LightWave 3D

LightWave 3D (NewTek) is a popular 3D package because of its easy-to-learn and efficient interface; many artists prefer it to the more technical Maya or 3DS Max. It has more powerful polygon modeling capabilities than other programs, and Lightwave introduced many concepts which have later been adopted in other packages. Its animation features are less powerful than some of the larger packages, but it is still used widely in film and broadcasting. It's particularly well known for the outstanding quality of its render engine.