LightWave 3D

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LightWave 3D
Screenshot of LightWave 3D 9.0 (Layout)
Developed by	NewTek, Inc.
Latest release	9.5 / February 20, 2008
OS	Amiga, Mac OS X, Windows
Genre	3D computer graphics
License	Proprietary
Website	www.newtek.com

LightWave 3D is a high end computer graphics program developed by NewTek. The latest release of LightWave runs on Windows and Mac OS X, and has been optimized for usage on Intel Macs. LightWave's network rendering system, ScreamerNet, has also been ported to Linux platforms.

Contents 1 Overview 2 History 3 Modeler and Layout 4 Television programmes using Lightwave 4.1 2008 4.2 2007 4.3 2006 4.4 2005 4.5 2004 4.6 2003 4.7 2002 4.8 2001 4.9 2000 4.10 1999 4.11 1998 4.12 1997 4.13 1995-1996 4.14 Pre-1995 5 Music Videos 5.1 2007 5.2 2006 5.3 2005 5.4 2004 5.5 2003 5.6 2002 5.7 2001 5.8 2000 6 Licensing 7 See also 8 External links

[edit] Overview

LightWave was one of the first 3D packages to feature a built-in radiosity render engine, with a complex light calculation model for support of caustics. Most functions within LightWave are multi-threaded, which means that those components can simultaneously use multiple processors in the same machine when performing complex calculations. Programmers can expand LightWave's capabilities using an included SDK as well as a special scripting language called LScript, which is based on the C language. The subdivision modeling is also very similar to the 3D package Modo, thus the 2 packages have been bundled together in some purchase options.

[edit] History

In 1988, Allen Hastings created a rendering and animation program called Videoscape, and his friend Stuart Ferguson created a complementary 3D modeling program called Modeler, both sold by Aegis Software. NewTek planned to incorporate Videoscape and Modeler into its video editing suite, Video Toaster. Originally intended to be called "NewTek 3D Animation System for the Amiga", Hastings later came up with the name "LightWave 3D", inspired by two contemporary high-end 3D packages: Intelligent Light and Wavefront. In 1990, the Video Toaster suite was released, incorporating LightWave 3D, and running on the Commodore Amiga computer.

LightWave 3D has been available as a standalone application since 1994, and version 9.3 runs on both Mac OS X and Windows platforms.

LightWave was used to create special effects for the Babylon 5, Star Trek Voyager and seaQuest DSV science fiction television series; the program was also utilized in the production of Titanic as well as the recent Battlestar Galactica TV-series, Sin City, Star Trek VI - X, 300 (film) and Star Wars movies. The acclaimed short film, 405 was also produced by two artists from their homes using Lightwave. In the famous Finnish Star Trek parody Star Wreck - In the Pirkinning, most of the visual effects were done in LightWave.

In 2001, a rift developed between NewTek management and a group headed by Vice President of 3D Development Brad Peebler, which included Allen Hastings and Stuart Ferguson. NewTek faced a major walkout, with most of its key engineers and programmers leaving and forming a new company, Luxology.

NewTek and LightWave have been awarded Emmy Awards since 1993 and won their 10th and 11th awards in 2004. In 2003 NewTek was awarded an Emmy for technology.

In 2007, the first feature film to be 3d animated completely by one person without the typical legion of animators made its debut, Flatland the Film by Ladd Ehlinger Jr. It was animated entirely in Lightwave 3D 7.5 and 8.0.

Now in its ninth version, its market ranges from hobbyists to high-end deployment in video games, television and cinema. The company recently shipped its 64-bit version of LightWave 3D (part of the fifth free update of LightWave 3D 8), and was featured in a keynote speech by Bill Gates at WinHEC 2005.

[edit] Modeler and Layout

LightWave is composed of two separate programs: Modeler and Layout. Each program is specifically designed to provide a dedicated workspace for specific tasks. When the two programs are running simultaneously, a third process called the Hub can be used to automatically synchronize data.

Layout contains the LightWave renderer which provides the user with several options including ray tracing options, multithreading, global illumination, and output parameters. This differs from most 3D computer graphics packages which normally integrate the renderer and the modeler. A long-standing debate in the LightWave user community has consisted of whether or not to integrate Modeler and Layout into a single program. In response to this, NewTek has begun an integration process by including several basic modeling tools with Layout.

[edit] Television programmes using Lightwave

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[edit] 2008

• Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

[edit] 2007

• Battlestar Galactica: Razor
• Drive

[edit] 2006

• Numberjacks
• The Ghost Whisperer
• The Unit
• 24

[edit] 2005

• All the Gear no Idea
• Ancient Cataclysms
• The Bill Live promo
• BBC Election 2005 - main titles
• BBC Voices idents
• BBC Radio 5 Live stings
• Commander in Chief
• E-Ring
• Invasion
• Lost
• Prison Break
• Surface
• Threshold

[edit] 2004

• Bloody Britain
• Captain Scarlet
• Category 6 Mini-series
• Century City
• Horizon "T.rex: Warrior or Wimp?"
• Kingdom Hospital
• NASA Mars Spirit lander
• Paris Utopies
• A Wrinkle in Time

[edit] 2003

• Alien Hunter
• Animatrix
• Battlestar Galactica
• BBC BAFTA Awards
• Bugs
• Children of Dune (2003 Visual Effects Emmy Award winner)
• Les Génies de la mer
• Dead Like Me
• Firefly
• James Bond - A BAFTA Tribute
• Lost Dinosaurs of Egypt
• NCIS
• Powers
• Secrets of a Homicide: The JFK Assassination
• Sœur Emmanuelle: une femme d'exception
• Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Director’s Edition DVD
• Threat Matrix
• The Visitor
• You Wish!

