NewTek Rolls Out LightWave 10 with 3D Production in Mind

NewTek has introduced NewTek LightWave 10, the next generation of its Emmy award-winning professional 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software. LightWave 10 will combine CORE technology with enhanced Modeler and Layout to deliver an extensive upgrade to LightWave’s production-proven workflow. LightWave 10 will begin shipping in Q4 2010.

New features to LightWave 10 include a photoreal real-time version of NewTek’s award-winning renderer, VPR (Viewport Preview Renderer) and advanced, real-time CG hardware viewport shading, delivering Anaglyph Stereo, Ambient Occlusion, Transparency, Refractions, and Bloom.

“The imagery created by LightWave users and studios and the yearly awards and recognitions for that work speaks for itself,” says Rob Powers, VP, 3D development, NewTek. “LightWave has an indisputable track record in the industry and allows studios and individuals to continually turn out award-winning work on time, on schedule, on budget and with a profit.”

LightWave 10 will also offer new immersive real-time virtual cinematography and game development tools. These solutions evolved as a result of the virtual cinematic production techniques that were pioneered by leading Hollywood artists and technicians for films like “Avatar,” “Tintin,” and “A Christmas Carol.” For production studios and more advanced individuals, this technology includes integrated support for the InterSense VCam, virtual camera system. The individual artist gains a similar immersive experience with LightWave 10 and its integrated support for 3Dconnexion’s complete line of 3D mice. This combination provides directors and artists with the ability to interact in real time within a 3D set.

“As a LightWave HardCORE member, I love the power and flexibility that I get with the preview builds of LightWave 10,” says Lino Grandi, feature film creature rigging and visual effects supervisor. “VPR allows me to see the complex creature rigging deformations in a beautiful real-time render. It’s incredible to be able to work on a character rig and get this advanced level of visual feedback. Interactive lighting, procedural textures, reflections, transparency, radiosity, it’s all there.”

A breakdown of the new elements featured in LightWave 10:

Interactive Display and Rendering Tools
• Viewport Preview Rendering (VPR): See instant results with realistic view of scenes and objects with interactive light, nodal shading and scene set up.
• CG hardware real-time viewport shading: Real-time OpenGL view of Ambient Occlusion, Bloom, Stereoscopic Anaglyph and HDRI background images.
• Linear workflow: Supports consistent gamma, color space, and custom Look Up Tables (LUTs) for more realistic lighting, and to maximize compositing flexibility in a professional pipeline.

Flexible Data Interchange Enhancements
• MDD with new enhancements and support for the Autodesk Geometry Cache: Freedom to move deformations and transforms between applications allowing for an extremely flexible, extensible pipeline for animation, dynamics, effects, and rendering.
• COLLADA, FBX, and ZBrush interchange: Transfer, load and save camera data, lighting, objects, UV and image maps, plus parenting hierarchies, etc.

New Immersive, Real-Time and Game Tools
• Support for InterSense VCam, virtual camera system: Virtual production capabilities all for real-time interaction with 3D scenes.
• Support for 3Dconnexion line of 3D mouse: Move through the virtual world and interact with models and scenes, controlling cameras and lights in real time.

Bullet Rigid Body Dynamics
• Integrated dynamics and simulations: Create dynamics, calculations and simulations for effects such as collapsing buildings, breaking glass, etc.

Advanced UV Mapping Tools
• Enhanced LightWave workflow with powerful new UV tools such as Transform, Scale Rotate, Move, Separate, Stitch, Relax, UV Unwrap, Front, Cubic, Spherical and Cylindrical projections, plus cameras with both UVs and an automated texture node.

Pricing and Availability

• LightWave 10 will begin shipping in Q4 2010 for a suggested retail price of US$1,495.00. LightWave 10 upgrades will be available for US$695. Artists may gain access to preview builds of LightWave 10 immediately through NewTek SIGGRAPH special offers.
• LightWave v9 for US$895 which includes a free upgrade to LightWave 10 and membership in LightWave HardCORE with immediate access to preview builds of LightWave 10
• LightWave v9 upgrade for US$495 which includes a free upgrade to LightWave 10 and membership in LightWave HardCORE with immediate access to preview builds of LightWave 10
• LightWave HardCORE membership for US$495 which includes a free upgrade to LightWave 10 and membership in LightWave HardCORE with immediate access to preview builds of LightWave 10