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***** I want to buy a complimenting software **** Do You Use Modo? ****

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#1

Hey Everyone,

I’m really interested in expanding my 3D capabilities, and I feel like Modo might be the best addition to my arsenal.

This is this stuff I’d like to do - Out of the Modo gallery - This and this.

I’ve been looking at Modo.
I’m very interested in Architectural, Automotive and Product Design.

Do any of you have experience with this program, or is there another program you would recommend?
Do this program play nice with zbrush?
Pros / Cons?

*Mods - move this if you please, however, we both know I wont really get any answers in the other forums. Thanks for that consideration.

#2

It would probably help if you listed your current workflow and what you currently get as an end product. Also list what you hope to expand into and get as an end product by increasing your toolset; digital presentations with or without animation (renderings), product prototypes (3d printing), digital models (organic, architectural), etc… Your final outputs will help determine what tools will work best for your pipeline.

#3

MentalFrog - Thanks for taking the time to reply to my post!

My Current Tools / Workflow -

Honestly, I dont have much at my disposal.
I’m currently just modeling and rendering in zbrush, then compositing in photoshop.
Nothing fancy.

My Goals -

I would love to be able to create photorealistic renderings of architectural or automotive models.
The final output would be a hires image, that would then be use for distribution on the web, as well as large format printing for presentations and such.
I dont really see myself animating anything… At the most, I would animate a turntable of the model and make it into a flash turntable for user control on my website.
3D Printing would be nice, but thats a bit further down the road than I’m looking right now.

Ideally, I’d like to use (fill in the blank) software for creating the architectural and automotive stuff.
I’d use zbrush to create organic things, and landscape.
Then most likely use the (fill in the blank) software for the final positioning of everything, and the render.

I just feel that zbrush is more of an organic modeler for me… If I could pair it up with another modeler, and a badass rendering engine, I could create some really cool pieces I think.

Hope that helped you narrow down what I’m trying to achieve.
Corey

#4

This is the type of work I am attempting to create:

PLEASE NOTE - THIS IS NOT MY WORK

This is the FABULOUS work of Thierry Tutin - See more at www.SodaPop66.com.
Please message me to remove these images, if needed.
Though, as this is educational, I’m sure its fine :wink:

1.jpg2.jpg3.jpg4.jpg

I am so inspired by all of these renderings.
I keep reading online that Modo is the way to go for this kind of work…
But, I also feel like I read a bunch about Maxwell…

I’m totally lost… HEEELLLLPPP

#5

Hello coreyschroeder,
Maxwell is still a pure biased / unbiased rendering engine. But it benefits you so very little :slight_smile:
Modo has, as far as I know, a fine renderer on board. And in modeling it should be excellent.
Since my decision would be relatively easy :slight_smile:

I hope so, I’ve just told no nonsense.
You may correct me so. :smiley:

best regards
Jörg

p.s. Or you mean 3ds Max from Autodesk?

#6

Hi I also went through this dicision max ,maya modo .i tryed all the demos
and in the end modo was the only way to go.its modeling is so easy has all the tools you need for
your type of work .The price is also somthing to think about .
for a good render you could also use vue ,it can import any model you make
My work flow modo Zbrush vue ,blender for rigging organic modo for mecanicle.
modo also has a very good hair system.
Hope this helps a little

#7

Before even thinking of a specific Software-product for Modelling one should ask oneself Mesh or Nurbs?
Many people here will only work with Meshes, but from the images you showed it to me made a lot of sense also to look into a cheap Nurbs-Modeller such as MoI or Bonsai3D. I personally would consider many shapes on those Renderings on these Images easier doable with Nurbs than with Polys. Before investing into an expensive and feature-rich SubDivision-Modeler I would suggest to use cheaper or even free products of different categories first. Whatever you learn in these cheap or free packages is not wasted - the underlying principles re-appear comparable products with more features, in case you change later.

#8

polyxo - I’m sorry, I’m totally new to the 3d world, and not that familiar with nurb modeling. What would be the advantages/disadvantages of working in either nurbs or meshes?

I download the bonzai program. It reminds me of sketup, which I love for its simplicity.
I’ll see if I can get some cool stuff going with it, and post a pic.

Thanks for the help.
I really want to take my art to the next level this year.
I’ve sculpted everyday, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that it pays off.

#9

Corey, you’re doing great man. You just need to find whichever software suits you best and you’ll be all over it! :smiley:

#10

That’s tough to pour into a few sentences. Nurbs are an alternative Geometry Creation Paradigm, which existed long before the Subdivision Surfaces Approach was developed. Nurbs are primarily there to actually manufacture stuff, in contrast to meshes - which are very nice to work with - but just polygonal simplifications. Every Car or House and every part of your Computer has been designed in Nurbs. However - even if you don’t plan to manufacture… The workflow is very different and can in some fields be considered more straightforward. My suggestion was to look at all alternative principles to create Geometry and not only at different Products which use the same underlying Engine.