[edit] 2002

• The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
• Birds of Prey
• Dinotopia
• Firefly
• Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Project
• Golden Globe Awards
• I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
• LivingStone
• The President's Man: A Line in the Sand
• Santa vs. the Snowman 3D
• Superfire
• Taken

[edit] 2001

• The Bill
• Butt-Ugly Martians
• Dune (2001 Visual Effects Emmy Award winner)
• Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future
• Gary and Mike
• Invader Zim
• Justice League
• Metropolis
• Pecola
• Smallville
• Snow White
• Star Trek: Enterprise
• Tremors 3: Back to Perfection
• Voyage of the Unicorn

[edit] 2000

• Aftershock: Earthquake in New York (2000 Visual Effects Emmy Award Nomination)
• Blood: The Last Vampire
• Crocodile
• The Crow: Salvation (aka The Crow III)
• Dark Angel
• The Elian Gonzales Story
• G-Saviour
• Intrepid
• Max Steel
• Spiders
• Tour de France
• The X-Files (2000 Visual Effects Emmy Award Winner)

[edit] 1999

• Crusade
• Family Guy
• The Hunley
• Inside Formula 1
• Mutiny
• NASCAR Racers
• Olive, the Other Reindeer
• The PJs
• Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy
• Roughnecks: Starship Troopers
• The Sin Eater
• Star Trek: Voyager (1999, 2001 Visual Effects Emmy Award Winner)
• Tom Clancy's Netforce
• Xyber 9: New Dawn

[edit] 1998

• Addam's Family Reunion
• Batman and Mr. Freeze: Subzero
• A Bright Shining Lie
• Blue Submarine Number Six
• Casper Meets Wendy
• Castles of the Sea
• Charmed
• Dawson's Creek
• Final Voyage
• From the Earth to the Moon
• Invasion America
• Max Q (Emmy Award for Visual Effects Nominee)
• Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog
• National Lampoon's Men in White
• The Pandora Project
• Seven Days
• Silver Surfer: The Animated Series

[edit] 1997

• 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea
• Ally McBeal
• Buffy The Vampire Slayer
• Casper: A Spirited Beginning
• DNA
• End of Evangelion
• Happy Birthday
• NightMan
• Quicksilver Highway
• Sakura Taisen
• Stargate SG-1
• steve.oedekerk.com
• Timecop

[edit] 1995-1996

• Access Hollywood
• Dark Skies
• Digital Man
• Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
• Hypernauts
• It Came from Outer Space II
• Panzer Dragoon
• Sliders
• Space: Above and Beyond
• Space Marines
• Titanic
• Xena: Warrior Princess

[edit] Pre-1995

• Babylon 5 (1993 Visual Effects Emmy Award Winner)
• Baywatch
• Mad About You
• Robocop: The Series
• seaQuest DSV
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
• Viper

[edit] Music Videos

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[edit] 2007

• Chronomentrophobia - Outkast

[edit] 2006

• Gorillaz- El Manana
• Gorillaz - Dirty Harry

[edit] 2005

• C-Mon & Kypski - The Evil Needle
• Gorillaz - Dare
• Gorillaz - Feed Good, Inc.
• Mint Royale - Singin' in the rain

[edit] 2004

• Black Eyed Peas - Let's Get It Started
• Black Eyed Peas - Hey Mama
• Lou Reed - Satellite of Love
• Missouri - Let's get married
• Muse - Sing for absolution

[edit] 2003

• Funkstar Deluxe: Saturday
• Jet68 - Super Queen
• Jennifer Lopez - All I have
• Offspring - Hit that
• R.E.M. - Bad Day

[edit] 2002

• Back Street Boys - Larger Than Life
• CR2 - I Believe 2002
• Ferry Korsten: Gouryella
• Janet Jackson - Doesn't Really Matter
• George Michael - Freeek! MVPA Award winner, Best Visual Effects
• Moby - We Are All Full of Stars
• Nena - 99 Luftballons
• Let's go to bed - No Angels with Mousse T
• Wallflowers - When you're on top

[edit] 2001

• Aerosmith - Fly Away (2001 Best Music Video Grammy Nomination)
• Busta Rhymes - What's it Gonna Be?
• Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood
• Gorillaz - 19-2000
• Gorillaz - Rock the House
• Robbie Williams - Let Love Be Your Energy
• Rolling Stones - Anyone Seen My Baby?

[edit] 2000

• The Supermen Lovers - Starlight
• ColdPlay - Trouble

[edit] Licensing

Current versions of LightWave require that a dongle be present in order to run without limitations. These dongles often come in the form of a small USB dongle, though parallel port dongles are still supported for backward compatibility.

[edit] See also

• Computer generated imagery

[edit] External links

• NewTek's official site
• LightWiki Lightwave's own Wiki site.
• Flay – The main database of LightWave 3D plugins.
• SpinQuad LightWave 3D Community – Active User Community.

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