What's New in Modo 15.0

MeshFusion

MeshFusion has received a major revamp in Modo 15.0, with the UI being simplified and an emphasis being placed on a viewport-centric workflow for editing models. The inclusion of new selection modes such as Auto-Select, Source Select and Edit Attributes also now allows users to directly interact with their models, making it easier than ever to just click on a patch or source mesh to edit Surface Strips and Skirts. MeshFusion's UI has also had a major overhaul, with windows and menus being simplified and compacted, making navigation easy and quicker than ever before.

Select Source Mode

Select source is a new mode in Modo 15.0, that allows you to select your source meshes in the viewport, instead of from the items list. Multiple source meshes can be selected and edited at the same time, making it easier and quicker to use MeshFusion than before.

Edit Attribute Mode

Edit Attribute is another new mode in Modo 15.0 that helps to make usability a breeze. Edit Attribute allows you to isolate and edit single strips, patches and corners, making detailed edits and detailing a much simpler task.

Edge Weighting and Zero SubDivision

MeshFusion also now supports truly accurate Edge Weighting. When used in conjunction with MeshFusion's zero subdivision functionality, this allows for traditional cage-mesh boolean operations without subdivision surfaces while also allowing you to take full advantage of MeshFusion's powerful tools such as Fusion Strips and Patches.

See MeshFusion.

Direct Modeling

Chamfer Edit Enhancements

The Chamfer Edit tool has been updated to allow the editing of rounded bevels. By ensuring that source segments are set to the same segment amount used, you are now able to change the offset, segment amount and curvature of a beveled edge with ease, making editing complex models a smoother and speedier process.

See Edge Chamfer

Cage Mode

Modo 15.0 now allows you to enable cage mode by setting the subdivision level of a mesh to zero. This UX change cuts down on the amount of mouse clicks needed before a tool is ready to use and in turns allows your workflow to become more streamlined and efficient.

UnSubdivide

UnSubdivide is a brand new modeling tool in Modo 15.0 that allows you to reconstruct subdivisions in reverse and output a low density mesh. Perfect for creating low poly meshes for baking and optimization, this tool is available as a traditional tool in the modeling tool box, or as a procedural tool in the Mesh operation window.

See Subdivide.

Procedural Modeling

Create Vertex MeshOp

This simple operator creates a single vertex and can be positioned in your scene by inputting coordinates in the X, Y and Z parameters.

Offset Curve by Mesh

Bezier, B-Spline and Polyline curves are now supported by the Offset Curve by Mesh operator.

Procedural Loop Slice

Loop Slice has now been added as a procedural tool, allowing you to create evenly spaced edge loops by a specific count number. Additional parameters such as Preserve Curvature and Split have also been included in the procedural version of this tool, to allow for in depth and advanced editing while using a procedural workflow.

Animation & Rigging

Animation Editor

The animation workspace this release has also had a major overhaul. The lower collapsible Graph Editor viewport layout has been replaced with a new layout that contains the Graph Editor and Dopesheet along with a Channels viewport, allowing for quick and easy navigation that is both beginner and seasoned professional friendly.

See Graph Editor.

Command Regions and Rig Clay Enhancements

This powerful tool allows you to do away with the clutter of controllers on a rigged mesh, and is now supported in the 2D model view; adding more flexibility to the types and complexity of rigs that you can create.

This tool has also had its procedural workflow updated, with Mesh Operation nodes having been added for Polygon, Edge and Vertex Command Regions.

See Command Regions.

Rendering and Shading

Interactive mPath Renders

Modo's mPath renderer has an interactive mode, which allows you to pan, zoom, and rotate the camera in the Render viewport without adjusting the camera in the scene. See Rendering with mPath.

Viewport

AVP Depth of Field

 

This new addition to the advanced viewport now allows users to refine camera settings within the 3D viewport properties window, without the need to fire off a render. This powerful new tool is supremely useful for setting up renders or laying out scenes in a higher detail without the hassle of waiting for a test render.

Workflow and User Experience

Licensing Modo

How Foundry products are activated has also had an update, with the introduction of Cloud based licensing in addition to our traditional RLM licensing, making it easier than ever before to activate and manage your products. The activation window has also had a total revamp, making it easier to log into your Foundry account, select products to activate and see the expiry dates of your licenses.

FBX Loader

 

Modo's FBX importer has been updated to show import progress through sub-monitors. This gives you the ability to view what part of the FBX file is being imported, allowing for a more granular view of the loader.

Quick Command Buttons

The Quick Commands buttons have now been split up, and now sit above their relevant panels instead of being grouped together. This makes the UI easier to navigate, making their respective functions quicker and easier to use.

Python 3 Support

Modo 15.0 also now supports Python 3 as well as Python 2. This can be easily changed in the system dropdown menu, and it's easy to now switch between the two.

 

SDK Docs update

The Developer wiki has also been updated and is now available here.