#11

polyxo - Thanks for the info! I’m definitely going to keep doing my homework, I mean, I have to, the program is sooo much money… but hopefully worth it.

So, you make it sound as if Modo doesn’t do nurbs…? how are people able to do the architectural and automotive stuff that is all over their gallery? Sorry, your original post just made it sound impossible to do this kind of work with a mesh modeler.

#12

So, you make it sound as if Modo doesn’t do nurbs…?

No, Modo does not do Nurbs. Also most other Programs used in the Entertainment-Industry do no do Nurbs or only still contain the old Nurbs- Toolset which was heavily used until Subdivision Surfaces became the way to go for Digital Content Creation. Such an example would be Maya.

how are people able to do the architectural and automotive stuff that is all over their gallery? Sorry, your original post just made it sound impossible to do this kind of work with a mesh modeler.

Well, that is an incredibly widespread misunderstanding.
One can of course model something which looks very convincingly like a Car with Meshes. But one could not actually manufacture stuff based on that Geometry: It’s only good for pretty Pictures.
Meaning that Volkswagen or GM or Toyota are certainly not using Modo, Maya, Cinema 4D or anything of that kind when actually preparing Geometry for Production. They use Programs which are based on Nurbs. While of course very interesting I wasn’t proposing to look at Nurbs for the Manufacturing Bit.
Their alternative workflow may have certain advantages in the Architectural Scenarios you posted - (Architects also mostly work with Nurbs). Programs like MoI are cheap and very easy to understand Entry-Level-General Purpose-Nurbs-Modelling-Packages. You will however also encounter many situations where working Meshes is far more straightforward.

#13

It’s just a question of if you’re going to manufacture the cars or just use them as digital models for pictures and animations. For digital pictures and animations your workflow isn’t as limiting. If you’re going to manufacture something like a car you need to focus more on the mass production, machinery assembly line etc., type of workflow. The nurbs model is designed so a computer can more easily define things like curved surfaces, e.g. an aerodynamic car hood. These can transfer the 3 dimensional model over to manufacturing machinery and techniques.

Also whatever software tools you use don’t focus so much on the tool but more on the techniques and the reason for doing things a certain way, or the why. Tools will continue to change but the fundamentals of 3d don’t really change that much if at all.

#14

Blender is free and Octane Render is only 99. Euros http://www.refractivesoftware.com/gallery.html.
Have you tried them?

Btw, in the long run you should learn Maya or Max.

#15

So, I checked out MoI - its actually a free beta for Mac, so I snagged it up last night. Unfortunately its INCREDIBLY glitchy. Its so unstable, that I uninstalled it after about an hour of really trying. Totally bummed.

I have the new blender, but haven’t really found many helpful tutorials to get me going.
It seems like the free programs are always like that.

Octane, Ive been deeply considering. Great price and great renders… I was under the impression that this was only a final render engine, and couldn’t actually create anything within it, is that correct?

I would love to learn maya, Im just not a millionaire.
I cant drop that kind of cash on a software program right now.
Modo isn’t cheap, but way cheaper than maya.

Any other software ideas, now that MoI is out?

#16

Someone told me rhino, but the website looks soooooo 1995, that is kind of sketches me out a bit, being as expensive as it is.

#17

I know it doesn’t get much love, but you could do worse than Lightwave.

#18

Just My 2 cents worth, but I would agree with sclptr. Blender is capable of doing everything you’ve indicated your interested in and now comes bundled with Cycles renderer, has some limited sculpting capabilities, soon to have B-mesh, has animation capabilities (were you to become interested in that), an excellent UV unwrap system, great procedural texturing capabilities and best of all, it’s 100% free.

Ezra

#19

I would go with modo. It is perfect for modeling and the renderer is very cool and fast. It’s modern software, updates and new versions are always a step forward and there’s a GoZ for Modo.
Onlyt pain is you don’t have VRay wortking with modo.

As for blender, the new renderer (Cycles) looks quite amazing. Perfect for starting a freelance archviz job IMO.
Also blender has its Game Engine so you can easly make an interactive walktrough, etc.

I’ve seen tons of lecture for blender, online, both free and $$. As well for Modo.

#20

I’ve actually found a lot of tutorials for Blender.

http://gryllus.net/Blender/3D.html
http://cgcookie.com/blender/get-started-with-blender/

It’s a great program and it’s pretty comparable to maya & max, considering it’s free.