I’m seriously considering getting Modo. I’ve been working with LW for about a year now and I still haven’t mastered the modeling.
I downloaded a demo of Silo of the edge selection was new to me but it was very useful and gave me a little more control. That’s why I was looking at Modo primarily…edge selection over LW but more features than Silo.
I just didn’t know if there were any glaring omissions that would make it lesser than LW modeler.
Any recommendations from LW users?
thanks
Modo is a great product. It has little enhancements that make modeling so much easier. Not to mention MUCH better openGL support than does LW.
If you have specific questions - ask away . . .
Well if you have LW don’t worry about it. Modo can save out .lwo files and if there’s a feature it’s missing just load the model in LW and work on it there for a while then load it back into modo. I just did that for a model - I needed some random cloning, Modo doesn’t have what I want so I used pointclone+ in LW.
On the whole I’ve used LW for darn near 10 years. I bought Modo as soon as it came out and have been using it since. When I went into LW today to do the pointclone+ thing I swear I’d forgotten how to use it. Features are one thing but in terms of a ‘way of working’ Modo is so much better IMO. It’s not something I can really explain, but going back to LW for a moment was a real eye opener for me.
-Greg
As a very longtime LW user, Modo is money well spent.
The program is very richly featured, and there are a ton of very useful tools that LW lacks. The first service update is supposedly to be released next week on the 20th. It adds a very large helping of goodness to an already slick program.
As a LW user, it is even better since most of what you already know doesn’t need to be relearned.
Personally I just flat out think it is a superior modeling application to LW’s native modeler, and that is pretty good for a first release.
thanks everyone for your advice. I guess workflow is what I’m ultimately looking for. I don’t feel like I can work quickly with LW like I can with Photoshop and other apps I’ve been working in for a while. I love LW but I still feel like I’m tip-toeing when I’m building an object.
The selection tools and edge tools in Modo look like they would be very valuable to me.
thanks again everyone. I think I’ll take the plunge 
Hey Littlefive,
I just took the plunge myself and the water’s fine!
By the way, I live in Candler Park ( Lake Claire), so if you ever want to hook up …
Just to add another perspective. As a user of both Modo and LW I must say that the overall workflow is improved in Modo but for me, the modelling hasn’t changed that much. If you can model great looking models and have a the great feel for edgeloops etc. but you feel it’s taking too long in LW due to workaround or some of the modo tools would greatly enhance your modelling… then by all means, go for it… If not, and your hoping for it to be a one-stop-shop to mastering modelling then I say save you money. It’s basically the same modelling paradigm with new packaging… yes, and some new tools that are great… and an interface that rocks… and great feedback in the ogl… but for some godd#!n reason, my models aren’t looking that different… they’re still just “friggin’ sweet” :D)
We used to live in Candler Park (right down the street from Flying Biscuit) but we now live in East Point. I’m sending you a PM on contact details
TRENCH: I feel the first part of your comment applies to me. I really don’t expect Modo have ‘1 button effects’ or instant modeling. Working with edges/selections (in Silo) has made workflow much smoother and natural for me. Plus little demos like the Bend tool seem to allow more control than LW. I’m just a little hesitant (the reason for this post) because I didn’t know if Modo lacks a lot of features in LW that I find handy like BandSaw, BandGlue, Align/Distribute tools, etc.
If it has pretty much everything LW Modeler has with a better interface and some refined and new tools, I’ll do it
I’m not sure what people expected, but I sure wasn’t expect revolutionary. There just isn;t room for revolutionary anymore unless there is a neural interface tha allows you to think a model onto your screen.
ALL programs are going to add points/polys/vertex on screen. The difference is HOW you do it and how intelligent the tools are.
Honestly to me Modo seems like LW 9.0. Everything I know is there. Everything I am used to is where I am used to it being for the most part.
But now I have edge tools, interactive bevel tools, axis plane tools etc. that LW doesn’t have. The workflow improvement is phenomenal.
