Newtek (Lightwave) has just been bought by Vizrt

General Forums Blender and CG Discussions
144

And how is the track record for Blender in TV shows and In movies? …historicly and today, I honestly do not know since I haven´t followed it in the same way as with Lightwave, what shows or movies has it impacted on today?

Personally I started to look at blender in 2015-2016 …but it was hard for me to use because I loathed the UI, it took me many times of opening it for some minutes…only to close it due to how the workflow was structured, that never happened to me when I started with lightwave…I felt right at home in how it worked.

But apart from blender actually changing for the better, I also got through that threshold and can now work with it without the same nautia I got the first times.

Cageman from massive cinematics is praising Lightwave loudly for it´s render nodes, and how they could complete a series of shots with a decent cost, and with a quality the director was more than pleased with…

Quoting "Oh and yes… we use LW renderengine as well… Yesterday afternoon we rendered a 2600 frames animation in about 3-4 hours (LW2019.1.4) on 25 CPUs… 2252x940 resolution. Today, our Director said "This is more than perfect… I didn’t expect this quality for the time given for the shot… "

https://www.youtube.com/user/PrometheusPhamarus/videos

145

I used LW heavily in production during 2019.
I made over 100 + Tutorials for Blender and a few scripts
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiy-QcXrvu9hhe4arymNcfw
and I sit in houdini hangout nearly every night.

it boils down to this … use the tools you have.

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146

THEE track reckord, you can go on and debate it´s later track reckord, but I am sure it is still used…
Since erikals gathered short list doesn´t tell much really, but the interesting part is probably about what it does on the shows or movies, and how it fits in to a pipeline with other tools.

Lightwave Feature Films

  1. 1. 300
  2. 3000 Miles to Graceland
  3. 3. A.I.: Artificial Intelligence
  4. A Sound of Thunder
  5. Avatar
  6. 6. Batman Begins
  7. 7. Battle of Red Cliff (awesome Chineese epic)
  8. 8. Black Hawk Down
  9. 9. Black Knight
  10. Blade
  11. Blade 2
  12. Blade: Trinity
  13. Blood Diamond
  14. Blues Brothers 2000
  15. Bones
  16. 16. Brotherhood of the Wolf
  17. Bunraku
  18. Deep Blue Sea
  19. Deep Impact
  20. Defiance
  21. Devil’s Advocate
  22. Die Another Day
  23. 23. Dogma
  24. Dracula 2000
  25. Dungeons and Dragons
  26. Eagle Eye
  27. Elektra
  28. Enigma
  29. Fantastic Four
  30. Final Destination
  31. Final Destination 2
  32. Final Fantasy
  33. Finding Nemo
  34. From Dusk Till Dawn 2
  35. Ghost Rider
  36. Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence
  37. Gladiator
  38. Goldeneye
  39. Gothika
  40. Green Lantern
  41. Gulliver’s Travels
  42. Halloween: Resurrection
  43. Harry Potter 3: Prisoner of Azkaban
  44. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  45. Hellboy
  46. His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass
  47. I Am Number Four
  48. 48. I, Robot
  49. 49. Iron Man
  50. Jane Goodall’s Wild Chimpanzees (Imax)
  51. Jason X
  52. Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius – Oscar Nominee
  53. Jumper
  54. Jurassic Park
  55. Jurassic Park III
  56. K19 The Widow Maker
  57. 57. Kate and Leopold
  58. 58. Kung Fu Hustle
  59. Lara Croft Tomb Raider
  60. Lara Croft Tomb Raider 2: Cradle of Life
  61. Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde
  62. Legend of Zorro
  63. Lord of Illusions
  64. 64. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
  65. Lost in Space
  66. Master of Disguise
  67. Memoirs of a Geisha
  68. Men in Black
  69. Miami Vice
  70. Mission Impossible III
  71. Monster House
  72. Monsters, Inc.
  73. Mortal Kombat II: Annihilation
  74. Mr. & Mrs. Smith
  75. Mr. Brooks
  76. My Favorite Martian
  77. Nanny McPhee
  78. Nim’s Island
  79. Nixon
  80. No Good Deed
  81. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
  82. Octopus
  83. Old Dogs
  84. Oliver Twist
  85. Pan’s Labyrinth
  86. Panic Room
  87. Paycheck
  88. Peter Pan
  89. Phantoms
  90. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  91. Pirates of the Carribean: At World’s End
  92. Pitch Black
  93. Poseidon
  94. Public Enemies
  95. Queen of the Damned
  96. Race To Space
  97. Racing Stripes
  98. Red Corner
  99. Red Planet

100.Repo Men

101.Rollerball

102.Rules of Engagement

103.S.W.A.T.

