NewTek Releases LightWave 10.1

By DE Editors

NewTek has released LightWave 10.1, the latest version of its 3D modeling, animation, visual effects and rendering software.

LightWave 10.1 offers a new off-axis stereoscopic camera rig option, improved Viewport Preview Renderer (VPR), a new Skin Shader node, and import and export capabilities, including MDD and integrated Autodesk Geometry Cache support.

LightWave 10.1’s stereoscopic features provide access to all major stereo camera rigs, and the ability to dynamically correct for toe-in distortion in the animation pipeline. Additional stereo enhancements include interactive OpenGL off-axis adjustment of the right and left camera planes, click-and-drag convergence point adjustment in the viewport, and the ability to disable the anaglyph representation of the stereo camera in OpenGL. Also in LightWave 10.1, interocular and convergence points can be dynamically animated over time to track stereo changes within a shot, according to the company.

The LightWave VPR allows designers to directly interact and easily adjust lights, textures, volumetrics and more, within the viewport. They can also use the VPR to view updates, deliver walkthroughs, and perform virtual location scouts. LightWave 10.1 extends the functionality of the VPR with the support of clip maps in the VPR render, the addition of object and distance dissolve, and improved nodal shaders.

LightWave 10.1, with integrated Autodesk Geometry Cache Support gives designers the ability to include or exclude models, morphs, animations, cameras and lights, upon export. Other workflow features in LightWave 10.1 offer the ability to import joints as LightWave bones for greater compatibility with other programs; multi-threaded mesh evaluation optimization and sub-d mesh freezing acceleration; linear color space workflow improvements, including new support for .ICC/.ICM monitor profiles, and more.

LightWave 10.1 is now available as a free download for owners of LightWave 10. Until Aug. 31, 2001, the upgrade from any previous version of LightWave to LightWave 10.1 is $495, and a full license is $895. After Aug. 31, the price will revert to $695 for an upgrade and $1,495 for a full commercial license.

For more information, visit NewTek.

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