Lightwave Geometry Import Converter

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This geometry import converter reads in Lightwave binary object files (.lw) and ASCII scene files (.scn). It is a very complex converter that will allow you to read in Lightwave files and render them right away with only minor changes necessary to the imported scene. For example, click here to view an image of the Bablyon-5 space ship translated from Lightwave format using PolyTrans and rendered using Okino's NuGraf Rendering System software.

Some of the features of the converter include:

• Reading of all Lightwave supported polygon geometry,
• Ability to break apart each Lightwave object according to the materials assigned to each polygon,
• Objects which are instanced one or more times within Lightwave (cloned) are likewise instanced within PolyTrans (the instanced geometry will appear below a 'red' folder within the Selector Window). Thus, much memory is saved since only one true copy of the raw geometry is stored in memory for each of the instances.
• The object hierarchy within the original Lightwave file is recreated exactly within PolyTrans.
• All cameras and lights types are supported.
• Every surface (material) attribute is mapped to equivalent PolyTrans surface attributes.
• All texture mapping types are supported (diffuse, specular, spherical environment mapping, etc).
• All of the Lightwave texture projection methods are supported, including planar, spherical, cylindrical and cubical. These projection methods are converted directly to equivalent PolyTrans projection methods. The conversion is exact, so the textures should appear faithfully when rendered with other 3d renderers.

Notes:

1. This converter can handle the Amiga IFF image file format directly so you do not have to convert these image files to any other format.
2. If an object has more than one surface applied to it then the converter will explode the object into separate pieces, each with a single surface assigned to it.
3. The 'smoothing angle' specified on the Lightwave converterÆs dialog box will be overridden on an object-by-object basis if a surface definition has a 'smoothing angle' associated with it.