Inside LightWave v9

Chapter 13. Particles in Motion

Particle animation, collisions, dynamics. What are these terms, so often thrown around in the 3D world? They are your tools for creating cool special effects in LightWave layout. People often equate the term particle with 3D animations involving small dots, such as fireworks. Although you can create sparklers and animated dust using particles in LightWave, that’s only the beginning. Particles are also used to generate wisps of smoke, fire, snow flurries, and even swarming bees. For many 3D-animation pros, the enhanced particle tools, and the new dynamics capabilities introduced in LightWave v9 (and discussed in detail in this and the next chapter, “Dynamics in Motion”), are enough by themselves to justify the cost ...