"But Bryce still shouldn't be compared with Lightwave. (heh...heh.....heh......) "

I second that.

Apples, and...well....something other than apples...lol

Tom

Quote - Several factors I haven't seen covered... Vue and Bryce have a great reputation for creating landscapes. That's great, that's their focus. However, are you primarily going to be doing outside scenes - or - are you going to be doing room interiors, city streets, spacecraft scenes or the interior of temples? The other packages are probably going to be better - especially if you want to create your own starship bridge or Temple. Are you wanting to import Poser animations into your scenes? if so, Lightwave is the one on the list that can't do it easily. You can import still figures, rig and animate them in Lightwave (using 3rd party plugins), but you can't import the fully animated scenes. I'm still using Poser Pro pack and Lightwave 6.5 because that was the last generation of the two that played well together.

Bobasaur... Mister... now cut that out. You're spreading false information and you should hang your head in shame. Propack works perfectly well with Lightwave 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5 and yup;.. you guessed it 9.0. I just started using it with the 32 bit version of LW a couple of weeks ago.  I'll post a screen grab to make you a believer if need be. Now, you're one of those Mac types so...

I personally enjoy Lightwave because it is robust enough to allow you to grow as far as you wish to explore, is well documented and supported, has one of the largest 3rd party communities on the planet, and (in my view at least) is the most intelligently laid out and friendliest application available. No foolish icons to memorize, all the lighting options in the 3D world, mega-quick renderer, (1st class), etc, etc, etc. And there is a plugin which allows you to use Vue Infinite directly from within it. (Xstream). I use it and have to say  that the LW9/Vue combo rocks hard.

Remember Bobasaur.... I'm watching you.....

Cheers!
patorak

I'm still learning lightwave. I have a ways to go before I'll be able to turn out a result like that.

First,  go to layout,  load sunsetsample.lws from your scene folder.  Second,  select the Render Tab at the top.( I Poserize it and call it the Render Room.)   Third,  select the camera button, then
click on the properties button to the right.  Apply the above settings.  (  Your render hinges on your camera settings )  Fourth,  save out as a new scene file.  To be continued...

patorak

Fifth,  while still inside the "Render Room",  clear the scene then reload your new scene file.  Sixth,  on your side toolbar,  under options click render options and apply the above settings then close window.  Seventh,  press F9 on your keyboard.  Finally,  sit back and enjoy until the image viewer appears,  then click on the image viewers file button and save out as a RGBA.

Cheers!
patorak

Cool, thanks, I'll give that a try later.

Hi martian_ manhunter!

Glad I could help.  Although, the biggest help I recieved was from Dan Alban's book "Inside Lightwave".  I highly recommend it.

Now,  before I stray off topic, my point in these posts has been to show the power of Lightwave and why it is the industry standard for rendering.  After all,  in the final product,  no one sees the mesh, only the lights and textures. 

Cheers!

patorak

Dang...

You guys are making me want to upgrade to LW 9.0 so bad.

I've been trying to hold back in the LW forum, but I just cant take it anymore. I'm so jealous of those using 9.0 with Vue Infinite. heh heh

I've been using LW since 7.5 (currently running 8.5) and I do like it's flexibility, and it's "No-Bulls**t" interface.

I confess,I'm also running Cinema 4D R8.2 XL bundle  with BodyPaint R2 (Module and Stand alone)and flip-flop between LW and C4D

Although I do like C4D's "Tag" approach,and REALLY Like it's content browser, but LW has it all.

If C4D had at least the Advanced Render module as part of the core app then I'd say it would be a pretty fair race,But LW has radiosity, caustics,etc.as part of it's native render engine.

LW also comes equipped with network rendering capabilities(100 nodes IIRC), where as C4D requires the NET Render module to farm out renders and has only 3 seats with the XL bundle. (Unlimited clients in the Studio Bundle)

So....Dynamics, Particles, Advanced Volumetric's, MoCap/advanced rigging (MOCCA),Radiosity, Advanced UV capabilities (BodyPaint) and Network Rendering is not part of the C4D core app,so those goodies will cost more.(significantly more)

LW, has all of that out of the box.

