With that said, the Node Editor can help you take
your textures and surfaces to the next level.
LightWave??™s surfacing has been a layer-based system up until now. This system is still in
place, but with the Node Editor, the rules have changed. Node-based texturing is found
in many high-end 3D applications, because it allows you to create custom shaders, mix
and match various surface properties, and much more. Unlike a layer-based system, the
node-based system is like a network. Everything can connect and interact, from a simple
surface to advanced materials. This next section will get you up and running with the
Node Editor. Later in the book, you??™ll create more advanced node-based surfaces. One last
thing before the project: Although we??™re discussing the Node Editor here in the chapter
about surfaces, you should know that the Node Editor also exists for volumetric lighting
and deformations. Of course, you??™ll use these within the project chapters as well.
Note
1. In Layout, save any work you??™ve done. Then, open the NodeBasic scene from the
book??™s DVD in the ???\Projects\Scenes\CH3\??? directory. Press F5 to open the
Surface Editor.
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