LightWave 3D Group Unveils LightWave 11.6

LightWave 3D Group, a division of NewTek, announced new features in LightWave 11.6, the latest version of its 3D modeling, animation and rendering software for artists and designers.

LightWave 11.6 complements features introduced in LightWave 11.5, including the Genoma character rigging system with modular presets, predator and prey Flocking capabilities, per-object Instancing control, and soft-body Bullet Dynamics with support for FiberFX, the company says.

With the Spline Control tool, nulls or other objects act as nodes in a spline to control or deform objects such as tentacles, tails, whips or even elevators. Raycast Motion utilizes Raycasting technology to make an object aware of its surroundings in an animation; the Compound Node allows users to simplify and customize complex networks down to a single node.

Users can utilize NVIDIA CgFX shader technology to create 3D assets for virtual production, pre-visualization, or game development, and view assets within LightWave OpenGL exactly as they will appear in the final real-time display engine. Users can also place Normal Maps on 3D objects to make lower-polygon objects or characters display as higher-resolution objects, and create custom CgFX shaders or use existing CgFX shaders.

LightWave Modeler now includes new import and export options to support the popular STL and PLY file formats. VRML is also supported and offers surface color data for 3D color printing of objects with texture maps. Also included is full control of the export format used, whether in ASCII or binary, the up direction, and units for export. New geometry clean up tools specifically for 3D printing output are also included.

The company’s ChronoSculpt solution introduces sculpting over time, a new way to review and correct cache animation and dynamic simulation using time-based sculpting tools. The interface supports leading file formats for all professional 3D software programs, including LightWave 3D, Autodesk 3ds Max and Maya, Luxology Modo, and Maxon Cinema 4D.

ChronoSculpt uses a timeline-based workspace that includes tools to sculpt and manipulate 3D deformations and character cache animation over time. It supports soft- and rigid-body dynamics and has the ability to sculpt and deform massive polygonal models on the timeline to correct and remove errors in real time.

NevronMotion is a new motion capture retargeting software for LightWave 11.6 that supports the Microsoft Kinect camera. Using the solution, artists and animators can capture, adjust and retarget motion data to 3D models inside LightWave.

Users can save and adjust captured motion data from the Kinect camera; adjust arm and leg mocap positions and layer hand-keyed animation on top of motion capture files; save and load retargeting presets for FBX, BVH, or custom set ups; and preset rigs for Kinect and motion capture formats.

For more information visit LightWave 3D Group.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.