I struggle between the two, and like them both,I've seen some damn fine stuff come out of C4D,but I seem to find myself opening Lightwave more often.It just seems more like a portable studio to me,and as mentioned,no cryptic icons to figure out.

Both have equally UI customization capabilities, and as far as community support,I'd say they are pretty damn close as well. Lots of help and plug-ins in both camps.

Decisions, Decisions

Tom

My LW 8.5/Vue 5 I bundle came with the free 9.0 upgrade

Quote - Hi martian_ manhunter!

Glad I could help.  Although, the biggest help I recieved was from Dan Alban's book "Inside Lightwave".  I highly recommend it.

Yeah, I recently got that book. I haven't started working with it, but that's what I'll be using to learn Lightwave.

Attached Link: Desktop Images

I've always wanted Dan Alban's book.maybe the price will drop a bit now that 9.0 has been released.

Todd Grimes "Character Modeling & Animation Series" (Available at Desktop Images) played a significant role in my learning Lightwave.
It was written for versions 7,7.5 & 8 but is very easy to follow in 8.5.

Great price on it right now as well. Was $319.95 but is available now for $159.95.for the 5 DVD series.

http://desktopimages.com/CharSeries.shtml

Nice renders BTW vasseur7.

I have Carrara  Studio 2 and 3 but they just sit in the box. (Along with Amapi 6 & 7 and trueSpace 6.5 )

Maybe I'll dust-em off and install them again.

Tom

I got my Inside Lightwave book cheap on half.com (with unopened CD, too). I forgot how much, but it was way below retail.

As has already been said -- Carrara has some excellent rendering capabilities.  But it's nowhere near Lightwave.  That's like comparing a nice new Chevy Impala with a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow.  Sure, the Chevy is a nice car and all......and I wouldn't mind having it in my garage.

But the Rolls comes just a little more featured.........

But tools are tools.  I have both LW and Carrara.  And Vue 5 Infinite.  And others.

Thank y'all for the inputs, beautiful postings, and informative discussions.

Quote - "are you primarily going to be doing outside scenes - or - are you going to be doing room interiors, city streets, spacecraft scenes or the interior of temples? "

Hi, Bobasaur, thanks for the question.  Actually, I'm hoping that I will be able to do all of these, and I know it'll take lots of learning and hard work.   But to begin, for the purpose of my upcoming projects, I'll primarily do landscapes with characters in them, and model some monsters and exteriors of temples.

Re: modeling apps, ZBrush and Hexagon 2 feature Brush Modeling tools that let the user sculpt the model in a way as if they are using Photoshop brushes fine-tuning the outlines of and/or painting on a 2D image.   It's like creating and fine-tuning a 2D image (or several sides of 2D images of a model, to be more accurate), and after you're done with it, it gets turned into a 3D textured model.

I'm in awe with what ZBrush can easily achieve...

ZBrush gallery links:   http://206.145.80.239/zbc/featured2col.php                                                                                                                          and     http://www.pixologic.com/zbrush/community/community-gallery.html

As a 2D artist crossing over to 3D, I am personally very attractive to such convenient way of modeling (and 3D-texturing, of which the technology already exit for some time I think).    Like Vue 5 Infinite, ZBrush was utilized in the mega hit movie Pirates of the Caribben 2.   However, ZBrush has a big price raise, now costing $489.  

Hi Tom (hawkfyr), XENOPHONZ, patorak, martian_manhunter, and anybody who's experienced with Lightwave -- does LW has brush modeling tool, or similar, or even more convenient tool for modeling?

If so, I'll take up LW instead.

Also, is the Lightwave+Vue5Infinite bundle deal still available somewhere?      I searched it at Google, but couldn't find it.   If anybody can point out a link (or two) to the bundle deal, I'd really appreciate it.

Best!

3DVim

.

Hi 3DVim!

To answer your question, no.  To achieve the effects of Zbrush's two and a half D ( Brush modeling) enviroment in Lightwave,  It would involve Lightwave( Meta Tools,  Morph Mapping,  Normal Mapping, and or  Weight Mapping,  ),  Photoshop(Black and white image),  and for convenience TrueArts plugin TrueBump.  As you can see three programs as opposed to one.

As for the bundle deal,  I believe Newtek ended it with the release of Lightwave 9.0.

