LightWave 3D® [8] version
8.3 Readme
Thank you for installing this
latest update to NewTek's LightWave [8] software.
This update is intended
for users of standalone LightWave [8] version
8.0, 8.0.1, 8.2 or 8.2.1 exclusively. It
will not work with previous versions of LightWave
3D, nor with
LightWave 3D included in VT[4] or VT[4] SP1 package.
Important note: this is a cumulative update patch that also contains all new features and fixes available in the previous updates version 8.0.1, 8.2 and 8.2.1. You do not have to install any of these previous versions before installing version 8.3 update.
Some new features have been added and numerous software
functionality issues have been
addressed. We appreciate your feedback, which
plays a large role in shaping this 3D animation
software's
future. Please send feature requests to lwfeatures@newtek.com.
IMPORTANT
- PLEASE READ
Before
installing LightWave [8] version 8.3,
back up any content in the LightWave
[8] folder on your hard drive.
This includes the default LightWave content
in the LightWave [8]/Programs folder.
Mac
users: You must use the latest
version StuffIt Expander (8.0.2) in
order for the 8.3 .sit file to extract
and run properly on your system.
There
is a new Registration process that was
implemented with LightWave [8]. If you
have registered LightWave [8], no further
registration action is required. If not,
you will need to register LightWave [8]
to download the 8.3 updater. NewTek
Europe has provided an easier system
for online
registration, and the ability to
register over-the-phone with Customer
Service.
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NewTek can only verify stability
issues with the default installation of LightWave
3D [8] when releasing updates and upgrades. NewTek
cannot guarantee that the stability of 3rd party
plug-ins/LScripts will not be affected by such
changes. If you make use of third-party plug-ins/LScripts,
we recommend checking with the respective publishers
for compatibility issues before updating your installation
of LightWave 3D [8].
Downloadable Update Installation
Instructions
The
version 8.3 downloadable update, on either
platform, is a compressed executable file. The
Mac download is a StuffIt file with .sit extension;
for Windows, the download is a WinZip file with
.zip extension. You can download the appropriate
file to whatever location on your hard drive
you choose.
While this update does not
place new configuration files nor replace the license.key
file, as a safety precaution it would still be
wise to make a backup copy of any files or folders
you may have modified since installing LightWave.
These can include your configuration files, the
license.key file, the Plugins folder, the Presets
folder, and any content folders.
Default locations for Windows
configuration files LW8.CFG, LWM8.CFG, LWEXT8.CFG and LWHUB8.CFG:
Once you have downloaded the
appropriate file, navigate to the folder where
you placed the file, and double-click on the file
to execute the installer. When you are asked where
to install the update, be sure to select the folder
in which your current copy of LightWave 3D [8]
is located. This is required in order for the installer
will place all the new files in the proper locations
within that folder.
For Windows users: At the beginning of the installation process, you will be asked to update your dongle drivers to the latest version, 7.1, available. If you have not already upgraded your dongle drivers, please allow the version 8.3 installer to do so.
Be sure to read the ReadMe for important information about changes to the software.
New
features
Multi-core processor support
LightWave [8] version 8.3 includes native multi-core support, providing optimization and support for multi-core technology. Multi-core processor technology will provide the power of two processors on a single chip, allowing LightWave to leverage system resources to significantly improve work flow, performance and the speed of the 3D rendering process over the current generation single-core processor systems. For the end-user, multi-core processor technology will offer the best performance-per-watt ratio, offering systems more efficiency and performance while reducing heat dissipation and consuming less power than multiple single-core systems.
PSD Import/Export revisions
LightWave [8] version 8.3 has introduced many improvements to the PSD Exporter. The menu layout has been reorganized for easier navigation, including new filtering options. Final Render is actually several filters in one, all of which will be activated when you look at the PSD file. The following additional filters will be available in the PSD file: Effect (-), Effect (+), Surface, Diffuse Lighting, and Refraction.
New "Text Layers" tool
The Text Layers tool allows you to type letters, numbers, and other symbols and automatically have them beveled and extruded. Text Layers also has multiple layers and settings options.
Improved Vector Blur routines
The Vector Blur plugin has been improved in LightWave 3D version 8.3. Motion vector blur is a post processing algorithm. When an image is rendered, a 2D vector is calculated for each pixel. This vector, which represents a straight line, is used to blur the image. LightWave’s Motion Vector Blur plugin can achieve a very high quality motion blur.
New "Relative Particle Age" gradient option for HyperVoxels
LightWave version 8.3 has introduced a new gradient option for HyperVoxels, Relative Particle Age. This new gradient is based on the relative lifespan of each particle. This gradient is useful if you are using the random lifespan option in Particle FX. You also have the option to set up an addition +/- timeframe to make the age of each particle more random.
