LightWave Importer for Unity

[escape_artist]

LightWave Importer, the complete LightWave → Unity solution, is now live on the Unity Asset Store.

The package (just like LightWave) consists of two major components:
LWO Importer - to import model files.
LWS Importer - to import scene files. The models referenced in the scene will be imported using LWO Importer.

Both these importers are also available separately. So if, for example, you already have LWO Importer then you just need LWS Importer and you'll have all the functionality of the complete LightWave Importer.

Here's a link to a youtube video showing it in action.

And here's a few screenshots:




The LWS Importer interface in Unity:


For a top-level list of features take a look at the asset store page.

I've tested it in one of my own projects and have found it really useful - a real time saver! But it's a complex beast and of course there's no such thing as bug-free software ... so if you do experience any difficulties please let me know, either here, or preferably by email with an example scene/model so I can debug it and get a fix out to you.

If there's any questions, feature suggestions, etc then fire away!

I hope you find it helpful with your projects.

-Chris

[gar26lw]

wicked. definitely buying

[tyrot]

Chris this is just an awesome news.. I will ask just one thing
Do you support Morphmixer animations ?! or should we use FBX animation export for that?

And - biggie - can we export an Unity scene into LWO ?

Best!

[escape_artist]

Do you support Morphmixer animations ?! or should we use FBX animation export for that?

Not yet but this is high on my to-do list for a future update.

And - biggie - can we export an Unity scene into LWO ?

No, this is a one-way operation. I was considering making it possible to save changes made in Unity back into the .lws file, but it quickly became apparent that it would more than double the work involved and I wanted to release a tool that people could start using sooner rather than later.

However, just as I have with LWO Importer I'll continue to support and update Lightwave Importer (including LWO Importer and LWS Importer) when I can. So it's possible we'll see it evolve into a two-way operation (LightWave <> Unity), but it's not going to be for a while if it happens.

Cheers
-Chris

[Elmar Moelzer]

This sounds really good. I would really like to see a better import into LW as well. Interchange seems to be doing some weird things. I wished I had a way to test this to see whether it works for my purposes (since I am not sure whether it is the import that is screwing things up for Unity, or the export).

[GraphXs]

Hello, I just got your sweet plugin, though when I put a LW project into the asset folder in unity and click on the ".lws" file I don't see a built button in the inspector? Can ya tell me what I am doing wrong? I do have the "Lightwave importer" folder in the asset folder as well.

[escape_artist]

Hello, I just got your sweet plugin, though when I put a LW project into the asset folder in unity and click on the ".lws" file I don't see a built button in the inspector? Can ya tell me what I am doing wrong? I do have the "Lightwave importer" folder in the asset folder as well.

Hi, thanks for the purchase!
Not sure what's going on here but I'll try and get to the bottom of it. If you start a brand new Unity project and then import the LightWave Importer asset from the store you should end up with a project that looks very similar to this:


Can you go into the Example Scene folder (Lightwave Importer/LWS Importer/Example/Lightwave Content Directory/Scenes/) and click on the Example Scene.lws file. It should have the same icon as in the screenshot and a big "Create New Unity Scene" button in the Inspector. If you can let me know if this doesn't work and at what point your experience deviates from what I describe then that would give me a starting point.
Thanks!

[GraphXs]

I see it, but it shows the lws icon, and no options in the inspector. see image

[gar26lw]

getting :

FileNotFoundException: Could not load file or assembly 'UnityEngine.Timeline, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null' or one of its dependencies.
VirtualEscapes.Common.Importers.LWS.LWSceneBuilder .Build (System.String sceneName, System.Collections.Generic.List`1[T] lwsObjects, System.String assetPath, System.Int32 firstFrame, System.Int32 lastFrame, System.Int32 fps, System.Boolean hasAnimation, System.Boolean drawBones, System.String overwritePath) (at <a771ef7e56d94b6b9f72d87f25d890a6>:0)
VirtualEscapes.Common.Importers.LWS.LWScene.OnInsp ectorGUI () (at <a771ef7e56d94b6b9f72d87f25d890a6>:0)
UnityEditor.UIElements.InspectorElement+<CreateIMG UIInspectorFromEditor>c__AnonStorey1.<>m__0 () (at C:/buildslave/unity/build/Editor/Mono/Inspector/InspectorElement.cs:501)
UnityEngine.GUIUtility:ProcessEvent(Int32, IntPtr)

Tried animating a light spinning as a test. LW 2019.1.3

[escape_artist]

I see it, but it shows the lws icon, and no options in the inspector. see image

getting :
FileNotFoundException: Could not load file or assembly 'UnityEngine.Timeline, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null' or one of its dependencies.
VirtualEscapes.Common.Importers.LWS.LWSceneBuilder .Build (System.String sceneName, System.Collections.Generic.List`1[T] lwsObjects, System.String assetPath, System.Int32 firstFrame, System.Int32 lastFrame, System.Int32 fps, System.Boolean hasAnimation, System.Boolean drawBones, System.String overwritePath) (at <a771ef7e56d94b6b9f72d87f25d890a6>:0)
VirtualEscapes.Common.Importers.LWS.LWScene.OnInsp ectorGUI () (at <a771ef7e56d94b6b9f72d87f25d890a6>:0)
UnityEditor.UIElements.InspectorElement+<CreateIMG UIInspectorFromEditor>c__AnonStorey1.<>m__0 () (at C:/buildslave/unity/build/Editor/Mono/Inspector/InspectorElement.cs:501)
UnityEngine.GUIUtility:ProcessEvent(Int32, IntPtr)

OK thanks, I've replicated it. It looks like Unity have changed something in the Timeline for 2019 that has broken the code. It should work fine on Unity 2018.x
I'll get on it and upload a new version asap.

[escape_artist]

I've submitted v1.1 to the Unity Asset Store, which should fix your issues, as well as a few other things.
Seems Unity removed the UnityEngine.Timeline.dll after Unity2018.x and put it somewhere very difficult to find. I develop on 2019 and test on 2018 but I forgot to check the final compiled dll on 2019. I'll try not to make that mistake again!

Hopefully it should be available to download in the next few days, but if you want it sooner send me an email (the support email is at the bottom of the user guide) and I'll YouSendIt to you directly.

All the best
-Chris

[lardbros]

Very cool plugin there Chris!!!

I don't personally use Unity, but just here to show my support... so glad that someone's done this for Unity and LightWave!

[gar26lw]

yeah, its kicking bottom

[tyrot]

I will bump again but this plugin is a literally game changer.. I can use Lightwave Modeler- without needing any other unity oriented modeler - such as Umodeler or Probuilder..

I just cannot believe how fast and accurate it works..

I have just started to think about using UNITY as a Layout alternative.

. If there is one plugin which can change your whole Lightwave life - this is it..

[escape_artist]

yeah, its kicking bottom

If there is one plugin which can change your whole Lightwave life - this is it..

thanks guys

V1.1 is now live on the Unity Asset Store for both Lightwave Importer and LWS Importer

Please let me know if you encounter any more problems.

-Chris