Cheers!

patorak

3DVim: LW does not currently natively have brush modeling yet as per ZBrush, although it does interact well with ZBrush in LW's new release, version 9.0. (I don't use Zbrush so I'm unfamiliar with the workflow.) It does, of course, have displacement mapping. LW has an industry standard modeler and as for overall ability I have read that every TV series on the sci-fI channel view on Saturday night primetime was made with LW. (Stargate SG1, all franchises of Star Trek {excepting TOS of course}, Battlestar Gallactica, Andromeda, etc.) Additionally, and equally important IMO is their upgrade policy. Point releases (9.1, 9.5, 9.X) etc are free and are not merely patches used to fix bugs. They quite often include significant functionality. For example, the 9.X cycle has been promised to include even better character animation tools, instancing, as well as others, which will be no-cost downloads for registered users. Also, if you skip a full point release, you are not charge more for subsequent upgrades than current users. Check that against Adobe's policy. I would not be surprised if geometry painting will be available natively soon, as users are beginning to ask for it.

patorak and krimpr, thank you for the info and the great example.

I wish I had looked LW up when the Vue bundle deal was around!

Hi 3DVIM!

You're welcome.  There is one more thing I feel I should say.  Z Brush is a wise choice.  If I had the resources I would add it to my pipeline in a heartbeat.  There are no modellers out there,  be it Lightwave, Maya, or 3D Studio Max,  that can compare in its level of pixel displacement modelling. 

Remember this though,  there are no all in one 3d applications.  That is why CG studios build pipelines that consist of several different programs.   Right now,  I think I have about $4,000 spent in programs!
   
Purchase Z Brush,  and while you are learning it,  set aside money for your next pipeline addition!

Cheers!
patorak

Hi patorak, thank you for the advice!   Yes, for modeling, I think I'll invest in ZBrush instead of LW to start with -- judging from the postings in its forum, ZBrush seems less complex to learn.    Plus, the ZBrush folks sculpt their models out of some simple mesh blocks made in their Maya or 3DSMax app. -- they choose ZBrush as their final modeling tool.
So I'm now planning on taking up Vue 5 (and then 6) Infinite and ZBrush, after some spins with their demos.

Best!

3DVim

.

Hi 3dVim!

I'd also like to suggest the following freebies;    MakeHuman,  3D Canvas,  Wings3d,  Madbulls Height Map Editor_Beta6,  UVMapper,  Freeship,  Knots3d,  Knottyer3d,  and Spiralizer.  They make mundane modelling tasks easier.

One more thing,  a good digital camera comes in handy for creating your own textures.

Cheers!
patorak

Wow!   Thanks a lot, patorak!

Best!

3DVim

.

Hi 3DVim!

Glad to help!  I also forgot to mention, a Wacom Tablet, it may give you a little more control when modelling in Z Brush.

Cheers!
patorak

"ZBrush seems less complex to learn."

I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say that.

I love ZBrush, it's AWESOME, but it's by far one of the most difficult applications I ever tried to learn.

Perhaps it's just me. Some folks take to it like ducks to water, but that whole 2 1/2 D concept was one that was very difficult for me to wrap my head around.

But Definitely include it in your toolbox.

Tom

Quote - judging from the postings in its forum, ZBrush seems less complex to learn.    Plus, the ZBrush folks sculpt their models out of some simple mesh blocks made in their Maya or 3DSMax app. -- they choose ZBrush as their final modeling tool.

Note that all those wonderful brush modelling features of ZBrush work best on meshes that are astronomically dense, like in the multi-million poly range (which is equivalent to more then 20-30 V3 meshes)... This is not the kind of heavy mesh you can use directly in most apps, including poser, and certainly not for a single char/prop. So you will have to create a low poly version first and use displacements for the detail. But zbrush's 'non brushy' modelling tools are very primitive, so in general you will need to use a dedicated modeller (even a free one like wings will do) to get the initial mesh before you start zbrushing it. Also you will need a good UV mapping tool, because zbrush only supports auto UVs.

You could use a 'simple mesh block' like a sphere or a cube to start but the mesh you get this way will be hard to rig properly in poser and will give you all kinds of artifacts in a render.