Kray may be the only responsable of keeping LW alive

[except]

Special LS to LW import plugin?
Wha?!

that's insane! Why isn't it available for anyone else?
I spent months researching and implementing the LS to LW worksflow system (http://www.except.nl/Overig/lightscapelightwave.htm) widely publicized and still present on my website... but it's not exactly a one-click process...

Have any info to share about this?

[Macdoggie_forum]

Kray and Fprime, yes... Without them most of us would move to another app long ago.

What fascinates me is that Newtek actually doesn't seem to listen at all and that's very sad...

I have to agree with you here. We were relying soley on F-prime to to Gi renders and for the most part the speed quality ease of use was ... well in my opinion rather embarrassing (I would have perceived it as so if I was NT). Oddly enough after there was sooo much adulation about F-Prime that things started breaking in F-Prime and sadly enough F-prime in it's present state is noting more that a crippled appendage. Which is why we have chosen Kray. We are also relying more and more and more on Modo for Modeling and UV mapping than LW's Modeler. We do want LW to succeed but if NT can'r deliver we do have a contingency plan in the works. It is just that after 6 years of quality service out of LW it is not something we really want to do. At this point however, we are hopeful...

In all fairness NT has made great strides in the rendering department. The GI renderer has been vastly improved. My main gripe is that it is not really that simple to set up there so many variables and "gotchas" and the weirdness of the render globals panel just adds to yet another level of unnecessary complexity.

As to the listening part you're not the first person I have heard make this assessment. Personally, I hope they are listening if not then yes Lightwave (and it's users) will suffer. Hell, for that matter, everyone who has some stake in LW will suffer. But somehow I don't think NT CAN afford to NOT listen to it's user base and based on the progress made so far I feel we will just have to wait and see what NT does. They just have a LOT of work to do at this point..

Cheers

[keeejreeej]

Kray and Fprime, yes... Without them most of us would move to another app long ago.

What fascinates me is that Newtek actually doesn't seem to listen at all and that's very sad...

Add LWCAD to the list .....

[Pavlov]

Hey Tom,
i think you knew about this plugin.... so you actually wrote your tutorial without knowing it ? I thought it was because the plugin didnt fully work on LW6+.
anyway yes, there WAS such a plugin. It worked nicely on LW 5.6 but it was never updated, so if you still have a 5.6 install you can use it.
Honestly, i've been a long-period Lightscape user and i loved it, but Kray is superior in my opinion. LS solution was nice because it was based on color+intensity Wmaps in implicit points (it tessellates geometry internally and applies weights to each point), but it's very poor on materials, camera works and so on.


Paolo

[Macdoggie_forum]

Hey Tom,
i think you knew about this plugin.... so you actually wrote your tutorial without knowing it ? I thought it was because the plugin didnt fully work on LW6+.
anyway yes, there WAS such a plugin. It worked nicely on LW 5.6 but it was never updated, so if you still have a 5.6 install you can use it.
Honestly, i've been a long-period Lightscape user and i loved it, but Kray is superior in my opinion. LS solution was nice because it was based on color+intensity Wmaps in implicit points (it tessellates geometry internally and applies weights to each point), but it's very poor on materials, camera works and so on.


Paolo

I agree, I worked at a design firm that specialized in arch-viz they used LS extensively and for the time the results we very nice but Kray is so much nicer IMO and easier to set up... and there was no Mac version ...

Cheers

[larry_g1s]

What's with all the LW hate on the boards. It's not perfect, but which app is? With LW's price point, one can get LW, LWCAD, fPrime, AND Kray, all for WAY less then many of the other apps. Then you'd still have to by MR or VRay! And like someone already said, what would Max be with out VRay.

I just don't understand what's with all the pessimism about LW on the boards. It's a good product, at a fantastic price, with a great 3rd party user base.

The reason I'm on the Kray boards is because I'm considering purchasing it. I already have fPrime, but with out having to already fork out 1000's of dollars on just the 3D app. I have the option to still look around. Tough to beat...

[Macdoggie_forum]

Don't mistake frankness for hate. I can't speak for others and don't presume to. But I have done my time with LW and intend on doing so as long as I can. I am critical because I WANT LW to succeed the issues I have pointed out are things I feel need to be remedied IF LW is to maintain it's status as a viable 3D tool.

Why should I care? Because without sales in new seats or upgrades NT wont be able to maintain LW and it will cease to exist at least in it's present incarnation and I WILL have to rely on another 3D app.

Truth is (as I see it) LW is just a tool (albeit a great one) which I use to make a living I do have a certain emotion attachment I will not deny that. However you need to keep things in a practical perspective. I certainly don't fault you for your dedication(I admire it). But personally, if I see something that I feel merits a critical comment I will do so. I am always hopeful of what the very small but talented team of developers will produce ... and that you won't mistake my frankness for pessimism