Chapter 1. Introducing LightWave 7

LightWave 7 has many new features and improvements. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, NewTek released version 6.5. Then, as soon as you thought it was safe to go back in the water, bam! Version 7 hits! But before you dig into the new features in this version, take a quick look at the new user interface and the historical and architectural changes within the program. When you purchase LightWave 3D, you actually get two programs that NewTek calls Modeler and LightWave. Modeler is where you build and create 3D objects. LightWave is where you put objects into motion and create animations. For clarity, this book will refer to the two programs as Modeler and Layout.

Specifically, this chapter teaches you about the following:

• Layout’s interface

• Layout’s groups

• The Layout Preferences panel

• The Modeler Preferences panel

• Metaball and SubPatch resolution

• Undo levels