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Book
Description:
I have been working on Lightwave for about a year. I
have prior experience with 3DS Max. In fact, I have
also received formal training, at the expense of my
employer, on Lightwave 3D 8, but nonetheless I still
felt the need to run out and buy several titles on the
subject. One of them happened to be this book. First
off, the book is loaded with a ton of -- yes! -- essential
information! Likewise, the basics are covered quite
thoroughly and in such a way that the reader does not
become too overwhelmed. Basic concepts relating to the
world of 3D are covered along with Lightwave specific
terminology. The author receives high praise from me
in this particular area. Spanning 20 chapters, an epilogue,
three appendices, and a reasonable index, the book introduces
the user to Lightwave. The tutorials are laid out in
a linear and numbered fashion. The reader who is comfortable
enough with the program will have no problem with this;
however, there are many parts in the book where steps
are missing or the illustrations don't seem to match
up with what is being presented. Take, for instance,
chapter six, step 15 -- the user is instructed to drag
a selection box around the top of their model and press
the delete key. Seems simple enough, doesn't it? Well,
everything is not always as it seems, because the authors
seem to have forgotten to instruct the user to change
Grid Snap to None under the Display Options | Units
window. This is just one example of several in which
steps were left out or utterly confusing. Enough of
the bad points about the book however, because there
are MANY more good ones. The CD-ROM that comes with
the book is also particularly useful, and I've not come
across an item that was referenced in the book and not
on the disc. There are even points in the book where
the user is able to load objects and work from that
point to the objective. The appendices in the back of
the book are loaded with VERY useful information on
an assortment of subjects. Are you looking for plug-ins
and programs suggested by the pros? This book has a
comprehensive list of them that will get you headed
in the right direction, if not to your destination!
Are you looking for resources on Lightwave online, such
as particular websites? Guess what! This book lists
them along with descriptions and screen captures of
the sites, such as: Newtek, Flay, CGTalk, and many more!
I would suggest that you pick up this book with the
fore-knowledge that you need to have the Lightwave [8]
interactive PDF help-file loaded. This is definitely
a title that will get you started on the right path
to conquering Lightwave and, with diligence, mastering
it.
Book Info:
Published in 2004
ISBN 1556220820
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