9. Working with Layers
 Works like Photoshop
 Separate pieces of the
same object kept in
separate layers
 Can work on one layer
while seeing other
layers
 Allows you to create, size
and align one piece of
your object to another
without effecting other
pieces

10. Active & Inactive Layers
 If the top part of the
layer is selected
 The layer is active and
can be modified
 If the bottom part of
the layer is selected
 It can be seen, but it
cannot be modified
 Handy for lining up
pieces of your object

11. Change Your Layers
 In the layers section,
click on the top part of
layer 2
 Notice that Ted is gone
 Nothing in this layer
 Click on the bottom
part of layer 1
 Ted is back, but you
can’t change him
 Now you can make a hat!

12. Change Your Layers
 In the layers section,
click on the top part
of layer 1
 Now Ted is ready to be
modified

13. Loading & Saving
Objects
 Loading Objects
 File > Load Objects
 If the object was
saved in more than
one layer, those
layers will also load
 Most finished objects
are saved into one
layer

14. Loading & Saving
Objects
 Saving objects
 File > Save Object
 Saves the object in the
active layer(s)
 Warning
 If you load a default
object and change it, be
sure to save the modified
object as something else!
 Otherwise the original
will forever be modified
 File > Save Object As

15. Save a Version of Ted
 Select File > Save
Object As…
 In the Characters
folder save as Big
Ted 2
 Now we can tweak
with Ted and not mess
up the original

16. Selecting Parts of an
Object
 The Golden Rule
 When nothing is selected, everything’s selected!
 If no points or polygons in an object are selected,
then whatever you do will effect the entire object
in the active layer

17. Selecting Parts of an
Object
 The Golden Rule
 If part of an object is selected, only that part will be
modified

18. Selecting Parts of an
Object
 Polygon selection
 Selected points are
highlighted in yellow
 Polygon de-selection
 Once you have
selected points and
release the mouse
button, drag the mouse
over the selected
points to de-select
them

19. Selecting Ted
with Polygons
 Click on the
horizontal dividing
line and pull down so
the top view is bigger
 Click on the zoom
tool to make Ted fill
the space

20. Selecting Ted
with Polygons

21. Selecting Ted
with Polygons
 Click on the
Selection tab
 On the left, click on
Sel Polys

22. Selecting Methods
 Hold the mouse down
and drag over the
polygons you wish to
select
 Hold down the
Command key and
draw a circle around
the polygons you
wish to select

23. Selecting & Deselecting
 Once you select a
part of your object
and release the
mouse, you are in
deselect mode
 If you need to select
more points or polys,
hold down the Shift
key

24. Deselect Everything
 To deselect any
points or polygons
click inside the
numerics box in the
lower left

25. Selecting Ted
with Polygons
 Hold down the
mouse and drag over
the outer part of
Ted’s cigar
 The polygons you
select become
highlighted

26. Modifying Parts
of an Object
 Select what you want
to change
 Select a tool from the
Modify tab
 Find the viewport that
works best for the
modification
 Have at it!

27. Modifying Ted
 Select the Modify tab
 Under Translate,
select Move (t)
 Cursor now a plus
sign
 Choose a viewport
and move the
selected polys to
make the cigar
longer

28. Modifying Ted
 Select Rotate (y)
 Cursor now a curly
arrow
 Give the cigar a twist
 Switch back to Move
(t) and tweak your
cigar to your liking

29. Modifying Ted

30. Modifying Ted
 In the Modify tab,
whatever tool you
have selected, turn
that tool off
 Cursor is now in
selection mode
 Looks like an X
 Drag over a row of
polys to deselect them
 Hold the Shift key
down to re-select them

31. Modifying Ted
 By selecting and
deselecting
polygons, select &
deselect parts of
Ted’s cigar then
move and rotate
different parts to
whatever shape you
would like

32. Selecting Ted with Points
 Works the same way as
selecting polygons
 Drag over the points
you wish to select or
hold the Command key
and draw a circle over
the points you wish to
select
 Selected points are
highlighted in orange

33. Selecting Ted
 Select the Selection
tab
 On the left click on
Sel Points
 Hold the Command
key and draw a circle
around Ted’s left ear

34. Modifying Ted
 Select the Modify tab
 Select Move (t) tool
 Drag Ted’s ear out

35. Modifying Ted
 Select the Size tool
(H)
 Put your cursor
inside the selected
points and drag your
cursor

36. Modifying Ted
 Using the selection
tools, select and
deselect what parts
of Ted you wish to
modify to complete
your finished Ted!

37. Saving Your Work
 Don’t forget to save what
you are working on
 Select File > Save Object
As
 To name your object as
something different
 If this is a default object DO
THIS
 File > Save
 Do this if you have already
saved your object
previously

38. Saving Ted
 Since we have
already saved Ted as
Ted 2, all we need to
do is update our
object.
 Select File > Save
 Or press Command S
 If you HAVEN’T saved
a Ted 2 version then
be sure you Save As
your object

39. Save a Copy for your
Homework
 Select File > Save As
 Make a copy of your
modified Ted object
to the desktop
 Later, attach this file
to an email to me

40. Lightwave Modeler
3D Animation II