The LightWave 6.5/7.0 Project Handbook (Charles River Media Graphics)

The LightWave 6.5/7.0 Project Handbook deftly explores LightWave's rich features while still being approachable enough for beginners. Complete with a CD-ROM that includes demo versions of the program as well as the data files needed for each chapter, this book is well suited for the new LightWave user willing to sit down and learn the program.

Ten chapters detail the application, from the fundamentals of creating objects and animation to the deeper features of particle systems, texture mapping, and rendering. Although there are no color pictures, each chapter is richly illustrated and the screen shots used in the book are included in color on the CD-ROM. Final renderings of each project are also included.

The author writes clearly, laying out the purpose of each chapter in the first few paragraphs, followed by a step-by-step tutorial towards the final goal. Each tutorial ends with a closing discussion and suggestions for going further with the techniques just covered. Early chapters cover the creation of text and basic shapes, models, and the use of particle systems. The latter half of the book covers texturing and rendering, and creating sophisticated images ready for broadcast.

A veteran of the 3-D animation world, LightWave dates back to the early days when the Amiga ruled and a 16 MHz computer (yes, 16) was considered fast. Now up to version 7, LightWave has been widely used in both television and feature films and boasts a worldwide user base. Contemporary computer graphics artists owe a great deal to LightWave, and new users climbing the LightWave learning curve can't go wrong with The LightWave 6.5/7.0 Project Handbook. --Mike Caputo