104.Scary Movie

105.Scary Movie 2

106.Scary Movie 4

107.Scooby Doo

108.Seabiscuit

109.Serenity

110.Shakespeare in Love

111. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

112.She’s Out of My League

113.She’s the Man

114.Shipping News

115. Sin City

116. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

117.Skyfall

118.Something Borrowed

119.Spawn

120.Spider-Man

121.Spider-Man 2

122.Sprung

123.Spy Kids

124.Star Kid (aka The Warrior of Waverly Street)

125.Star Trek (J.J. Abrams Version)

126.Star Trek: Nemesis

127.Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

128.Star Wars Epsiode II: Attack of the Clones

129. SteamBoy

130.Superman Returns

131.Supernova

132.Syriana

133. Tale of the Mummy

134.Teeth

135.Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

136.The Adventures of Pluto Nash

137.The Astronaut’s Wife

138.The Avengers

139.The Aviator

140.The Big Hit

141. The Cell

142.The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

143.The Core

144.The DaVinci Code

145. The Dark Knight

146.The Day after Tomorrow

147.The Dust Factory

148. The Fifth Element

149.The Flight of the Phoenix

150.The Guardian

151.The Hot Chick

152.The Italian Job

153.The Jackal

154.The Kite Runner

155.The Last Mimzy

156.The Last Samurai

157.The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

158.The Manchurian Candidate

159. The Matrix Reloaded

160. The Matrix Revolutions

161.The One

162.The Others

163.The Perfect Score

164. The Pianist

165.The Ruins

166.The Siege

167.The Sixth Day

168. The Thomas Crown Affair

169.The Time Machine

170. The Triplets of Bellville

171.The Woman in Black

172.The World Is Not Enough

173.Thunderbirds

174.Titanic – Visual Effects Oscar Winner

175.Torque

176.Toy Story 2

177. Training Day

178. Tropic Thunder

179.Undercover Brother

180.Underdog

181.Van Helsing

182.Waterworld

183.We Were Soldiers

184.Winx – The Secret of the Lost Kingdom

185.Wishmaster

186.X2

187.X-Men

188.X-Men 3: The Last Stand

189.X-Men: First Class

190.xXx

Here is a bit more information:

lw-title

Film.

Hollywood blockbusters are now touting the power and influence of 3D graphics . And the demand for artists to create these mind-blowing visual effects is growing. LightWave™ has the modeling and rendering capabilities to make it a key player in the production pipeline of major motion pictures . Movies such as She’s Out of My League, Avatar , Cargo, Battle for Terra , Angels and Demons, Dark Knight , 300, Iron Man , Serenity, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, all host graphic aspects created in LightWave.

LightWave also works seamlessly with other 3D applications and compositing programs to deliver results . Open formats include support for COLLADA™ and FBX® , MDD , and integrated Autodesk® Geometry Cache . You now have a more streamlined integration process. You can develop accurate models, quickly. Access free and unlimited render nodes . Get more speed and higher quality . Now, go make movies, my friend.

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and was that list actually missing Battlestar Galactica…which Dj lithium Kelly the Kat worked on as well?

And for anyone saying, you can´t live on old merits, well do you throw your CV in to the garbage can and just show up with your Good looks for the appliance to a job? some historical track on being proven to work in many fields and in many showcases is needed.

https://www.youtube.com/user/PrometheusPhamarus/videos

148

Users can customize the colors of the UI to their liking. Yes the overall interface still retains much of it’s original overall look and design but it has received some updates over it’s lifetime. It lacks the flexibility in UI customization that other programs like Modo have. If it’s icons that make software pleasing to the eye for you than Lightwave isn’t for your eyes.

149

As long as you guys dragging out the scorecard are willing to accept that this is the house that Stewart and Allen built and that they did such a good job that LightWave is still being used based primary on that 20 year old tech then you have the proper context for this discussion. In my opinion.

It does nothing at all to refute or rebuke the facts of what has happened to LightWave under NewTek management and now the hand off to Vizrt.

And more importantly posting this won’t save LightWave from NewTek’s self-destructive path for this great tool you decide to still support.

In fact, that there are still people coming out for LightWave proves what a great tool it once was.

It is not there technically anymore.

It does not matter your opinion on that unfortunately. The world outside of the LightWave inner circle has moved on.

Further, and this has been true forever, is that the largest production houses know this. And they have always used LightWave alongside other tools such as Maya for animation.

The question is can LightWave continue to coast on fumes.

I say no. Because NewTek is on a destructive path and because the next gen of artists won’t adopt it.

That should concern you. And don’t kill the messenger

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150

LightWave 2018 had 20000 people watching online at the NT forum at launch.

LightWave 2020 is around the corner.

not saying LightWave equals the holy grail, but I think some of you are using a too dark filter.


