By Dan Ablan (Dablan) (64.105.84.131) on Wednesday, January 29, 2003 - 11:15 pm:

LightWave DirectTM
Bringing the best LightWave learning directly to you.


LightWave Direct is the online resource for LightWave learning.

Here you can find your way to the best LightWave learning tools. Our flagship CD Training Series "LightWave Direct" brings full NewTek Authorized LightWave 3D Training to your doorstep.

One-on-one training is great - no question. Books and tapes are significant in your education of LightWave 3D. But sometimes you need more. Sometimes you need that one-on-one crash course, but who has the time or the money? If you're like most, both time and budgets are tight these days, and the best thing you can do to stay ahead of the curve is to know your software inside and out. You need to be able to handle any job that comes your way, big or small. One good job leads to another. One bad job leads to.... well, you get the idea.
______________________________________
It's simple. You need to learn LightWave, right? Why not learn from the industry's leading LightWave authority? LightWave Direct takes you on a journey through the discovery of LightWave 3D. You'll start with workflow understanding, move to modeling, then textures, then layout and more. You'll be up and running in no time! Each course is taught by leading animation guru and LightWave expert Dan Ablan. Dan has written 5 international best selling books on LightWave 3D such as "Inside LightWave 7," Inside LightWave 6," and LightWave Power Guide, among others, as well as "Digital Cinematography & Directing" all from New Riders Publishing. Learn from the best - click here to learn more about your course instructor.
Simply put, if you can't take the time for personal training, and want to learn from the ground up at your own pace, LightWave Direct delivers!
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LightWave Direct also offers sales on LightWave related products, including all LightWave books, training videos from Class on Demand, and plug-ins. Visit our order page for great discounted pricing.




FOLLOW ME TO LIGHTWAVE DIRECT! ONLINE ORDERING NOW AVAILABLE AT A SPECIAL
PRE-RELEASE PRICE!http://www.lightwavedirect.com

By danilo ducak (Danilo) (24.45.184.97) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 06:05 am:

Hm,shameless advertising for free?
Can we see sample?
Danilo

By Matt Gorner (Matt) (217.37.13.153) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 09:00 am:

lol

yeah how about a taster freebie to all your Inside LightWave users ;)

I'd be interested in surfacing and lighting, anything to help me achieve more photo-realistic renderings.

By William J Fassnacht (Aino) (206.204.61.18) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 03:02 pm:

Hmmmmm!
I think I will wait until the promised 7.5 chapters for "Inside Lightwave 7" are available.
I don't want to start a new project until I finish what I have already started!! ;-)

By Matt Gorner (Matt) (217.37.13.153) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 03:23 pm:

actually Dan will kill me, I bought his book but not really looked at a lot of it! (sorry Dan, nothing to do with you, just me being lazy!!!)

By Dan Ablan (Dablan) (64.134.39.51) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 08:20 pm:

I'll put some samples up soon for you guys. Matt, you're missing out - do some tutorials from the book.

The 7.5 tutorials are still coming - just gotta do the jobs that pay first I'm adding a special bonus to the free web based tutorials - they'll be written, and free quicktimes to go with. Coming soon.

Dan

By william greenlee (Billyboy) (12.218.128.69) on Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 09:01 pm:

Keep us updated Dan!

By Matt Gorner (Matt) (217.37.13.153) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 04:18 am:

Hey Dan have you ever thought of doing tutorials in the stylee of 3DBuzz.com using Camtasia?

I'm thinking of the CD in the back of your books filled with video tutorials from the book.

Would be amazingly useful!!

(Or have I just suggested how you're gonna do it for this LW direct thingy?)

By Dan Ablan (Dablan) (64.134.39.51) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 08:11 am:

Matt -
I'm one step ahead of you.
First, the signature course from LightWave Direct is done with Camtasia!
Next, I'm actually in meetings today with my publisher about our new books for LightWave, and we're not only going to include Camtasia on the CD, they'll be online as well. Free, of course. There's already a book or two from New Riders that is including these files on the CD.

Please support TechSmith for their great products Camtasia and SnagIt!

