Speed is the key to modo 202, the newest edition of Luxology’s 3D modeling, painting and rendering software, which is now available for purchase. In addition to boasting a peak rendering speed more than 40% faster than modo 201, the update promises to enhance workflow with performance gains, tool improvements and innovative extensions to its overall toolset. Luxology representatives are currently at SIGGRAPH in Boston demonstrating modo 202 at the ATI booth (#1513). The release is also available to artist for hands-on trials in the Guerilla Studio at the computer graphics show, and video presentations that can be downloaded from the Luxology website at www.modo3d.com.
Rendering workflow with modo 202 is streamlined by improvements to the render window, including convenient ways to interactively adjust gamma display and flip between ten images for render review. The render window now provides an editable Limited Region control for quickly rendering a specific portion of the image. In addition, the release is designed to provide faster, more accurate image map re-sampling and improvements in global illumination quality and performance.
Other enhancements include a new create SubDiv option for the popular Pen tool, a thicken tool for adding inner or outer thickness to geometry, and a new object-to-object baking capability that captures the surface detail of a complex object and automatically applies it to a simpler object for real-time applications. In addition, the interactive UV relax feature with pinning capability is designed to simplify the process of untangling overlapping UVs. Painting workflow is addressed with a visible image ink display mode which lets artists place an image over a model and brush that image onto said model. Support for Autodesk FBX and X3D formats are also extended for expanded interoperability with other 3D applications, including Autodesk’s 3ds Max and Maya.
Available now for both the Windows and Mac OSX platforms, modo 202 is retails for $895. Current modo 201 users can upgrade free of charge and users with earlier versions of modo can upgrade directly to modo 202 for $395. A free 30-day full-featured evaluation version can be downloaded from www.modo3d.com.
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