151

Definitely. I agree. Guilty as charged.

Now can you admit to the possibility that you are using a far to light filter in the face of all the reasons you should do otherwise?

I could be wrong.

How about you?

Thought about it?

152

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153

There’s no need to think about this as deeply as some have. You would be just as well to debate which OS someone should be using.

It is endlessly amusing that some people feel the need to be a “messenger”. There’s probably some serious trauma wrapped up in these lengthy rants.

Get a puppy. Give it love. As great as these tools are, no software deserves so much emotional investment.

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What you’ve illustrated is that LW used to be involved in a lot of cool projects. Those projects are far and few between these days though.
But as long as you’re happy with LW, it shouldn’t matter what I think.
In a few years time or sooner when any of you need help learning Blender because LW has been discontinued, I will be happy to help out.

155

That’s funny. Software is extremely emotional for me. All the tools of my trade are. The technical aspects of it. All of it. It is exciting even thrilling when things work. And extremely depressing and frustrating when it doesn’t. Be that for reasons of software or user error.

When I overcome something I often get up and do a little dance. It’s cool fun and annoying drudgery from day to day. No matter what art form I am working in. Even music and video editing. All of it.

I am alive and kicking.

Now I find it hilarious that you somehow think it is being above everyone to just be cold and disconnected. Unemotional.

I wonder if your work reflects this? Is it boring for you?

I am also extremely passionate about my choice of software. Not like every day. But I certainly take it seriously. Because I know how hard this job can be. And I put a lot of thought and effort into chosing software.

And I am also passionate about my career.

Regards LightWave and NewTek. I am passionate about that too. Because it was my first software. But also because as it turns out that for no other reason than the fact that NewTek fd it up, I had to pivot and use other software. And it was no easy decision to bail and start using Blender in 2008.

But as NewTek appeared to be turning it around it appealed to that dedication I had. And I supported the effort and upgraded to 2015 and put it to use for a client.

But in the years after that it was real clear. NewTek was completely full of BS and had no clue what they were doing.

So I made this known and left.

I never went back to the forums.

And I feel they deserve be called out for what they have done.

And I don’t mind doing that with the same passion I do everything else.

I am sorry if that offends or people find it hard to take or even silly.

You go on ahead with your boring life petting puppies on the couch and I’ll be out living my life with passion.

Cheers!

156

Are you seriously bringing up projects from around a decade ago? That is ancient by technology standards. When you have to bring up Iron Man, a 12 year old movie, in a discussion about Lightwave’s current day relevancy, you know it is not looking good.

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157

To some they might be worth a mention.
There seem to be some here that were personally hurt by NewTek’s winding road,
I can understand that, but it doesn’t mean LightWave can’t catch up.
If you can make this with LightWave 2008, you can make it even better with LightWave 2020.

158

Michael Blackbourn from Embassy modeled and UV’d the original Iron Man suit in Modo. Of course LW was used for rendering, it’s the only thing they ever improve(I’ve never heard of it being used for Mocap and certainly not with XSI being used which had unsurpassed mocap at that time) Of course this was back in 2008. Now it’s about the only purely cpu based renderer left.
LW was used quite a lot in the early to mid 2000’s. That time is over and it’s not coming back. Not under Newtek/vizRT.

159

Yes, I’m well aware…

LightWave - render
Modo - 3D scan cleanup
XSI - Rigging
as far as i know they also used some LightWave for Mocap / rigging.

160

Ok, so you are not satisfied with the LightWave render bit, I get it.

Not under Newtek/vizRT.

I thought you’d be happy seeing VizRT, a gigantic company, taking over.
Nope?

161

Not looking good? Twelve years ago? Humphrey Bogart was filmed with zero crap we love and The African Queen is better than most films made in the last thirty years… Blender is a kitchen knife and a good one but… she is not a katana yet. Lightwave is far superior to young Blender due to her breadth… but Blender condenses all the weaknesses of LW and exploits them into superior tools… which is why I prefer Blender even tho I recognize LW is deeper, broader, and far more familiar. Blender is the modern 3D application killer… LW is Eqypt on Mars because she will always be more special and unique… Blender is almost obtaining this mystique. What a wonderful world.

162

Even if Lightwave were to get discontinued I suspect many die hard Lightwave users like myself would continue using Lightwave for 5-10 years or maybe even longer if we wanted. I kinda got used to no upgrades during the long silence between LW2015 & 2018 anyway. The only way to extend functionality would be through Python at that point. I’m pretty sure there are still some die hard XSI users out there.

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No. VizRt bought Newark, they didn’t want it for LW, they wanted it for its video products. I want to see LW itself sold off to a company that wants it, not a company who is just having it included like a set of steak knives for buying something else.