Thanks,
Dan

By Matt Gorner (Matt) (217.37.13.153) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 12:43 pm:

Cool! Because 3DBuzz seems only intersted in 3D Studio Max, Maya XSI and the like, LightWave doesn't seem to figure.

I often wondered why he hasn't done any LW ones, I guess we have a strong enough community without them!!!

By Larry Shultz "SplineGod" (Larrys) (209.178.140.186) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 04:05 pm:

I was under the impression that Buzz was or is doing some Lightwave based materials. Camtasia is really nice. Been using it for the last couple of years.

By Emmanuel Henne (Emmanuel) (62.104.211.64) on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 04:10 am:

"I'm actually in meetings today with my publisher about our new books for LightWave"

Ohhhhh, does that mean that 8 is on its way "already" ?
Hmmm, speculation: if You start now talking with Your publisher, You start writing in 2 or three months...and publish the book when LW8 has been published, which means, if You need 3-4 months to write it, and another 1-2 months to get it on the shelf...8 will arrive around august...Siggraph time.
Call me Sherlock ))

By Larry Shultz "SplineGod" (Larrys) (209.178.140.234) on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 05:31 am:

A mind like a steel trap...

By Matt Gorner (Matt) (217.37.13.153) on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 06:21 am:

Elementary my dear Emmanuel!!

(Apparently Sherlock Holmes never said that!)

By Emmanuel Henne (Emmanuel) (62.104.211.64) on Sunday, February 02, 2003 - 06:42 am:

How flattering !
Indeed, my mind is sharp as a knife and as fast as a lightning, since I was bitten by that damn spider !

By kevin phillips (Kevman) (210.48.25.104) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 03:28 am:

"...and we're not only going to include Camtasia on the CD, they'll be online as well. Free, of course."

Hmmm, a free copy of Camtasia, on CD and for download! That's a saving of over US$349!

Dan, you Rock! Hehehehe!

By Donald S. (Fourd) (208.10.65.132) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 01:20 pm:

No offense to Dan, but $695.00 bucks for everything I got out of the LW7 manual, and the $50.00 I spent on his book taught me a majority of what needs to be known.

The only reason people like Dan (not meant offensevily or snide) make this kind of riducousle (sp?) money are because people are getting lazier and lazier, and not willing to take the time to experiment with the information so readily available.

I'm sure the info provided is great. But there is nothing in there that didn't get me up and running from the "Inside LW7" book, the LW7 manual, nor from taking the time to learn the tools provided with-out someone holding my hand.

By Dan Ablan (Dablan) (66.82.52.97) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 09:46 am:

Donald,
as I've said before, this is a full course, not just a set of tutorials. We are updating the website soon, and most likely, will be lowering the price a good bit, due to some recent changes.

People learn differently. Many people like their hand held through a process, and like to not only see, but hear what's going on. Books among all are probably the best bang for the buck. But many people have shelled out $900 for Larry's course and have been quite pleased. LightWave training is still among the most affordable of any of the 3D applications. We make our course affordable and available to those who can't attend our one-on-one course in person. And you must also remember that one simple technique from a course like this can pay for the whole thing, over and over.

Dan

By Donald S. (Fourd) (208.10.65.132) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 01:31 pm:

Dan,
I understand it's a full course. I'm not knocking you or how you make your money. Although I've never met you, unless maybe I saw you at Siggraph 02, I think you're a great guy and a hell of an artist. I look forward to your new Inside LW8 book

And as far as people shelling the bucks for your class, larry's classes, and the class-on-demand dvds, I have one thing to say. Can I apply for a scholarship or grant I am 100% positive, that all the courses are worth more than you guys charge. All of you have been great contributers to the CG community.

My point, was people should try on their own.

Question? Who taught you Dan? Who taught you Larry? I'm not asking about internet resources, although I'm pretty sure info wasn't as readily available as it is today, but really, who provided you the course material to learn LW. Was it the manual?

