warprat

Hello all, I just popped by the luxology site and had a look at the gallery. Are those all MODO renderings, You can achieve that sort of quality just with MODO?THat's almost Maxwell or vray quality. Is it just radiosity? Cos if you can achieve that sort of quality from MODO alone well I'm interested..... hehehe.....

Cheers all.

wda

I know for sure the Faucet by Paul Hammel was rendered with 202 or at least a version to test rendering in 202 that is of that quality...if not that exact image.

To be quite honest all the images on the front page of the gallery very well could be or have been rendered by Modo. You can get some kick ass quality renders pretty easy so far from what I've seen and experienced. Haven't done any direct side by side test of Modo with C4D or Max/MR. Time and quality wise Modo seems to hold it's own.

Even if it would be a touch longer the progressive render "view port" can give you a lot of close to real time feedback on how the render will actually look- full GI, displacements, materials environment. Actual Rendered output that takes say a good 45 minutes high quality at 1200x900 can be rendered at 1/2-3/4 of that resolution to somehing that approaches 80-90% of the final renders quality in 2-5 minutes depending upon the irradiance ray depth. Within 15-30 secs materials/ maps are of a quality to get a good feel for it and make adjustments. Overall GI and lighting are not far behind....it's progressive. Seems to get you closer to a high quality end result faster, certianly than rendering indivudal frames per tweak/s. It's a different feel and workflow...kind of like XSI's Mental Ray viewport rendering if your familar with that.

Much of Modo's benefits for ArchViz and CG in general are like that, hidden below the surface in the workflow. It really shows and Luxology really shows it off for SubD work, charactors, sci-fi creations soft and hard surface. It's not so publicly displayed for ArchViz...even so where Modo shines for that kind of work many of us using it for ArchViz realize many of the same benefits built into Modo...by the 'Artisits' developing for other artists on the Luxology Modo Team.

Obviously personal preferences and results will vary!
WDA

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From the calm seas.... Into the CG Fire...... Into the Heart of Texas

4d-infinite

nice to see someone using modo for arch viz.

Yes, modo does amazing renderings. that's for sure.

I bought modo as a first serious 3d software back in May and have been using it to gradually build up my portfolio, hoping this to develop into my freelance job.

Not too sure if I should stick to this or switch to max.

wda, where does modo fit into your work flow?

wda

Typically use Modo to model just about everything. Right now the biggest problem I have, most of my work is animation or final output has to be C4D. The paid jobs have been product/logo & archviz animations for commercial TV. Most of the stills are C4D output, with work as a teamleader in the PixelCorps, oversimplified, doing conceptual ArchViz for a project of a "Grand" scale...quite interesting and very challenging actually C4D is the 'common' 3D package for the team members scattered through out North Amercia and Europe. Very interesting ... challenging

Have used Modo to model everything from animated morph targets of potato chips and bag to Luxury Condos for the commercial work. Even Modo for UV work, simply the cleanest and easiest workflow for that around.
The pixel corps team work is all about modeling right now. Iterations of presentation and feedback from the client in regular fixed time frames. Modo allows me to get that extra level of detial and complexity that really expresses concepts, especially using glass. Both on a large scale and ideas that are more 'free form'.

Well that's Modo in my workflow. Max is in there too. Actually prefer Mental Ray over most render engines. Max for ArchViz while not "essential" for freelance is certianly very advantages for full time employment as a "general" statement. Sorry I can't offer any really defined advice other than it comes down to how much money you have to throw at applications and support the upgrade paths. Modo is an investment in the future and Max is really a fairly sure thing for ArchViz. Max being part of AutoDesk's integrated pipeline, now with Maya and MotionBuilder (Alias tools), the potential to seamlessly work with the greatest number of clients & applications in and outside of ArchViz certianly is a consideration.

LOL I struggle with all of the application chioces too. The most important thing to learn is workflow. Not of a specific application but how vertices make edges, edges make polygons and the difficulties with manipulating them...most find that all major 3D packages work pretty much the same and everythinng after that becomes personal or porffessional chioce Of course that basic level of thinking applies to lighting, texturing, UV mapping and even render engines to varied degrees.

