Warp Drive using linear stretch in Lightwave 9?

[Commodore-SirJohn]

Some years ago, I found a tutorial giving an easy way to create a TNG-style warp entry using the linear stretch function in Lightwave 7 (I think).

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find that function on later versions.

I'm now using version 9, and would very much like to find the linear stretch function.

Does anyone know either where that is in LW9 or some way to achieve the same effect?

[gmd3d]

try http://www.foundation3d.com/

there a lot of Lightwave users there

I never render with LW these day

[Commodore-SirJohn]

I've tried there. Didn't find it. In fact, the only mention I find of warp drive is a short reply talking about tracking with the object, rather than watching the object fly away, and it's the latter that I'm looking for.

Plenty of Photoshop and After Effects tutorials for it, but I'd like to use as few programs as possible...

[gmd3d]

yes I would feel the same ..

did you try http://members.shaw.ca/lightwavetutorials/Main_Menu.htm
its has most of the tuts for Lightwave that I know off and while most links I found where dead you may get lucky

[Commodore-SirJohn]

Yeah, I checked that, too.

I remember the functionality being there, it's just that I can't find it in the current version.

Though it did hit me that, if I moved the pivot point to the back end of the object, I might be able to achieve the same effect.

I'll give that a try and get back to you...

[Commodore-SirJohn]

It works, but it's a bit of a kludge.

What I did was:

1. Move the pivot point to the back of the object. For all subsequent steps, this is now the "original location".
2. Apply a stretch.
3. Reset the pivot point to its original location and keyframe each frame where it reaches maximum distance from its original location.
4. As the object enters warp, reset the stretch to zero and move the object forward in its Z axis.

The result is a passable linear stretch, though it uses more keyframes than I'm happy with. Of course, keyframes only count when saving a scene, which I usually don't, since I have few instances where I need to re-create them...

Still, if anyone can find the "linear stretch" tutorial, I'd be quite happy.

[gmd3d]

I have look on all the places I know of .... I would ask on Foundation 3D if anyone knows of it or you might even find the guy who wrote it .. that would be my best suggestion

[Commodore-SirJohn]

I appreciate that. I know the stretch parameters panel has to be in there somewhere, but I'll be damned if I can find it...

[gmd3d]

OK i had another look around and have had no luck finding any ref for it..

good luck with the endeavor