By Dan Ablan (Dablan) (64.105.84.131) on Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 08:19 pm:

Thanks Donald,

well, I began using LightWave in 1989. Through the next few years, I really got into it. There were no books, no internet, just Lee's Bread Box, which became Video Toaster User. No wife, mortgage, office, led to many late nights, many hours learning and expanding (in more ways than one!)

So, your point is well taken.

BTW, our site will be changing:

www.3DGarage.com will be online in about a week. Our first product out the gate will be:
"3D Garage: LightWave 3D 7.5 Signature Courseware"
Intro Price $395
Release Price $495 (April 6, 2003)

Thanks!
Dan

By Larry Shultz "SplineGod" (Larrys) (209.179.226.120) on Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 02:52 pm:

Hey Don,
I learned the hard way as well. There were no books, courses, forums or much of anything around at the time to learn from other then trial and error. I literally put in years to learn what I know now. Ive since worked on all kinds of projects. I had my own busness for a long time doing TV commericals. I became a lead artist at a video game company and eventually made it out to Hollywood. Its taken awhile believe me.
I wish there had been as much learning resources back then because it would have saved me a great deal of time, money and head banging.
Everyone has to pay their dues to learn this stuff...whether in time, money or some other sacrifice. That principle isnt just distinct to this business either, its pretty universal. It really boils down to time. YOu can either put in your own time to slowly and patiently learn or pay for learning materials to bring you up to speed faster (after all money is simply a representation of our time).
Thats one of the reasons I created my courses is to give people that opportunity which I never had.
One thing I teach is not just the "standard" way of doing things but the way I actually had to do things in a real production evironment working on video games, TV shows and film. Those are things that you can only learn by working in that setting or learning from someone who has worked in that setting. Ive been in this business for quite a while and Dan has too.
If you have questions about specials, deals or scholarships just email me.

By kevin phillips (Kevman) (210.48.25.205) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 12:47 am:

Lemme add my 0.2c worth...

I also learnt the hard way, from just playing mostly, and making spaceships, writing plugins, etc (Though I did buy books like Alan Chans FX kit, a few 'Lightspeed' videos and few other things along the way!)

However I never really delved into character stuff cause, well, I really didn't know where to start, and it all looked so 'hard' so I kept to my easy mechanical/product stuff, no bones and making simple effects...

Then, years later along came Larry's material to show me the bits I'd missed out on, showed me where to 'start' creating a character, and pretty much gave me a confidence booster I really needed to do what I was watching others doing (and passing me by as I sat in my rut on the side of the LW highway, carving simple models, making simple animations)

The most important thing for me was speed - I learnt 10 x faster by following Larry's material then taking the time to teach myself the 'missing' links - I had just gotten a new job, and I needed these skills fast...

One thing Larry's course (and I'm sure Dans does too) covers like he says is workflow - Its not something I've ever read on any website tutorial, or something I could ever work out myself since, well, until just recently, I never had the opportunity to work in a production environment... (Now I do it all week long! Sometimes its fun, really! )

And on top of that, I prefer to 'see and do' then 'read and do' - I learn faster this way, by video - I was building my first 3D character after Larry's course in less then 2 weeks - That was because I started a job where I was expected to do so - And if I hadn't done the course, I would have been panicing (honest) and probably back in a safe, easy and well paying but unexciting programming job...

So, was it expensive? Well, it wasn't the cheapest, but in the same way, if Desktop Images were to release the same amount of tutorial material on Video, at $50 a pop, you'd pay way MORE then what Larry charges...

For me it was an investment in getting myself out of that rut and into doing what I loved as a job as well, and it paid itself off in just the immense pleasure I now get seeing my creations on national TV and bus stops!

IMHO, you get what you pay for - Cheap shoes last about 3 weeks, expensive shoes last a lifetime... (Well, a lot longer then the cheap ones)

By Dan Ablan (Dablan) (209.250.115.130) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 04:43 pm:

3D GARAGE is now online.
New Pricing


Thanks,
Dan

By Dan Ablan (Dablan) (209.250.115.130) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 04:44 pm:

3D GARAGE is now online.
New Pricing http://www.3dgarage.com


Thanks,
Dan