I'm using Strata 3d, and it's great appart from that you can't import the textures of the ships you download from the internet.
So, I was wondering where do you get Lightwave?
I've heard that Lightwave can import textures with the model, is that true?
And is Lightwave free?
Is there a "lite" version that you don't need to pay for, and is it good?
Thanks
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"To play ev nova or not to play ev nova, that is the question" - Shakespear
Ooookay, some things need clarifying here...
LightWave is a professional-level modelling and rendering program. It is hardly free, costing around US$2,500, though with an educational discount for students it "only" costs around US$350. It is one of the most powerful 3D apps around. It's somewhat hard to use and is not for beginners.
There is no "light" version.
The only reason I was able to open the Slave I model, with textures, in LightWave, was because there was a LightWave version of the ship. LightWave is not magical - it can't import every model you can download. It just happened that someone had made a version of that ship for LightWave.
The version you were trying to import was for a completely different program called 3ds MAX, which is for PC only. Apparently Strata 3D has the (limited) ability to import 3ds MAX models, but not textures with them. LightWave can't either, but like I said, there was a LightWave version of the ship.
If you find a ship in Strata 3D format on the internet, you'll be able to open it with textures just fine. It's just that the particular collection of Star Wars models generally only has 3ds MAX and LightWave versions of the models, so for those, you're out of luck.
I hope that was clear...I'm in my (unfortunately usual) sleepy state right now so it might have been a bit confusing. If so, someone else please try explaining it...
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...and if your in the US you can get an educational version of Lightwave at (url="http://"http://www.journeyed.com")www.journeyed.com(/url)
Or you can try the main site, (url="http://"http://www.lightwave3d.com")www.lightwave3d.com(/url)
I would suggest sticking with strata or Infini-d if you just want to do plugins n'stuff. Unless you are seriously considering a 3D graphics job, or your just plain rich. Otherwise, its not really worth buying; at first its kind of hard to learn. (or it was for me at least)
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Notably unstable,
Admiral (url="http://"http://www.evula.org/zombat/tute/tute.html")Zom(/url)bat
If you already have Lightwave and are still looking for a fast companion modeler with Lightwave export, consider trying Amapi 3D. There's a book on Modeling with Lightwave by Shamms Mortier (Charles River MEdia graphics series) which in chapter 19 talks about Amapi as a companion to Lightwave. It also has a full free version of Amapi 4.15 on the CD, and trial version of Amapi 6. Same in the book on Modeling Digital Dinosaurs by Ken Brilliant (Same publisher). (url="http://"http://www.eovia.com")www.eovia.com(/url) has details on Amapi's latest version 6.1, and a full free (and legal) copy of v4.15 can be downloaded from (url="http://"http://amapi.idevgames.com")http://amapi.idevgames.com(/url) (a Mac game developer resource but it has both the Mac and PC versions) as well as bakhter.com and insidecg.com - and kjeep your eyes open this Winter for magazines like COmputer Arts, PC Home or others which may have full versions of Amapi 5.15.
Amapi is primarily a tool for modeling, such as making the spaceship here: (url="http://"http://www.carrarastudio.com/tutorials/spaceship")http://www.carrarast...rials/spaceship(/url)
Here's Amapi userd with Strata for spacecraft illustrations: (url="http://"http://www.deepcold.com")http://www.deepcold.com(/url)
More Amapi tuts here: (url="http://"http://www.tgsmirror1.com/Marketing/Amapi")http://www.tgsmirror...Marketing/Amapi(/url) (some Amapi 4, 5 and 6).
and here: (url="http://"http://www.staigerland.com/amapi/tutorials.html")http://www.staigerla.../tutorials.html(/url)
If you have Strata then you'll find that it can import Amapi files natively. Amapi can also export to about 25 formats. But it doesn't handle the exporting of uv textures. (yet).
If you're looking for an entry-level tool to do good animations with some visual effects too, consider the successor to Infini-D, Carrara 3D Basics (at US $99 or close to that in Apple Stores). Then if you're more of a pro user with a bit mor of a budget there's also Carrara Studio around $400. Note that students and registered users of Infini-D or RayDream can get significant discounts.
If you want to see a game which had Carrara used for making the models and rendering them, play some of the MelloYello.com games (needs Shockwave plugin).
A game with Amapi used for some of its modeling (by Predator and another of the 4 modelers in the team) is (url="http://"http://www.thieveryut.com")www.thieveryut.com(/url) (sorry Windows only ASAIK).
Still looking for another reference of a spaceship that was made in Amapi? See the french production to the Alien sequel: Alien Ressurection had the spacepods and other 3D models made in Amapi by Jean-Marie Vives. (but of course rendered and animated in something else, my guess SoftImage but not sure).
There are some neat free modelers out there too, such as Wings3d and some affordable alternatives (Nendo). I have a list of 3D model converters in (url="http://"http://www.staigerland.com/amapi/obj2amapi.html")www.staigerland.com/amapi/obj2amapi.html(/url) which may help if your modeler doesn't produce the format you need for EV Nova.
By-the-way I'm new to this, an Amapi user told me about him making models in Amapi and animating/rendring in Cinema4D for EV Nova. What's the 3D file format needed here?
-Philip
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