New "Blending" surface-tension control for HyperVoxels
A new box has been added to enable/disable the surface tension of HyperVoxels. Checked, Blending will result in the HyperVoxels connecting in close proximity. Unchecked, the HyperVoxels will not connect in close proximity. With Blending off, you can create things like sand, gravel, and other loose particulate matter.
Point limit per polygon increased from 1024 to 16383
LightWave [8] version 8.3 has improved upon the EPSF Loader. These changes include the above mentioned point limit increase for polygons. Also, Import options now include EPS files up to Illustrator CS and AI files up to version 8.
Enhanced Documentation for LightWave's Object Properties Edge Tab functions
Documentation has been revised for better clarity on the existing functionality.
Summary
of Addressed Issues
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Summary |
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Autofit object will no longer crash Modeler if object has no UV map and UV Texture viewport is active
Merge Points tool should not crash
UVSpider will now make a map with the appropriate amount of discontinuous points
UVSpider will now work with new interpolation types
Bezier curve will work with more than 106 subdivisions and should not lock-up Modeler
Point Clone Plus should give correct error message when nothing in foreground
Path to Motion should now correctly create a .mot file for Layout
Throw will now use the correct high point for calculations
Throw will now create the correct .mot file for Layout
Deletelayer should retain layer names
ESPF Loader has been updated to read more EPS files
Make Poly should now function properly
Exporting to LWO5 files should now work correctly
Select Loops should now function correctly
EPSF Loader should now load Illustrator 8 and ESP v3.0 files
Select Loop should now work correctly with multiple layers
Morph Map should no longer delete layer when knife tool is used
Discontinuous UVs should now freeze or subdivide correctly
Autofit object while UV view is open will not crash Modeler |
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Move TCB tool should now work properly
Raytracing would fail in some instances, this should no longer happen
Bump Maps with UV Cycler should now work correctly
Custom Objects should now display text
Reconstruction Filters menu should now display properly in custom menus
Reflections should no longer appear in Shadow Density for Alpha Channel
Deleting second camera, then using Undo, will no longer crash Layout
Quicktime timing settings should update correctly when Quicktime files are loaded in Image Editor
Wind Dynamics should load correctly now
Menu dividers are inappropriate at the top of a group, and are no longer allowed there, which was causing crashes in some cases
BRDF should no longer cause crash upon exit
VLight will now show in VIPER
Image Viewer will now save BMP-32 files correctly
Corona will now finish rendering on high-res images while saving
Animated UV's applied to triangular polygons should no longer crash layout
Metaling_Morph should no longer cause a crash when reloading a file
Phrasing for FX_Browser has been reworded
Bone creation tools will no longer change to white instead of the default color
RIG files should import properly now
Master plugin notifications will now announce item motions
Copy Hierarchy should preserve rotational settings on goals
Mirror Hierarchy should preserve goal settings
Bone Connect should function correctly now
Bone Fuse should function correctly now
Bone Split should function correctly now
Import RIGs should handle nulls properly now
Tip Move should function correctly now
Bone Twist should function correctly now
Joint Mover should no longer cause bones to move in unexpected directions
Dynamics should now load correctly
Unchecking a light in Scene Editor to turn it off should now affect the volumetric
Hypervoxels volumes should now function correctly in fog
FX Plugins should now remain inactive when turned off in the Object Panel
Hypervoxels should now work under the either of thefollowing conditions: Density set to "0", Dissolve set to "100"
Lens Flares should now toggle on/off correctly in Scene Editor
PFX Particles with a procedural texture should now remain when the scene is saved
Copying then Pasting texture layers with a modifier applied to an envelope should now function correctly
Image Sequence Fields should render correctly now
Animate UV Cycler should now animate the UV for renders
Smooth Threshold should not return to default when edges are applied to object
Hypervoxels should now use Light Exclusions when used in Scene Editor
TIFF files should now work correctly in Layout
The top bone in a hierarchy should no longer be selected if it is locked
Match Goal will now detect and try to prevent loops, which was causing crashes
Creating a UV Atlas Map with a high polygon count should not crash Modeler
Image Viewer will now bring up alert when a Read-Only image is brought up and cannot be overwritten
The limits for Global Light Intensity and Global Flare Intensity
IK Booster Load Motion should now work correctly
UVSpider should no longer make all UV's discontinuous
BMP-32 should now save correctly in Image Viewer
Clip Mapping should no longer cause LightWave to crash
Saving and loading an SGI48 bit image should not corrupt Image Editor on Mac
DopeTrack should update correctly when items are selected in Scene Editor
Draw Bones should deactivate when another tool is selected
Enter License placed back in Help Menu
A cloned item should retain its custom color
Multiselect to unlock locked items should now work
IK Booster should no longer disable Drag Copy keys in DopeTrack
DopeTrack should no longer crash when dragging keys
Lead the Follower should now work correctly
