spatial-design website

 

LW²TG Documentation

 

 

 

Index
Tutorials

LW²TG Quick Instructions
LW²TG ScriptExport
  LW²TG ImporTER & LW²TG ExporTER
  LW²TG Blur
  LW²TG ShadowComp
  LW²TG FPM
  LW²TG SunMarker

LW²TG ScriptExport

[BACK]

Description
A Layout plugin that exports motion data from LightWave's camera, including support for targets, parenting, path look ahead and animated zoom envelopes.
Instructions

Select LW2TG_ScriptExport from the 'Generics' list on the 'Plug-in Options' panel. You can also create a button on the interface and assign a hotkey for the plugin, see the LightWave manuals for information on how to do this.

Select either Single/Test Image or Animation Sequence and enter the appropriate frame number(s).

Enter the filename for the Terragen script file and the name and location for the images that Terragen will render.

Select the light that you are using as the Terragen sun from the Sun drop down list.

The clouds in Terragen can be controlled by a null object in Layout. The null's position sets the position of the clouds, it's heading sets the direction of movement and its scale sets the velocity of the clouds. These settings can be animated.

If you're using a null object to animate the Terragen clouds then click on the check box next to Cloud Control and select the name of the null from the drop down list. Otherwise leave the check box unhighlighted to disable cloud animation.

Enter the point spacing of your terrain file in the Point Spacing field, this must be the same as the value entered in the Landscape Settings in Terragen.

If you want to generate motion blurred images then select the Motion Blur check box, the plugin will generate four additional scripts for the motion blurred frames. Enter the amount of motion blur in the Blur Length field, this is the same as the value set in LightWave's Camera panel. Selecting Specify Directories allows you to enter a different frame storage location for each script. This is very useful for large animations as it allows you to spread the location of the rendered frames over multiple drives.

When you are happy with your settings select Ok and the plugin will generate the script(s).

NOTE : When rendering the scripts in Terragen make sure you uncheck the Fixed Height above Surface check boxes for both the Camera and Target Positions (located on the Rendering Control dialog in Terragen).

 

LW²TG ImporTER

LW²TG ExporTER

[BACK]

Description
Modeler plugins to import and export Terragen's terrain files (*.ter)
Instructions

Importing a Terragen terrain

Select LW²TG_ImporTER from the 'Additional' menu.

From the file requester select the Terragen terrain (*.ter) that you want to load.

A dialog will appear, write down the two numbers for Base Height and Height Scale. You will need these numbers if you want to export the terrain.

The plugin will then construct the terrain in the current layer.

Add a surface to the mesh and triple the polygons.

Save the object.

Exporting the terrain

If you have made any modifications to the mesh you can use LW²TG_ExporTER to export the terrain as a Terragen terrain file.

NOTE : Modifications must only be made by dragging points vertically on the Y axis. If points are moved on either the X or Z axis then there will be errors in the terrain file. A good way of checking your model is to use the Quantize tool. Use a step equal to the point spacing in both the X and Z axis and a step of 0 for the Y axis.

Select LW²TG_ExporTER from the 'Additional' menu.

The above dialog will be displayed. Terrain Size is the size of the Terragen terrain, point spacing should be the same as the setting in Terragen and Base Height/Height Scale are the two numbers that were displayed on importing the terrain. Select Ok.

Enter the filename for the terrain in the Save File Requester, use a .ter extension.

The plugin will then process the mesh and write out a Terragen terrain file. This can take a while with large terrains.

LW²TG Blur

[BACK]

Description
A standalone program for combining Terragen images into motion blurred frames to match those generated by LightWave.
Instructions

Select the motion blur script file (*.mblur) that was generated by LW²TG_ScriptExport.

In the Output files field choose a directory and filename for the final motion blurred frames. Use a .bmp extension to save the images in BMP format or a .png extension to save in PNG format.

Click Perform to start the conversion process.

Once the frames have been converted you can delete the original five sets of images.

LW²TG ShadowComp

[BACK]

Description
Composites the shadows from 3D objects onto the Terragen images directly within LightWave, without the need for external compositing software or multi-pass rendering.
Instructions

Open the 'Effects' panel.

Select the 'Processing' tab.

Select LW²TG_ShadowComp from the 'Add Pixel Filter' list.

Open the 'Surface Editor' and select the terrain surface.

Click on the 'Advanced' tab and then on the 'Special Buffers' button.

Enter 255 in the 'Special Buffer1' field.

The shadow density and colour can be adjusted through the plugin's interface

LW²TG FPM

[BACK]

Description
A Front Projection Mapping shader which allows Terragen images to be reflected in LightWave objects
Instructions

Open the 'Surface Editor' and select the terrain surface.

Click on the 'Shaders' tab and select LW²TG_FPM from the 'Add Shader' list.

LW²TG_FPM automatically assigns the background image sequence to the terrain surface, there are no other settings required.

This plugin is designed to work in conjuction with LW²TG_ShadowComp and can be used whether or not you need the terrain reflected in water.

LW²TG SunMarker

[BACK]

Description
Enables accurate positioning and animation of the Terragen sun from within Layout
Instructions

Add a null object to the scene.

With the null selected press 'm' to open the 'Motion Options' panel.

Select LW2TG_SunMarker from the 'Add Modifier' drop down list.

Double click on the plugin entry in the list to open the interface. Select the light that you are using for the Terragen sun as the control item.

Once the plugin has been added the null will be controlled by the rotation of your Terragen sun and will position itself at the correct location to match up with the rendered Terragen sun.

To add a lens flare to your scene that will align itself with the sun in Terragen, add a point light and parent it to the null. In the light settings turn off 'Affect Diffuse' and 'Affect Specular'. Set the Light Intensity to 0%. Click on Lens Flare and adjust the flare settings as needed.

 

Index
Tutorials

 

LightWave 3D is a registered trademark of NewTek, Inc.
Terragen is Copyright © 2000 M.P.Fairclough, Planetside Software.
Site & contents © 2001 M.Brown