For me, the best is not having to deal with some of LW’s bugs that haven’t been addressed since ver 6 came out like the occasional crash on save. Well known bug, been around for ages. If you crash on save, you model is corrupted and unretrievable. Unless you are using HUB auto save functions. And a lot of people don’t because the HUB is evil.
I like not worrying about that one. (I lost a HUGE model to this once and I carry a grudge a long time)
I like being able to step through and back with various levels of sub division. I wish LW could do it this easily.
The bevel and edge tools alone were more than enough to justify the cost for me. Although I thought I would really miss Vertibevel, the ability in Modo to see the results of a bevel as I drag the manipulator is a HUGE time savings.
And although it isn;t perfect, Modo’s Boolean math is far superior to LW.
I tried boolen operations that would give LW fits, took the same model into Modo, did the same boolean, and got very neat clean geometry with almost zero clean up.
I have found the same with modo booleans - they do seem to produce less errors than LW’s ones.
I have certainly seen foul ups in Modo, I’m not saying it is perfect. I’m just pointing out that comparing the same tasks between the two, same model, same boolean, Modo handles the task better.
In general, performing the same tasks, it is clear that although not perfect, Modo’s boolean math is better.
As long as it increases the speed that i can complete a project in, then I’m all for it.
On another note, I had a project I was working on in LW, an F-117 stealth plane. Rounder did a decent job of making neat rounded edges, but Rounder frequently throws out totally BS error messages on perfectly good points, or occassionally weird contours that need major repair. Rounder certainly made the job a whole lot easier, even with it’s quirks.
I redid the model in Modo, using the same primitive model with sharp edges that I had previously saved, and used Modo’s edge tools to do the rounding on the edges where I had used Rounder in LW. I have to admit I was pretty impressed with the speed increase in Modo, andf like beve4ling, I can drag the manipulator (not sure if Lux actually uses the term manipulator, but it is in Maya) and see how much rounding and divisions I am making, and change them on the fly without committing, then having to undo and do it again if I didn’t like what I did the first time.
Those kinds of time savings and instant feedback when you are modeling are points I consider essential.
Booleans in modo are far from perfect or good in IMO, they create unwanted edges, whereas Maya booleans dont(last time i check Maya 4.0). But if you want good example of good booleans:
http://www.npowersoftware.com/booleans/learnmorePB.html
Knowing Luxology mind set im sure they would improve booleans in the near future.
I forgot to ask but…
can Modo do splines and are the drawing tools (pen, bezier) good? Couldn’t find anything on the Luxology site
thanks
Yes to all of the above. It does splines well. The Pen tool is very similar to LW’s Modeler, but it’s “modoized” a little - using it with the Show Indices option on is great as you can see the Index Number of each point as you draw. The Bezier tool is great as well.
Just buy the damn thing already…it’s great fun, and a wonderful addition to the LW & Maya toolsets. It’s the ultimate modeling “plug-in”.
Plus v102 is a free update with some great enhancements. I’ve enjoyed using Modo so much at work, that I’m saving to purchase it for my home use. Considering that LW is currently two programs, Layout & Modeler, think of Modo as the replacement for Modeler.
Ahem…
Thank you for ordering from Luxology.com!
As a convenience to our loyal customers you may download modo and a temporary
license key now so that you can begin working with modo immediately.When we have processed and shipped your order you will receive an email with
information about obtaining your permanent license file. The temporary download
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inline help system will present the text help pages, but all video links will be
disabled until you install the materials from the modo DVD.Welcome to the Luxology community!
Heh! Welcome to the club! (Although I suspect you’re probably too busy playing with modo to read this now…) 
after messing around with it for a few hours I can already see this becoming my primary modeler. It just feels more intuitive
Everything is located in easy to find places and I don’t have to jump back and forth through a lot of tabs or dialog windows. Now if I can talk them into getting it at work 
thanks again everyone for your enthusiastic but realistic recommendations