Bake Zone should now be editable after zone is created
LWCItemInfo->param should now return correct direction
Multiple motion notifacations should no longer happen for screen redraws
Baked Hypervoxels should work correctly and not crash Layout
Refractive transparent surfaces should now work correctly with alpha renders
FPrime and IK targeting should now work correctly
Performance with Show Keys and Sider ON should now be faster
Scene Editor should no longer crash upon clearing a scene
Dopetrack fixed so Apply options are not available unless the time slider is within one of the Apply Zones |
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Missing Procedural plugins will no longer crash LightWave
Panels should now open correctly when interchanging a scene from a dual monitor setup to a single monitor setup
Menu items can now be added to the top level of the Top Group
Vertex Maps should now save with object |
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Scene Editor Revert in Adjust Properties has been updated to function as intended and will not have any affect after Apply is used
Scene Editor should now update edited strings
Light Color Envelope in Scene Editor should now work correctly
Scene Editor will not self-replicate when using Load From Scene
Selecting locked items in Classic Scene Editor should now be enabled again
Reconstruction Filters can now be changed in Scene Editor
Find function in Scene Editor should no longer crash if no object is in a scene
Selection Sets should be updated when items are reordered
Locking items in Scene Editor should also lock them in OpenGL views
Context Menu reconfigured so it is not too wide
" Add column after this one" should now longer cause a crash
Selections should now stay in sync with the viewports when right-click command is used |
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Procedures on Bump channel should now be able to invert values in Texture Alpha Blending mode
The Animate UV Options button is now disabled with None selected
Libraries can now be renamed and even completely deleted from the Preset Shelf context menu. Performing this operation using the operating system (bypassing the application) should be avoided while the Preset Shelf is open as it can leave the Preset Shelf in an unstable state.
Blending Mode display should update when switching to a single layer
Setting changes should now work in all texture layers beyond the first
Removing a Procedural Texture after copying then pasting it should no longer cause crash
Textures should keep the correct orientation when the reference object is removed |
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VIPER render should now work after switching resolutions after F9 render
Large Previews in VIPER, then closing VIPER window, should no longer crash Layout |
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Frame Slider will now update on First/Last frames controls |
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Oversized ClothFX Load Limit will no longer crash Layout
ClothFX should now calculate on the correct keyframe
ClothFX and SoftFX should now save Shift Frames setting when Save Motion with MDD file
Oversized ClothFX Load Limit should no longer crash Layout if Time Slider scrubbed |
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Copy/Paste Channels should now paste on all selected channels |
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32-bit TIFF files should now load correctly
Image Editor window has been adjusted for menus to open properly |
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Dialogue should no longer take 100% of CPU
Global Variable should not lose values after create() is called
info(EnableIK()) will no longer crash generic LScripts
Memory leak/crash fixed for Master LScript when moving multiple items
ctrlcolor will return the correct values now
Removing the lscript channel filter from a channel that has had a channel applied to it will no longer crash Layout
LW_macro recorder should now save correctly
LScripts should now work in Modeler for the Mac |
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Different version of LightWave will no longer access the same Hub version
Align should no longer crash Modeler on the Mac
Drawing primitives with hub activated should no longer crash Modeler on the Mac
Hub should now switch properly between applications
F9 render should no longer cause Layout to crash on the Mac
Activating Numeric Input Panel in Modeler should no longer cause crash on the Mac
Switching between applications should now work correctly on the Mac |
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World coordinates will now toggle on/off correctly for Hypervoxel Textures
Voxels should react correctly when emitter is rotated
Hypervoxel volumes should work correctly with fog |
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Particle display options should now be editable when a PFX file is used
Hitting RETURN should now dismiss dialog when making a new ParticleFX group
Path Mode for PFX will work correctly now |
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Expressions on large number of bones should no longer cause memory leak crashes |
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Trans Plus should no longer crash when Undo is applied
A script will now be opened when a MyWindows.cfg file is not present for the MyWindowLoader script
Vector Blur should no longer overwrite background color
EPS Exporter should now work correctly on the Mac
SGI Plugins should now function correctly on the Mac
PSD Expert should function correctly now
Image Viewer and Image Viewer fp should now save Alpha Channel
Render Buffer should now render Limited Region No Borders correctly |
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