How to begin

[dolph2003]

Well, here I sit in front of my new, supercharged Dell Laptop with LW freshly installed. Not too tough so far. Registered too! Have a rather thick Reference Guide, but I'm thinking someone might have a great idea about how a do-it-myselfer like me could get started most efficiently. I'm really new to this, but also need to be able to more or less teach myself.

I welcome your suggestions. Thanks.

[Heimhenge]

First, read some tutorials and browse the forum, just to get a feel for the vocabulary. Then, imagine a project (not too complex) and just slog through it, referenceing manuals, online help, trial and error, whatever, until you got it like you want. By that time, you'll be on your way. Worked for me.

The toughest part will probably be learning our way around the exensive (and somtmes confusing) menus. The only way to learn that stuff is just do it.

Good luck. Have fun. You'll love LW eventually.

[Fallenswordsman]

The first stop I would make is to http://www.newtek.com/community/tutorials.html
Just go through the interactive guides to get a feel for the Modeller and Lightwave itself.
Next stop I would make is over to
http://www.lwg3d.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13277
then:
http://www.lwg3d.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12549
then:
http://www.lwg3d.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13446

That should get you walking and at least familiar with some of the toolset enough to start making some stuff of your own. Best of luck!

[dolph2003]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I'm a science, math, design teacher at a small private high school. I do have a modest project in mind that I'll slosh through during my summer. I hope to have a unique, "what I did during my summer vacation" by late August.

By the way, does anyone know of anybody who's using LW to do either science and/or educational 3D animations/videos? I can't be the only one! I need to be in touch with a science,math/graphics type individual to bounce ideas off of.