modo Tutorials

Throughout these lessons we'll delve into the animated growth of a tree branch as a time-lapse video. We'll learn everything from modeling, texturing and shading to the animation and final compositing. By the end of this tutorial, you'll have a better understanding of how you can employ efficient and productive techniques for a time-lapse video that can be used when up against a tight deadline.

While this series of tutorials is not a step-by-step guide, they instead offer an in-depth look at the key aspects of production that goes into creating realistic-looking shots that would otherwise be difficult to shoot without the aid of computer graphics. These tutorials will cover everything from the concept sketches and visualization to modeling, texturing, rigging, animation, rendering and final compositing of the photorealistic shots. While the tools used in this series of tutorials are primarily Maya and modo, the techniques discussed are easily applicable to other mainstream applications.

Throughout this course, we'll explore some of those uses like using fur to great different types of grass for your scene. We'll also create tendrils and spines by altering some of our fur material settings. We'll build an energy burst or fireworks explosion using fur and we'll also build a nice thick carpet for our interior scenes. In addition, we'll look at how we can utilize the built in uvs created for the fur to map images onto them, creating sprites that we can use for trees, bushes, or any number of applications. Finally, we'll use fur to add some feathers to a bird character, complete with color and transparency maps. By looking at some of the alternate uses for fur, hopefully you'll get some new ideas of how you can integrate fur creatively into your workflow.

Fur is a great addition to the already robust modo toolset that will allow you to quickly add realistic fur detail to organic models in a variety of configurations. In addition to adding things like facial stubble or animal fur, you can also create grass, spines, or any number of organic shapes. To get you started using fur, we'll go over the fur material and many of the properties you'll need to set to get the look you want. We'll also cover methods for modulating fur properties using layers in the shader tree. We'll look at how we can style fur using texture maps as well as techniques for styling longer hair with guides. We'll use a couple of simple examples, a tennis ball and a little monster, to illustrate some of the basic things you'll want to know when starting out using fur. When you're done, you'll be able to start using fur in a variety of ways on your own modo projects.

Through these lessons we will explore features such as blurry reflections and refractions, and how we can gain a high level of control over each of these, we will also discuss the new Shadow Catcher feature, which provides for a much easier way of rendering our scenes over a background plate. In addition we will be learning about new features such as volumetric lighting effects, caustic and dispersion calculations, utilizing multiple environments, and other rendering features now found in modo 401.

One of the strengths of modo is modeling and it really offers a wide variety of tools that allow us to build models quickly and efficiently. With modo 401 that toolset has been expanded even more. In this course we'll take a look at some of the additions that will make retopology operations easier. We'll explore the use of the vector background constraint to deform geometry. We'll cover the rendering of curves and how we can use the Pen tool to create floorplans. We'll also look at how to use profile curves in combination with many of the modeling tools to quickly add complex geometry.

Whether you're populating a library with books, creating an insect stampede, or building your own corn field, replicators are great tools for dispersing a huge number of objects throughout your scene, while still allowing you to work effectively. These replicas won't be displayed in your 3d view, but will render with all of their shading and material information. In this course, we'll cover the basics of replicas and how they're different from mesh items and instances. Then using a desert scene as our example, we'll look at replicator items and how to set them up. We'll also cover methods for randomizing the transforms of the replicas and using surface generators. We'll also explore a few methods for modulating the placement of our replicas. Upon completion, you'll have a good understanding of replicas and you'll be able to put them to use in your own modo projects.

Popular highlights include: Creating Light-tight Geometry; Re-using Geometry; Modeling with Curves; Using Element Move to Shape Geometry; Sculpting Organic Shapes; Painting Bump Maps; Adding Materials; UV Mapping; Adding Images as Textures; Tightening Edges with Loop Slice; Cutting / Pasting Geometry; Efficiently Combining Geometry; Creating Worn / Used Look; Using Deformers; Shaping with Falloffs and Transforms; Geometry Selection; Beveling Edges for Seams; Bridge Tool to Create New Geometry; Starting with Primitives; Organizing Mesh Items; Blending Texture Layers.

Popular highlights include: Modeling Tools Overview; Working with Mesh Items; Copying / Pasting Geometry; Selection Methods; Beveling Polygons and Edges; Adding Edge Loops; Backdrop Images for Reference; Creating Geometry with Curves; Joining Geometry; Reusing Geometry; Modeling with Deformers; Shaping Objects with Element Move; Combining Falloffs and Transforms; Working with Symmetry; Mirroring Geometry; Extruding Geometry Along Curves; Flex Tool; Modeling with Primitives; Extruding Polygons; Adding Geometry with Edge Extend; Creating Fitted Panels; Cloning Geometry Along Curves; Adding Edges with Edge Slice; Placing Geometry with Mesh Paint; Adding Materials; Rendering with HDRI.

Popular highlights include: Interface Overview; Customizing the Interface; Navigating 3D Viewport; Modeling Tools; Mesh Sculpting; Image-based Sculpting; Slicing Geometry; Smoothing Meshes; Combining Geometry; Setting Keyframes; Editing keyframes with Graph Editor; Blending Texture Layers; Utilizing Materials; Light Setup; Global Illumination; Subsurface Scattering; Adjusting Render Settings; Rendering Multiple Passes; Cloning Meshes; Working With Mesh Items; Bevel Tool; 3D Painting; Texture Layers for Effects; UV Layout; Morph Maps; Creating Images Inside modo; Using Solid Sketch.

