Tell us a bit about yourself

I am a 33-year old computer graphics enthusiast born and working in Asturias (Spain). Like many people, I began with the first small personal computers, like the Spectrum and Amstrad, but my real computer graphics background began when the Commodore Amiga came into my hands. Then I began to use my first 3D programs like Sculpt 3D, Turbo Silver and Imagine, using them in commercial projects when I was only 18 years old. I also began to develop my own software for graphics tools. From these initial experiences, I've worked in nearly all fields of computer graphics, video and visual effects and 3D software development with applications like modellers and render engines, real-time visual simulators for the defence industry and my work now as a freelance technical artist.

When did you see LightWave 3D for the first time?

I first saw it in the days of the Video Toaster Amiga (1987-1994, ndlr), just from first impressions I knew that LightWave was a different piece of software from all those that existed those days, and all the remarks and comments from people were along the lines of "incredible" and "powerful" and so on.

When did you first start using it?

I can't remember exactly when, I was working for a video company and began to use it for flying logos and simple architectural visualisation, I think that it must have been version 4.0. What I can remember, like it happened today, is that LightWave completely changed my modelling and animation workflow, expanding it from its humble beginnings up to today, where there is a lot of competition in 3D applications, but I still can't get comfortable with any program other than LightWave.

What do you like about the package?

I like Modeler, it is simply perfect for technical and architecture visualisation. I love the way you can manage objects in Layout. I also like LightWave's render engine, the fact that render nodes are free, and best of all LightWave 3D's material editor and the way you manage materials. It has the fastest workflow I can find, the organisation of model and scene files is superb, the ease of developing little plug-ins, the simplicity of getting professional-looking results, its incredible stability with very few crashes, its cost, plug-ins, books, and of course the lovely user community.

What could be improved for you?

Perhaps, from my point of view, it needs a more open architecture, especially to allow external render engines. And I think that LightWave's internal render engine needs more powerful anti-aliasing, texture filtering, instancing and a faster radiosity solution. I think that Modeler must incorporate more new features like on-the-fly macros, workplanes, ngons in subdivision surfaces, real edges, new snaps, etc. Hard work for NewTek, but I am sure that the new development team can resolve all of these issues and introduce a lot of new features, to make LightWave as powerful as it always was.