Spline modeling in Modo 501

#1

My friends,

I’m playing around with the 501 demo and can’t seem to find a way to model with splines like I can with 3dsMax. As far as I can tell it’s impossible to draw out a molding profile with sharp corners and bezier curves in the same spline. I watched one tutorial on youtube where the guy preferred to create his molding profile in Illustrator rather than modo.

Am I missing something? I hope not. I would love to switch over to modo for my main 3D app but this seriously put a damper on that idea. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

#2

Yes.

First (to make sure these instructions work!), start modo, choose Layout > Layouts > 501 Layout. Click on the Model Tab.
Next, press Ctrl Space, a Pie Menu should open, choose Front view.
Choose Geometry > Curve Palette, click on Bezier curve, LMB Click to draw points, LMB Drag to draw out handles, hold Ctrl and drag a handle to create a sharp corner.
Hit Space Bar to drop the tool.
Press Ctrl Space and choose Perspective from the Pie Menu.

To do the Equivalent of a Lathe NURBS:
Choose Geometry > Duplicate > Radial Sweep, LMB click in the Viewport to activate the tool, set count to 24, axis to Y.

BTW The modo training series videos are excellent, but you have to pay for these.
The Sunglasses one provides a great introduction, as it covers the UI and main keyboard shortcuts and gives you a good idea of why modo is such a good modeling tool.
There are however a number of free ones on modo TV.

#3

For free tutorials on modo check out the Luxology TV section of Luxology’s website, which is to be found under the community tab:

Luxology TV

#4

Modo does not support NURBS, but it should import them from 3rd party apps. Its possible to load blueprints. But those vectors are converted to poly objects.

Modo is focused on Sub-D modeling. Its a differtent workflow, i admit that, but it has it’s advantages. To create and control edges more elaborate, have a look into edge weighting, p-subs and falloffs. there are many examples in the free community tutorials (luxology.tv) that might give a good start.

you can’t compare modo to apps like maya, cinema or max at this moment. animation isn’t as mature as i’d like it, not fluid and volume rendering at the moment and physics are only available as a plugin.

it’s a great tool vor stills and visualiziation as it is.

#5

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