Lightwave 3D 8 Cartoon Character Creation, Volume 1 : Modeling & Texturing

Rating:
Summary: Lightwave 3D (8) Cartoon Character Creation
Review: 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.


Rating:
Summary: Tome of Knowledge
Review: This book is a wonderful tome, containing not just the instructions to build, map rig, texture and light your model, but also tons of really useful tip and tricks.

Jonny's methods are simple and straightforward, easy to use and sensible. This is clearly the work of a real expert in the field.

I bow low to Jonny Gorden, Character Master.



Rating:
Summary: Excellent...But!
Review: 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.