Newbie considering Modo...

#1

Hi there,
I am relatively new to 3D and have been using Lightwave for about the last 6 months and haven’t really had much opportunity to get into modelling much. But now I want to learn and rather than know 5 apps poorly, I’d like to get to know an app inside out. Do you think its worth learning Modo as my primary tool and I must admit ZBrush looks awesome but to be honest I dont understand where it fits in with modelling. But I guess thats for a different forum.
Anyways as a person wanting to dive into Modo, would you guys recommend it?
thanks for any advice.
Sorry if this seems like a studid question.
-Ross

#2

Like you I have toyed around with LW for a while but didn’t really get behind it. I somehow couldn’t get it to work for me. I had almost instant success using modo. I think the workflow is just right for me and made it easy for me to pick up modeling. Now that I have used modo for a while I actually understand LW Modeler much better (too late mind you). I am also using Zbrush for now about a year and I use it to add detail to models and texture them. I start in modo do the modeling and import into Zbrush and add detail then export the model and displacement map etc to render in LW. Works fine.

Yes, I would recommend modo. I would buy it again.

#3

hmmmmmmm well if lightwave modeler didn’t work for you hmmm - i would say they are very similar - modo is kinda like a really up to date lw modeler - i admit i’ve gone out of my way to make it more like lw but thats jsut binding keys to where i’m used to them but on a basic level the workflow is pretty much the same

i’d mess around abit more with lightwave modeler since you already have it and if you like it grab modo you wont be disapointed

#4

Hello There,
If you have Lightwave and can’t afford the extra expense I recommend that you stay with LW for the time being. Its a great package. If you have the cash purchase it, I would agree that since I have modo ( two weeks now) I am seeing LW in a different light and going oh so thats how that is ment to work.
Its more intuitive, from a seeing and doing perspective, rather that doing and seeing later how a fall off of other deformation would happen.

So from that point of view modo is actually jaw droppingly great fun. But like all sofware good and bad. You have to work at it. You will get back what you put in.

So keep reading and see what others have to say. :slight_smile:

#5

You’re a newbie and have a great modeler already, but you’re thinking about throwing $700 at a program that shares many qualities of the modeler you have already? If Luxology isn’t willing to put out a demo, it seems like quite a gamble on your part. My suggestion is to try something totally different, like XSI (cheaper) or Maya (personal learning edition) to see if their workflow or menus work for you. Or try Silo, for a fully functioning demo, and only $109 if you decide to buy. There is also a host of learning material available for free from the other packages, so maybe seeing someone else work a program can help with your learning curve.

It’s a lot of money to gamble or give faith to a new company which hasn’t stated any upgrade paths pricing nor is willing to have a demo at this time. Caveat emptor.

When a demo does finally come out, you might be able to make a more informed purchase.

#6

well company maybe is new but these guys were part of lightwave team, people who make modo is quite known in industry. i use modo for long time and i personally love it, i already personalized modo for my own needs. And works great for me. And i do use it for projects. Modo as a pure modeler offers more than modelling like morphs and morph targets and falloffs. If you want a simplistic highend modeler , modo is for you.
and there is always wings3d for free if you are a newbie (you can donate them if you want) , which is a great modeler too, but cannot meet modo in many ways.

#7

I’m with Kursad on this one.

I originally looked into modo out of interest. Now I couldn’t imagine working without it. That’s the great thing about modo. You can either customize yourself to suit modo, or customize modo to suit you.

I’m already starting to take features in modo for granted. Now I can’t be bothered to model in other apps because its too much effort :stuck_out_tongue:

#8

I’d recommend learning the basic modeling moves and concepts using Lightwave first and focus on the tools you have. Folks have used LW’s modeler for years with success before Modo’s arrival. Save your money until your chops are developed enough that you can justify the $700 expenditure for another modeling ap.

#9

If Lightwave’s modeling style doesn’t suit you, there’s always Silo or Cinema4D 9. Both are very good for poly/subD modeling.

#10

it all depends on your needs. If you are a newbie you can even use blender , which an awesome piece of software or wings3d. If you are student , lux guys offer great deal of price. If you area professional modo can justify the amount paid, but that depends on where you are from on this world, due to currencies and different work enviroments.
as far as i know lux guys, they are dedicated to their cause of developing artist friendly (knock on the wood) software, and i trust this intuition from what i saw in modo.
For smooth flowing modelling session you just need couple of modelling tools really. Seriously just couple maybe 5 6 of them. And most of the software actually all of them offers those including lightwave. it is just about how they operate and the interface.
also additional features like macros help for example. I solved most of my needs just by recording and editing macros in modo.

#11

Modo is the most awesome modeller ever (this is a very biased statement). With that out of the way I would NOT recommend modo to a newbie. Modo is very expensive and you may not like it at all. You don’t have preferences or a distinct modelling style right now so you should try different modellers that you can use before going out and spending $700 on something you may hate. Try blender, wings, spend more time with lightwave’s modeller, etc.

#12

Modo is easier, more intuitive, and more powerful than Lightwave’s modeler. You can tweak and bend edges in modo, and stiffen/weight edges. It’s fantastic.

Go get it!

#13

I personally made up my mind,I’m buying!

I’m sure it will be the perfect companion for my main application :slight_smile:

I’m not too fond on recommending an application without knowing a bit about one’s capabilities but personally,there’s no way I would’ve spent that kind of money on a modeling software only a few months after getting started.

Get wings or blender or even maybe silo.

#14

Sorry to hijack the topic, but I;m about to buy modo too and was just wondering what platform do you think would be better for me. Here’s what I’ve got. A 1.25Ghz Powerbook G4 and a dual 600Mhz PC with a Firegl 1 GFX card.

I’m really wanting to use modo on the Mac, but do you think it might be too slow? Anyone else have it running on this Powerbook?

Cheers.

#15

Nice thing is, you don’t have to choose platforms…you get both platforms when you buy modo. Should work fine on your powerbook–works okay on my 867 mhz–might slow down a bit with huge meshes, but for most stuff, you’ll be fine–just make sure you’ve got the 10.3.6. Panther update with the newer Nvidia drivers.

Peace

#16

Brilliant, just what I wanted to hear. I’ve got X.3.6. so should be sorted. Looks like I’ll be in modo land soon :slight_smile:

Cheers

#17

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