The Next Step
The information in this chapter can be applied to any type of scene you create in LightWave, from outdoor scenes, to sets, and even to fantasy-type renders. It can be applied to any of the exercises and projects in this book. These basic lighting setups and core functions apply to all of your LightWave work in one way or another, either in simple or complex form. Use the information here to branch out on your own and create different lighting environments. Use lights to your advantage—remember, there are no wires or electricity bills to worry about when creating virtual lighting situations. You don't need to worry about lightbulbs burning out either!
Experiment by adding more lights to your everyday scene or perhaps taking some away. Use negative lights, colored lights, dim lights, overly bright lights, and whatever else you can think of to make your models and animations look as good as they can. But what will make them stand out from the rest of the pack is your own creative input. Don't worry about rules too much. Learn the basics, understand how the tools work, and try it out! If you think you'd like more light on a particular area of the scene, add it. Don't ask people on Internet forums—just try it!
What adds even more interest to your scenes is the camera. LightWave 10's camera tools are quite powerful, so turn the page to understand this updated feature set.