LightWave 3D 8 Cartoon Character Creation, Volume 1: Modeling & Texturing [Paperback]

Jonny Gorden (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 155622253X | ISBN-13: 978-1556222535 | Publication Date: October 31, 2004

Character design, modeling, and texturing are the fundamental building blocks of character animation. LightWave 3D [8] Cartoon Character Creation Volume 1: Modeling & Texturing includes both general theory and comprehensive tutorials for every aspect of modeling and texturing 3D characters. Learn how, why, and when to use the most efficient techniques so you can have fun creating your own fantastic 3D characters. Find out how to configure LightWave 3D for character creation, and learn the necessary steps of the character concept, design, and planning stages. Discover multiple methods for modeling characters and clothing using subdivision patches. Understand the techniques for creating complex UV mapping. Learn about surface attributes and surfacing characters. Enhance the appearance of your characters through the use of gradients and procedural textures. Explore a variety of techniques for creating image maps and applying them to your characters.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Don’t miss Volume 2: Rigging & Animation (1-55622-254-8)

About the Author

Jonny Gorden has been a professional animator since 1990 and is considered one of the industry’s leading character designers. In 1997 Jonny formed the production company Zero Gravity Entertainment, which created X-Men: The Ravages of Apocalypse, one of the first 3D games to exclusively use LightWave 3D. Through Zero Gravity Entertainment, Jonny continues to produce 3D animation for clients around the globe and develop new and exciting techniques for character animation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 471 pages
• Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Publishers (October 31, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155622253X
• ISBN-13: 978-1556222535
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #347,500 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lightwave 3D (8) Cartoon Character Creation, November 16, 2004

By 

Mad House - See all my reviews

This review is from: LightWave 3D 8 Cartoon Character Creation, Volume 1: Modeling & Texturing (Paperback)

I got this book a few days ago. After going through it and working with it I think it delivers what it promises: Character Modeling and Texturing. It gives you fairly straight forward information (most of which most users of LW may already know) mixed with fresh news for those of us getting used to animation in Version 8 of LightWave. Having used Lightwave in a different capacity and recently wanting to use it for some character animation - this book was a great help to me. Will it be useful for someone already using Lightwave for character animation? I guess that all depends on your level of expertise. This is not a beginner book (even though it says it starts at that level) mainly because it assumes you know your way around LightWave somewhat. However, people with the talent for picking up software programs will have no problem starting out new.

Like almost all software books it comes with a CD containing project files, plug-ins, etc. You load em. Use em. Etc. I buzzed through the tutorals pretty quick and I gotta say they are easy to follow and thorough without being so basic you feel like you waste half a book getting people up to speed. We have all been there with that disappointment. This book does not do that.

It also does a great job on the process of texturing your models. Now, don't confuse that with how to create textures (there are other books that specialize in that.) What it does show you is how to apply textures to your models properly. In addition are instruction on how to test lighting, rendering and creating QuickTime VR files to view model.

Again, this book is exactly as the title says. If you want to learn everything there is to know about LightWave there are different books to help you. This is not a replacement for a LW manual. However, if you want to learn how to setup some characters for animation and avoid hassels and pitfalls...get this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent...But!, January 9, 2005

By 

R. Carl "Chicago Dude" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: LightWave 3D 8 Cartoon Character Creation, Volume 1: Modeling & Texturing (Paperback)

This is a very well thought out book. Being that I am relatively new to Lightwave I had a bit of difficulty with the book and spend a great deal of time trying to figure out how to use some tools which I have not had the chance to use before. I think before one wishes to use this book that they get a good grasp of tool useage first and then this book will make much more sense.

The other complaint. I know I gave it four stars on content which I think it deserves but there are a few things which could have been better. The screenshots were too small (approximately 2 inches square) and when you have a figure with a bunch of polygons and points it gets very confusing which to select to follow the lesson. Also, when author interchanges the term "move" with "Drag" and "Extend" instead of "Extender Plus" it gets a bit frustrating until you figure that out and make the correct choice.

Like I said, I am new to Lightwave and as a beginner I just think one's time would be better spent learning the tools before one starts in with these lessons. Otherwise the book is great. My first character is coming along just great. It just takes me a bit longer because I am not only learning how to make a character but also how to use tools I have never used before. If you have patience then this is great.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not all I'd hoped, April 10, 2007

By 

M. Coen (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: LightWave 3D 8 Cartoon Character Creation, Volume 1: Modeling & Texturing (Paperback)

I'd read all the reviews prior to this book. Seemed pretty promising, although I wasn't sure how easy it would be for beginners, but I thought I'd take a chance. The book itself was great with the descriptions and the photos to accompany them up until it came time to rig Morfi. Steps were skipped, though I'm not sure if the author simply assumed the reader would know what to do, or if he accidentally left them out. Certain sections tell you to copy and paste multiple times, but don't tell you what to do what the items you've just pasted, and bam!; Instantly you're at a new section, with a detailed summary of what the previous section should have looked like, without showing you how to get there. I haven't even started animating yet, let alone started the more complex model in the second section of the book. If you're looking to model low poly characters, and are somewhat of a beginner, the book is great! For Rigging/Animation I would recommend purchasing a second, more detailed/complete book.