This document provides instructions for modifying 3D objects in Lightwave. It demonstrates how to:
- Load objects like a ground plane and triceratops model.
- Adjust the camera and grid size to frame the scene properly.
- Modify object properties like adding displacement maps to warp the surface based on images.
- Use clip maps to make parts of the object invisible.
- Adjust render settings to control how the object appears, such as making it matte, semitransparent, or changing edge highlighting over time.
2. Object Properties
Properties dialogue
box
Some neat tricks you
can do to your object
Morph your object
into another object
Change the way the
object appears
Shortcut = p
3. Let’s Get Started
Start up Lightwave 3D
Select Load Object (+)
In the Landscape
folder, select
Ground.lwo
4. Loading Objects
Whoa, what
happened?
When loading large
objects, Lightwave
changes the grid size
to fit the object on the
grid
The camera moves
back so it can shoot
the large item
5. Scaling Things Back to Size
Select the Camera
Check the settings on
the numerics
Grid size jumped to 500
meters!
Camera is back from
center nearly 5
kilometers from center
6. Scaling Things Back to Size
Select the View tab
In the Grid section,
select Grid Size
Type in 2 and press
OK
Now the ground
really covers the
whole space
7. Bring the Camera Back
Select the Camera
In the numerics box
change the settings:
X = 0 m
Y = 1.75 m
Z = - 8 m
This is raise the
camera and back it up
a little from center
8. Let’s Look at Something
From the Items tab,
select Load Object
From the Animals
tab, select Triceratops
Change your view to
the Camera view (6)
Press F9 to see what
you have so far
9. Clean Up the Lighting
Select the Light
Switch to the Top view
(2)
Using the Modify tab,
move the rotate the
light so it’s lighting the
dino better
Do another test render
to see how he looks
11. How About Some
Background?
Lighting is better, but
he needs a backdrop
Select Windows >
Backdrop Options
Turn on the gradient
backdrop
Do another test
render
14. Modifying Object
Properties
Morphing
Change your object into
another object
Displacement map
Warps your object based
on an image or texture
map
Enable Bump
Roughs up the surface of
your object
15. Add a Displacement Map
Click on the T button
under Displacement
Map
T stands for Texture
Under Layer Type,
select Image Map
16. Since our dino is
mostly a cylinder,
under Projection
choose Cylinder
Under Image, choose
Load Image
Add a Displacement Map
17. In the Reflections
folder, select
FractalReflections.tga
Change the Texture
Amplitude to 0.5
Add a Displacement Map
18. Do another test render
to check him out
This displacement is
caused by an image and
doesn’t change over time
Modify the
displacement by
choosing different
Texture Axis
Add a Displacement Map
19. Render this frame (F9)
and Save the frame as
Displacement.jpg to
the desktop.
Take a Picture for your
Homework
20. Animated Displacement
Change the Layer Type
to Procedural Texture
Change the Procedural
Type to Ripples
Press the Play button to
see how this
displacement map
changes over time
21. Animated Displacement
Change the settings:
Texture Value = 0.05
Wave Sources = 1
Wavelength = 0.5
Wave Speed = 0.02
As you change these
settings, watch what
happens to dino!
22. Decisions, Decisions
Once you have your
settings the way you
like or don’t like, it’s
time to choose
Use Texture
Remove Texture
23. Reset the Board
At the bottom of the
Displacement Map
dialogue box choose
Remove Texture
This turns it off for
now, but you can go
back and turn it back on
if you like
We are going to try out
some other tricks for
now
24. Render Tab
Changes how the object
is seen on camera
Or not seen if you like
Options
Change to a solid color
Make it semitransparent or
invisible
Make parts of the object
invisible
Whether it casts a shadow
or can have a shadow cast
on it
25. Clip Map
Makes parts of the
object invisible based
on an image or texture
26. Make a Clip Map
In the Render tab,
select the T button for
Clip Map
Under Layer Type,
choose Image Map
Under Projection,
choose Cylindrical
Under Image, choose
FractalReflections.tga
27. Make a Clip Map
This effect you can’t
see until you render
Press F9 to check it
out
28. Take a Picture for your
Homework
Save a JPG of this
render to the desktop
and call it
ClipMap.jpg
29. Make a Clip Map
Change the Texture
Axis to Y and X and
render those versions!
