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Hi.

I'm thinking about changing modeler and thought about Lightwave. I'm focused on architecture and now I'm using 3dsmax. What do you think about the change? How is LW for modeling architecture. Does it has snaps, measuring tools,... I've heard about LWCAD2 scripts. What about plants and trees, landscapes, organic modeling and precise modeling?

Would it be difficult to change from max to LW?

What about maxwell plugin?

Thanks

cough.... cough..... Modo....

Fernando Tella wrote:Hi.

I'm thinking about changing modeler and thought about Lightwave. I'm focused on architecture and now I'm using 3dsmax. What do you think about the change? How is LW for modeling architecture. Does it has snaps, measuring tools,... I've heard about LWCAD2 scripts. What about plants and trees, landscapes, organic modeling and precise modeling?

Would it be difficult to change from max to LW?

What about maxwell plugin?

Thanks

ever thought to use formz? in my opinion the best for architectural modeling!

markus

watch this iste..; and enjoy.. just look how fast you can make windows for instance...

http://www.archvisuals.co.uk/sashv2.php

Thank you for your answers!

I've been reading modo's forum and read some people opinions that said that it is not yet good for precise modeling, snaps are not very good,... to sum it up it is not yet ready for architectural modeling... I have not tested it though. I saw those videos yesterday and look really nice. I wish max had windows with that quality.

I tryed FormZ a year ago and didn't liked it very much. Maybe it's just too different to max, but I didn't feel confortable. Anyway I got a nice calendar just for registering and downloading the demo.

I'm very used to max but I really miss some things to make it fast like more confortable snaps and specific tools for architectural modeling. Windows, stairs, railings, walls are quite ugly or never do what you want...

I read some nice things about lightwave + LWCAD 2 but I don't really know the problems or lacks that I would face with it.

I'll check modo too anyway.

Cheers!

um, what about Rhino? works a bit like autocad (osnaps, similar commands, etc.) It's UV mapping is non-existent, but that's supposed to be fixed with v4 which is slated to come out soon…

Isn't Sketchup very good for architectural stuff? (Not that i've used it)

I use Revit to model architecture. It is not a specific tool for modeling but is a complete presentation, modeling and documentation package. I know it has some limitation with nurbs and organic forms but it depends of but do you want to model.
Sketch up it nice but it won't bring my mdel to the next stage on the architectural process.

ok, then go LW... BUT only with CadTools... if you get LW9, it is included... and if you want to make lots of rails and stuff... this is a very very fast tool.. and least from what I can see from their videos.. for me, the price would not be justified, but if you're doing stuff like you said on a daily basis... then hey.... it's the way to go...

http://www.wtools3d.com/index.php?p=4&content=tutorials

Lightwave can be used for architectural modelling, did it myself for years, but it is in no way anywhere near as being as suited as MAX. The snaps are almost non existant, no in-built architectural features like doors, windows, stairs, plants, etc, no extracting splines and using them the extrude walls, no local grid feature, and worst of all no DWG import.

Fernando Tella wrote:I've been reading modo's forum and read some people opinions that said that it is not yet good for precise modeling, snaps are not very good,... to sum it up it is not yet ready for architectural modeling...

I'm very used to max but I really miss some things to make it fast like more confortable snaps and specific tools for architectural modeling. Windows, stairs, railings, walls are quite ugly or never do what you want..

Modo is actually a lot better (out the box) for architectural work than Lightwave, the snaps are better (but no where near on a par with MAX), the local grid feature is fast and flexible, and the paint geometry feature is very good for scattering rocks/plants onto a terrain, the global illumination in Modo is also vastly superior to Lightwaves.
That said, it's still not a patch on MAX.

I'm not a great fan of MAX, but of the three it is the best tool for the job.

Hervé wrote:ok, then go LW... BUT only with CadTools... if you get LW9, it is included... and if you want to make lots of rails and stuff... this is a very very fast tool.. and least from what I can see from their videos.. for me, the price would not be justified, but if you're doing stuff like you said on a daily basis... then hey.... it's the way to go...

http://www.wtools3d.com/index.php?p=4&content=tutorials

I'm afraid that offer is long since over. So if you want LW-CAD tools, it's an extra $300.

I don't actually do much of anything with architecture, but I got LWCAD for free with my LW9 upgrade and I can wholeheartedly recommend it. I use it a lot for regular modeling because I really like the precision it allows, and it's snapping features are very very nicely implemented. I have to assume it's really nice for architectural stuff -- especially based on their videos -- I just don't really use it that way.

Though, I guess building windows and doors kind of counts, eh? I just don't care about the rest of the building usually.

Yog wrote:

Hervé wrote:ok, then go LW... BUT only with CadTools... if you get LW9, it is included... and if you want to make lots of rails and stuff... this is a very very fast tool.. and least from what I can see from their videos.. for me, the price would not be justified, but if you're doing stuff like you said on a daily basis... then hey.... it's the way to go...

http://www.wtools3d.com/index.php?p=4&content=tutorials

I'm afraid that offer is long since over. So if you want LW-CAD tools, it's an extra $300.

ouch ! then that hurts...

how do you deal with complex models and last minute requests of your clients to change, for example all fassade elements within LW, modo or max? do you have a complete symbols management system like in formz? just wondering... i could not work anymore without these CAD features within FZ.

markus

mgroeteke wrote:how do you deal with complex models and last minute requests of your clients to change, for example all fassade elements within LW, modo or max? do you have a complete symbols management system like in formz? just wondering... i could not work anymore without these CAD features within FZ.

markus

Could you explain that feature? Looks interesting.


Yog, you made me lose the thrill with LW

Thanks all for the info.