Hope that doesn't muddy the waters for you...too much
WDA

__________________
From the calm seas.... Into the CG Fire...... Into the Heart of Texas

d.sign

Thanks WDA for such usefull insight on Modo.
I can add couple of words. I also was attracted by Modo gallery and downloaded the eval copy to try to test it...
I can offer you couple of observations, different than you can hear from someone more experience with that software. Personally, I also like to hear from other people their honest opinions on Modo, cause I have to decide soon to buy it or not.
But here is couple of points that I can make after taking really short time to play with it.
1. It could be difficult for Max user, as completelly oriented toward such packages as Lightwawe or Maya... Yes, as WDA said, basic concepts are the same, but completelly different way of work could be obstacle in matter of time you need to invest (and time is money) to learn it.
2. As for the images you saw on the gallery, I suggest you check out the forums and you will see lot more of them, there is also image diary which is put on the forum by company president himself, lot of good stuff. You can be sure that all is done with modo. Is it possible? Yes, it is and I can personally confirm that Modo render engine is solid base for great render in near future, I tried some scenes, it is fast and clean, close to even Vray for such matters and there is one more dimension added - kick-ass textures done with modo also.
3. So, what is the problem? I do not know, still it seem like an investment for the future, not for right now, still need to develop some things. First, their attention to archviz is really recent not that they build the tool for that. But some guys use it for archviz and make great job with it. But what is strange about it, to me at least, is that you have there one really nice and warm community, helpfull and giving, but kind of introvert. I mean, they do not come here or at some other sites and put images everywhere, like most of Max users ussually do.
That is probably the main problem for me, beside the fact that I need more time to learn it than some Lightwawe user. The Modo is quite hidden to the archviz 3d community that mostly lean on Max. All the tutorials, products, all the plugins, all the entourage stuff, all the models you can buy, all for Max, Viz, Vray, Maya, C4D and even XSI, but no one mentiones Modo. And the potentiall of Modo is bigger than that of XSI even bigger than C4D. For instance, some of evermotion products is described as compatible with quite a long list of products, some of them you never heard of, but not Modo...
Why...? My guess would be that Modo is new thing still, new with render at least, and orientation toward different kind of work have made it hidden to us archviz people till recently. Also, being oriented toward package and logo design viz and charather modeling, they make it much closer to the MAC owners, Lightwawe and Maya users as part of their workflow, unlike Max where you can do all the work.
4. So, to conclude, I may say that I have high hopes for it and for that price it is great piece of software, and that is not to compare with Max, which is actually package with ten or more packages and dosen plugins integrated, hence the price is not afordable to freelancers with incomes like mine.
If you buy Modo, you will need time to learn it, but you will get great support from company and user community. On the other hand, you may stay isolated from mainstream archviz community which is ruled by Autodesk and
be a bit scared of the day when one of the big sharks in industry get their hands on Modo. But if I buy it and get as good as I am with Max (I hope better), I will surelly promote the product everywhere with my work.

wda

different way of work could be obstacle in matter of time you need to invest (and time is money) to learn it.
It take time to save time I started using Modo as a road into charactor, organic work...and quickly realized a 10-15% increase in productivity for much of my hardsurface modeling.
this is the project that got me hooked on Modo...image attached. I just said no I won't use Max to model and really didn't. But when I had to make changes in Max once the model was textured the cameras set up for the animation....My only comment was never again in Max, at least not by choice Acutally using Modo has made me a much better modeler and working in a Max only environment isn't that bad.
I've said it before "individual results will vary"
WDA

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From the calm seas.... Into the CG Fire...... Into the Heart of Texas

d.sign

WDA, great job with the modeling! Yes, you are right about that, I do not doubt that Modo is great modeller, better than Max, just said that I would need some time to get to really work efficient with it.
I tried some furniture modelling and it was instantly better than Max, but it takes time to switch to different way of work. To be honest,it took me years to get to this productivity level in Max. And I sure want to make it better. I hope to be faster with Modo. Also hope that I could use it as main tool and make complete projects with it...
I just think that you may hear form some Lightwawe users that they have worked with Modo right away when installed it. Honestly, I think that Max users could not get it so easy... But as WDA said it is individuall... For instance, I picked up the Rhino modeling for a day, before I even start to model with Max. And for Max, well took much more time...

rockmed

Here are some modo renders...

rockmed

AJLynn

Very nice. Your work? I recognize that classroom scene from demo shots. I the back of the classroom, there's a panel that cuts through the sunlight on the wall. Looks a bit odd. Is it actually a self-illuminated plane? Or is that just the shadow messing with me?