newtek lightwave 3d: modeler ii
DESCRIPTION
How to create and manipulate primitive shapes in Lightwave ModelerTRANSCRIPT
Lightwave Modeling3D Animation III
Making Objects The modeling
process Start with primitive
shapes Modify the primitive
shape Use additional
primitives to add or modify object
Making Primitive Shapes
Select the primitive shape you wish to make
Draw out the shape in one viewport Makes a new 2D shape
Draw out in another viewport Pulls the shape into a 3D
shape
Making Primitive Shapes
How big do you want it? Before you draw out your
first shape, think about what you are making
Set the grid size to match the normal dimensions of the object you are making
Simply zoom in or out to set the grid size Zoom tool or , & .
Let’s Get Started Start up Modeler Put your cursor in
the top view, then press (,) and (.) to change the settings in the Grid window
Set the grid size to 500mm 2 500 mms = 1 meter
Let’s Make Something
Select the Create tab Under Primitives
select Box In the Top viewport,
drag out a box 6 grid marks wide 3 grid marks tall
Click on the + to center, if necessary
Let’s Make Something
In the Front viewport, drag up on your box @ ½ a grid mark
Click on the + and lift the box so the top of the box is 2 grid marks off the ground
Let’s Make Something
In the Right viewport, click on the + and drag the box to the center grid line.
Press Enter to make the shape
Let’s Make Something
In the upper right, select the top of the 2nd layer
Select the bottom of layer 1 This allows us to
see what’s there without modifying it
Let’s Make Something
Select the Disc tool From the Top viewport
draw out a circle From the Front
viewport drag out the table leg so it goes just inside the table top
Click on Disc to make the leg
Let’s Make Something
Copy the leg (command C)
In the Top viewport, move the leg to the upper left of the table
Select Edit > Paste (command V) Now you have two
legs
Let’s Make Something
Copy again (command C)
Move the two legs to the right side of the table
Select Edit > Paste (command V) Now you have all
four legs
Put it All Together On the Legs layer,
select Edit > Cut (command x) This puts whatever is in
the layer into memory Select the top of the
first layer Select Edit > Paste
All your pieces are in one place
Other Shapes Ball
Great for making anything that needs to be round Balls Globes Planets Heads
Experiment with Other Shapes
Under Primitives select Ball
In the top view drag out a circle shape
In the front view drag out the 3rd dimension of your ball and press Enter
Press Command X to delete the ball
Other Shapes Disk
Great for making tubes, pipes, pop cans, stems, ???
Experiment with Other Shapes
Select Disc In the Top viewport
drag out a circle In the Front viewport
pull out a cylinder shape
Click on Disc to turn off Another way to make
your shape beside Enter
Other Shapes Cone
Good for anything that needs a point Pencil tip Missile head Teepee ???
Experiment with Other Shapes
Command X your Disc and select Cone
In the Top viewport drag out a circle
In the Front viewport pull out a cone shape
Click off Cone to make your shape
Other Shapes Capsule Tool
Makes capsules Rounded cylinders Pills, water towers,
rounder cubes, ???
Experiment with Other Shapes
Command X your cone and select More > Capsule Tool
Click and drag in the Top viewport to make the thickness of your capsule
Drag in the Front viewport to make the length
Press Enter to make the shape
Other Shapes Toroid
Hollow disc shape that can be easily modified Number of sections
How many sections make the circle
Number of sides Number of surfaces
that make the tube Radius
How big the hole
Experiment with Other Shapes
Command X your capsule and select More > Toroid
In the Torus dialogue box leave the settings the same and press OK
Experiment with Other Shapes
Command X the Torus
Go back and make a new Torus, but this time change some of the settings and see what you can make
Experiment with Other Shapes
Reset the Torus settings:
Select the Toriod shape again and reset your settings: Sections 36 Sides 16 Radius 1M Start/End angle
0/360
Other Shapes Gear
Under Primitives > More > More
Makes… gear shapes! Lots of modifications
available Teeth Teeth taper Inner & outer radius Thickness
Experiment with Other Shapes
Command X your Toroid
Under Primitives select More > More > Gear
In the dialogue box leave the settings the same, then press OK.
Other Shapes Gemstone
Creates a multi-faceted diamond shape
Two handles Changes the height
of the top or bottom of the shape
Experiment with Other Shapes
Delete your previous shape
Select More > More > Gemstone
Click in the Top viewport to make the shape
Change the handles in the front view
Press Enter to make the diamond
Other Primitives to Check Out
Wedge Like the Toroid, but
with 4 surfaces
Other Shapes Platonic
Makes multi-faceted closed shapes
Text Shape Text
Allows you to make text as a shape
Helps to type in what you want in the Back viewport
Handles allow you to change the size and kerning of the letters
Experiment with Other Shapes
Command X to clear the viewports
Select Text Change the Front
viewport to Back In the Back viewport,
type in your name Grab the handles to scale
and kern your letters Press Return when done
Experiment with Other Shapes
While you still have the Text tool selected, press N Brings up the
Numeric Text Tool box
Here you can set: Font, alignment,
axis, scale, center point, kerning, etc.
Other Shapes Logo
Super easy way to make 3D text
Just plug in what you want, set the font, and you’re done!
Experiment with Other Shapes
Clear your viewports
Select Logo Type in what you
want, choose a font
Press OK
Assigning Surfaces Before you save your
new object, now is the time to decide which polygons in your shape need to be categorized as a separate part so you can color just that part
You can have as many surface categories as you like for your new object
Clean the Slate Click File > Close
All Objects This will reset
Modeler so it doesn’t remember all the shapes we made and makes assigning polygons easier
Make a Logo In the Create tab
select Logo Set the font, type in
your name and press OK
In the Modify tab rotate your name so it faces the front and move the name so it sits on the ‘floor’
Select the Front and Back Polygons
Select ‘Polygon Mode’ In the Left viewport,
hold the Option key and draw a circle around the front of your text
Hold the Shift & Option key, then also select the back of your text Selected polygons are
now highlighted
Choose a Color Press Q
Shortcut for ‘Change Surface’
In the Name section, assign the new name ‘Text Front & Back’
Turn off ‘Make Default’ Click on the color box
and choose a color Press OK
Select the Side Polygons
While still in Polygon mode, click in the lower left to deselect the current polygons
In the Left viewport drag your mouse up and down inside the sides of your text to select only the side polygons Make sure you don’t accidently
select the front or back
Choose a Color Press Q In the Name
section, assign the new name ‘Text Sides’
Click on the color box and choose a color
Press OK
Check Your Work In the
Perspective view, zoom in and rotate your view to make sure the polygon surfacing turned out the way you planned.
Time to Save Your Object
Select File > Save Object
In the Objects folder, create a new folder called ‘My Objects’ and save your new object there.
Save a Copy for your Homework
Select File > Save As
Select the Desktop and make a copy of your object there
Attach it to an email to me
Lightwave Modeling3D Animation III