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MODO for CINEMA 4D Artists

by Justin Marshall

MODO is a very powerful and flexible 3D application. In this series of lessons, we'll learn to work in MODO from the perspective of a CINEMA 4D artist.

What you'll learn

MODO is a very powerful and flexible 3D application. Even if you're primarily a CINEMA 4D artist, MODO can be a great tool to add to your arsenal. MODO has a number of strengths that can be leveraged in your pipeline, but transitioning to a new piece of software can sometimes be daunting. In this series of lessons, we'll learn to work in MODO from the perspective of a CINEMA 4D artist. We'll start by discussing the interface and learn how the different areas correspond to the familiar CINEMA 4D interface. We'll continue by learning to navigate the 3D view, learn some common hotkeys, and learn how to change MODO's navigation to match the CINEMA 4D navigation that we're used to. Next, we'll learn about how MODO deals with objects, specifically the difference between mesh items and components, and how we can move geometry around within those items. Next up will be working with tools in MODO--how to apply those tools and an explanation of the very flexible Tool Pipe. We'll also cover the use of Action Centers and Falloffs to really customize how our tools affect models across their surfaces. We'll learn about MODO's Shader Tree and how we can use this layer-based workflow to add materials and textures to our scenes. We'll also cover creating renders in MODO and using the Preview Viewport to quickly develop the look of our scenes. We'll finish up by learning the basics of animation from a MODO perspective, and talk about moving files between MODO and CINEMA 4D. Once we're done, you'll have a much better idea of the differences and similarities between CINEMA 4D and MODO and will be able to start using the strengths of MODO as you integrate it into your CINEMA 4D pipeline.

About the author

Justin thrives as a lead modeling author at Pluralsight. Growing up, Justin found a deep interest for the computer graphics industry after watching movies like Jurassic Park, Toy Story, and The Abyss. His ambition would lead him to work at Sony Imageworks in Los Angeles on movies like Monster House and Surf's Up. Justin has also had numerous articles, tutorials, and images published in 3D World and 3D Artist. As an author, Justin enjoys collaborating with fellow authors, especially on project... more

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