LightWave Express has two components: Modeler and Layout.

LightWave Express Modeler
Modeler is where you create objects, whether you’re designing something new and never-before seen, or simply importing a client’s EPS logo file for perfect conversion to the 3D world. Numeric controls allow for precise control, and you can even perform math operations in the numeric entry fields. The number of available tools to modify and construct your object is too numerous to mention. Here are but a few :

• Import/export between EPS images and LightWave objects
• Instantly create box, ball, disc, cone, capsule or primitives
• Easily move, rotate, twist, stretch taper or deform any selected area
• Bevel, extrude, lathe, or shift surfaces
• Combine objects or use one object to cut another Boolean, drill and patch tools
• Reduce object complexity without affecting its look
• Complete control over textures, images, and maps used on a per-surface basis

Modeler works in concert with Layout, so you can modify objects in modeler, and have the result instantly displayed in your Layout scene, thanks to LightWave’s Hub, which automatically updates changes between the Modeler and Layout. Complex or technically precise objects are now within your grasp with the following powers:

• Multilayer objects
• Hub connectivity to Layout
• EPS Loader (up to Illustrator 8)
• Make Gear tool
• Interactive Text creation
• QemLOSS2 Polygon reduction utility
• Subpatch modeling
• Measure & Angle tools helpful in scientific/technical animation

Surfacing is a major component of photo-realism, and you can use as many images or textures as you need to create all the real world imperfections found in real objects. These textures and reflective values can even be animated. Object creation and tweaking is lightning-fast in LightWave Express Modeler.

LightWave Express Layout
Think of Layout as your ‘virtual sound-stage’. This is where you bring in all your objects, actors, lights and props to light the scene, set the camera movements and render. Anyone with a secret desire to be a director of photography or director will love the complete control given in Layout. Set up as many lights as you wish, filter them, vary their intensity and even have them track the action. Camera controls are just as powerful, as you can choose the film size, image aspect, animate the motion, zoom and if you are compositing your 3D animation with filmed material, you can even select the camera type used, lens setting and the resultant depth of field for seamless matching of your 3D world with existing footage. Resolutions can be anything you need, from small computer images, through uncompressed video and film, on to HDTV resolutions. There is no limit to your creativity with LightWave Express’ many functions:

• Numeric entry (and math in input fields)
• Multithread support
• Bones
• IK chains
• Safe Areas
• Particles
• Magic Dust
• Explosions
• Shockwave 3D exporter as a cast member
• Compare or edit multiple splines together (light intensity & X position)
• Automatic Range Finder indication between objects and camera
• Object Speedometer Video
• Legalize Filter
• Watermark your animations

Time to Monkey around
NewTek realizes one of obstacles to creating professional logo animations for your video productions is simply time. There never seems to be enough time to learn 3D animation, so sometimes those revenue-generating features may not be offered to the client. Not any longer. LightWave Express can actually create amazing animations while you take a break from editing, so Video Toaster continues to earn money while you’re away. FXmonkey flings the learning curve right out the window, with a step-by-step wizard to do all the work for you. All you need do is point the monkey to a 3D object (which is greatly simplified thanks to LightWave Express’ EPS import function) and FXmonkey takes it from there. Such professional but under-utilized techniques as start motions, fly-ins, fly-outs, and ending motions can be entered and FXmonkey does all the keyframing for you. Inbound, hold, and outbound motions can be simply chosen among a wide selection, and then all your choices are used to create a finished LightWave scene. All that remains is to render the scene to the Toaster, and incorporate this into your production. When it comes to stunning logos, let FXmonkey step in and make you the hero in your client’s eyes. For more than a decade, 3D animation has been a core of NewTek’s production experience, and it shows with Video Toaster [2] and LightWave Express. Let your creativity and your bottom-line soar with the unparalleled production power found only in this TV Studio-in-a-box.