Like the displacement
map image, these will
not change over time
30. Make a Clip Map
If you want them to
change over time, use
an animated texture
like ripples
31. Render Tab
Matte Object
Turns your object into
a solid matte color
No shading or
highlights to the object
One flat color
Interesting effect
with a clip matte
32. Make a Matte
Turn off the Clip Map
texture if needed.
In the Render tab select
Matte Object
Click on the black
square and select a
color
Render the frame and
check it out
33. Render Tab
Object Dissolve
Turns the whole object to
whatever opacity setting
you would like
Opaque
Semitransparent
Invisible
Distance Dissolve
Makes the object become
completely invisible as it
moves away from the
camera
Kind of like in a fog
34. Make a Ghost
Turn off the Matte
Object
In the Object Dissolve
window, drag the
arrows until you have
a setting @ 50%
Render the frame and
check it out
35. Take a Picture for your
Homework
Save a JPG of your
render to the desktop
and save it as
Dissolve.jpg
36. Using an Envelope
Allows you to change
parameters over time
Key frames for
parameters, rather than
for the object itself
Any time you see an E
box, that setting can
change over time
37. Make Dino Vanish
Over Time
Set the Object
Dissolve to 0%
Next to the Object
Dissolve box, click on
the E to open the
Envelope
The Graphic Editor
opens up
Looks complicated, but
it’s pretty easy
38. Make Dino Vanish
Over Time
Click on the Key icon
just under the chart
At frame 120 click on
the line
This sets a keyframe for
Dino at 0%
No transparency
39. Make Dino Vanish
Over Time
Click another key
frame at frame 60
Switch to the Drag
icon
Now we are going to
change this value
40. Make Dino Vanish
Over Time
Drag this key frame up to 100 %
You should see the opacity ramp up from 0% from
frame 0 to 100% at frame 60, then back down to 0% at
frame 120.
If not, use the drag tool to make these settings
41. Make Dino Vanish
Over Time
Drag the Timeline
slider and notice how
your object fades out
to nothing and then
reappears
Scary!!
42. Turning Off Envelopes
Not as easy as
Textures
Hold the Command key
and then click on the E
box
Choose Remove
Envelope
You can turn it back on
by clicking on the E
again if you want
43. Make Dino Vanish
Over Time
Hold down the
Command key and
click on the envelope
box
Choose Remove
Envelope
Drag the Dissolve
slider back to 0%
44. Other Render Settings
Unseen by:
Makes the object
unaffected or unseen by
various effects
Can even be hidden from
the camera
Shadows
Turn on or off the ability
to cast a shadow or
receive a shadow from
something else
45. Edges Tab
Polygon Size
Changes how big the
polygons APPEAR to
the camera
Too small or too big =
interesting effect
Edges
Highlights different
lines that make up the
object
46. Tinker with Polygon Size
Drag the Polygon Size
slider to 50%
Render the frame and
check it out
Notice that you can
envelope this effect to
have the polygons
change size over time
47. Tinker with Polygon Size
Select over 50% and
change the size to
1000%
Render the frame and
check it out
Polygons are too big
making Dino chiseled
48. Bring the Polys Back to
Normal
Drag the Polygon
slider to change the
size back to 100%
49. Paint the Edges
Check the Silhouette
Edges box
Under Edge Color,
choose a color
Render a frame and
check it out
50. Paint the Edges
Uncheck Silhouette
Select Other Edges
Change the Size to
Medium
Change the color and
render a frame to
check it out
51. Just the Edges
On the top change the
polygon size to 1%
Render the frame and
check it out
52. Take a Picture for your
Homework
Save your rendered
frame as a JPG to
your desktop and call
it Edges.jpg