Lightwave to Flash

[phuile]

I posted this question in the PC section of the forum but got no replies. Maybe someone here can help me?

What is the *best* way to import 3D objects or animations done in Lightwave into Flash? I know about Swift3D but would like to know if there are other ways. For example, does the export function built into LW work properly?

Thanks,
Petre

[mdoyle]

Hi,

the built in function which I think you are talking about only exports to shockwave 3D for director not flash. The only way to get your animations into flash is to use one the flash 3d tools. You can get flicker or Swift 3d LW for lightwave, which will export directly from lightwave into swf format. Or you could alternatively buy the Swift 3D standalone product which you can import 3ds models and or model your own and animate them in their. I would recomend you use one of the plugins for lightwave though ( flicker or Swift 3DLW) because it is easier to animate and model in lightwave compared to the standalone package.

The only other way to do it without the plugins (which is the old way I used to do it) is to render out an image sequence and trace each frame in flash once imported. however this can take an enternity to do sometimes,

There is a wee thread earlier which some people gave their opinion between the flash 3d packages have a look,

http://vbulletin.newtek.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5772 (http://)

hope this is of help

Cheers

Mark

[mdoyle]

oops

here is the link again

Comparison (http://vbulletin.newtek.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5772)

[lasco]

Swift might be the solution,

you can also try Axel though.

Axel is a Real Time 3D program that is mainly
made for… real time 3D, creating very easily interactive scenes etc
but that is also able to export 3D animated scenes as swf (vector 3D) movie,
readable by Flash Player or importable in Flash.

I guess Swift will provide you a better control on the quality
of your 2Dvector rendering.

Axel's advantages are :

- you have the real time 3D engine too (if it interests you)
- not too expensive
- especially it imports Lightwave files (objects and scenes),
with few limitations of course

check this link (http://www.mindavenue.com) for
more info…

[renrique]

another option similar to Axel and very intuitive and powerful to use is Anark Studio.

http://www.anark.com/welcome.asp

The authoring and player are both available for Maciontosh and PC and you can create web content or standalone applications and screensavers in real 3D with the ability to import LW files

[lasco]

http://www.anark.com/products/feature_list.asp

Anark does not :
- import directly LW files (.lwo / .lws)
- export Macintosh Standalone Players
- export Flash movies (.swf)

Axel does all this.
;)

[renrique]

Check your information because in the cd of the anark installer comes the lug in to import the LW format directly and it does autexeutables on Mac.

Maybe you are talking of older versions, because the version 2 does it all

[lasco]

What info do you want me to check ?

I'm just talking about what is written on Anark's web page,
just see the link in my previous message…
I don't use this soft I just was interested by your talking about
and checked few infos on their site.
The list of compatibilities is full on this page so what can I do
if it's not updated…?
Yes they're talking about a "plug" for LW imports but as don't
tell more I did'nt feel it was a tool they add to Anark itself,
happy to see they do.

However the thread was about going from LW animation
to vector 2D animation (swf), which is different from real time 3D
publishing, and I only know Swift 3D or Axel that can do this…

[renrique]

I´m writing for phuile.

I had the cd of anark inserted in my computer, the plug in to import LW directly on anark is in here, sorry if you don´t have the cd to check it.