NewTek Inc. is using this week’s SIGGRAPH 2003 conference in San Diego, Calif. to preview LightWave 3D [8], the latest major update to its 3D graphics modeling and animation software.
The new version of LightWave supports hard body dynamics, and improves cloth and other soft body dynamics. It also sports faster inverse and forward kinematics, improved its control system, and adds dynamics for character skeletons.
Character setup workflow has been improved, and new particle system tools have been animated. What’s more, improvements have been made to the Lscript scripting language as well as LightWave 3D’s application programming interface.
NewTek Inc. plans to ship LightWave 3D [8] in the fourth quarter of 2003. Its suggested retail price will be US$1,595. Those who purchase LightWave 3D [7.5] between now and then will receive a free electronic upgrade; existing owners of Lightwave 3D can upgrade to LightWave [8] for $495. More details are available online.
If you’re attending SIGGRAPH 2003, you can find NewTek Inc. at booth 2848.