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In this tutorial, we will show how powerful the
combo Aura [2] + LightWave® [6.5]
is to create natural motions in LightWave.
Step 1 - Aura:
- At first, we will record a nice drawing
with the Stroke Recorder. For that, I recommend
to use a graphic tablet (Wacom Intuos tablets
works great with Aura).
Preview of the recorded path
- Then export the track motion as a LightWave
motion file. You can do this through the Path
Manager Panel which can be accessed either
through the main menu, Filter->Motion->Path
Manager, or through the motion menu on
the Stroke Recorder panel. Select File->Export
to LW Motion and name it stroke.
Make sure the Reverse Y is ON on
the Origin tab, and Image Ratio, located
on the Scale tab should be OFF to get
the proper path in LightWave.
- Finally, select the Motion, Up/Down and Pressure channels
to export these three motion files.
 
Export LightWave® motion option tabs
- It will create three files : stroke_motion.mot
, stroke_updown.mot, and stroke_pressure.mot.
Next, we will see how to use these motion files.
Step 2 - LightWave:
- Launch Layout.
- Add a Null object named stroke_Null,
then load the motion file stroke_motion.mot as
its motion. As default, Aura exports motions
in a X, Y space. To restore the stroke on the
ground plane, we have to swap Y and Z channels.
- Open the Graph Editor to modify the stroke_Null object
motion.
- Copy the stroke_Null.Position.Y channel
to the stroke_Null.Position.Z channel,
then reset the stroke_Null.Position.Y channel
to 0.
- Put an FX_emitter on the stroke_Null object
with the following settings :
 On
the Generator tab:
Group = Fix
Generator size
X = 5 mm
Y = 5 mm
Z = 5 mm
Particle limit = 119
 On
the Particle tab:
Life time (Frame) = 0
 On
the Motion tab:
Explosion (m/s) = 0.0015
Parent motion = 0.0%
- Finally, load the stroke_updown.mot file
as the Birth rate envelope. The
Up/Down channel only exports a binary information,
so we have to scale this channel for a suitable
result. Therefore, select all keys with a value
of 1 then change them to 250. You may have
also to move the same keys one frame ahead
to get a better result.
Birth rate use the up/down channel
- Now, parent the light to the stroke_Null object.
Set the light as a Point light,
adjust the Color and the Intensity
Falloff.
Light settings
- Finally, define a nice lens flare effect.
By the way, we will use the pressure channel
as the flare intensity. For that, load the stroke_pressure.mot file
as the Flare intensity envelope.
- The pressure uses a range value from 0 to
100 %, so we don't need to modify the envelope,
assuming we want a regular range value for
the light.
Flare intensity uses the pressure channel
- Define a nice point of view for the Camera,
and we should have a result like the following.
A light writing a natural stroke
- At this point, particles are just invisible
because we haven't yet define any shader for
them. So, we will add some Hypervoxels shader
on them. Open the Hypervoxel panel, and activate stroke_Null in
the object list.
- Set the Object type to Sprite.
 On
the Geometry tab:
Size = 5 mm
Size variation = 10.0%
 On
the HyperTexture tab:
Texture = Crumple
Frequencies = 4
Small Power = 0.75
Texture Amplitude = 25.0%
 On
the Shading tab:
Define a Color gradient like
following, and set the Input Parameter to Particle
Age.
- Now the light is drawing a flare effect using
you writing style. So, I invite you to complete
this tutorial with the addition of a nice smoke
effect with Hypervoxels.
MPEG
MOVIE - Final Render with Hypervoxel Smoke
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