Popular highlights include: Look Development; Exaggerated Proportions; Adding Appeal; Mesh Sculpting; Image-based Sculpting; Vector Displacement; Painting Textures in modo; Utilizing Shader Tree; Global Illumination; Constraining to Background; Copying/Pasting Polygons; Reusing Geometry; SDS Subdivide; Sub-D Modeling Tools; Morph Maps for Facial Expressions; Deformers; Combining Falloffs and other Tools; Combining Images with Effects in Shader Tree; Organizing Item List; Pen Tool; Loop Slice; Mirroring Geometry; Modeling with Symmetry; Element Move; Selection Methods; Edit/Delete Message.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Using Record OpenGl to Movie for previewing our animation ; Creating a quick turntable preview movie ; Changing viewport settings to create a wireframe preview. To learn more about modo check out Introduction to modo, a complete guide to learning a time-saving workflow to automotive modeling and a multitude of modeling tools and techniques.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Examining the broken link warning; Relinking textures by replacing them; Reloading textures. To learn more about modeling in modo check out Modeling Automotive Interiors in modo, a complete guide to learning automotive interior modeling and a multitude of modeling techniques that can be used for organic and hard-surface projects.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Activating the tools; Using handles to specify measurement parameters; Setting fixed values for measurement. To learn more about the tools available in modo check out Introduction to modo, a complete guide to learning a time-saving workflow to automotive modeling and a multitude of modeling tools and techniques.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Selecting polygon loops quickly; Assigning materials; Using the Bend and Twist deformers. To learn more about modo check out Introduction to modo, a complete guide to learning a time-saving workflow to automotive modeling and a multitude of modeling tools and techniques.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Learning how to change the Action Center ; Creating a Pivot Point ; Using Pivot Points and Action Centers together. For an in-depth guide to modeling in modo check out Modeling Automotive Interiors in modo, a complete guide to learning automotive interior modeling and a multitude of modeling techniques that can be used for organic and hard-surface projects.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Creating the gradient layer; Editing gradients; Setting input parameters. For a comprehensive guide to modeling in modo, check out Introduction to Modeling in modo, an in-depth resource that provides a multitude of modeling tools and techniques for use in film, games, and design.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Utilizing symmetry ; Learning how to use the Curve Extrude tool; Exploring the PathSteps Generator; Using the Sketch Extrude tool . For a complete overview of modo check out Introduction to modo, a complete guide to learning a time-saving workflow to automotive modeling and a multitude of modeling tools and techniques.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Using Geometry to Brush ; Accessing and using the new brush ; Changing paintbrush settings. To learn more about the tools available in modo check out Introduction to modo, a complete guide to learning a time-saving workflow to automotive modeling and a multitude of modeling tools and techniques.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Painting objects with Mesh Paint strokes ; Learning how to change Mesh Paint settings ; Using the Slide mode to place individual objects. To learn more about the tools available in modo check out Introduction to modo, a complete guide to learning a time-saving workflow to automotive modeling and a multitude of modeling tools and techniques.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Adding the Process layer; Modifying the Process settings; Changing the visibility of the layer. For an in-depth overview of modo check out Introduction to Modeling in modo, a comprehensive guide to learning workflows, tools, and techniques to modeling in modo.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Cloning along curves ; Scattering clones randomly ; Creating arrays of objects. To learn more about modo check out Creating Cartoon Characters in modo, a complete guide to developing stylized organic characters.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Adding falloffs ; Changing falloff settings ; Combining falloffs with tools to create deformers. Discover a multitude of modeling, sculpting, painting, and rendering techniques with the modo Bundle, an artist-friendly resource to learning modo.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Accessing the Info & Statistics window; Viewing the various components ; Finding non-quad faces. Discover a multitude of modeling, sculpting, painting, and rendering techniques with the modo Bundle, an artist-friendly resource to learning modo.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Various methods of saving the scene ; Learning how to save textures ; Working with Autosave. To learn more about modo check out Introduction to modo, a complete guide to learning a time-saving workflow to automotive modeling and a multitude of modeling tools and techniques.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Adding new texture files; Layering textures in the Shader Tree; Using the Text Brush. To learn more about modo check out Introduction to modo, a complete guide to learning a time-saving workflow to automotive modeling and a multitude of modeling tools and techniques.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Modifying viewport settings; Creating a new Tabbed Viewport; Adding Tabs to a Tabbed Viewport. To learn more about modo check out Introduction to modo, a complete guide to learning a time-saving workflow to automotive modeling and a multitude of modeling tools and techniques.

Topics covered in this tutorial: Using extrude to add geometry ; Using Shift, Inset, and Bevel ; Extruding and extending edges. For an in-depth guide to modeling in modo check out Modeling Automotive Interiors in modo, a complete guide to learning automotive interior modeling and a multitude of modeling techniques that can be used for organic and hard-surface projects.