Luxology Releases modo 202
Faster Rendering Speeds and Improvements to Modeling,
UV Editing and Paint Tools; Free Full-featured Evaluation
Version Now Available
Boston — Aug. 1, 2006 — Luxology®, LLC
today announced the immediate availability of modo™ 202,
a robust update to its innovative 3D modeling, painting
and rendering software. Boasting a peak rendering speed
that is over 40 percent faster than modo 201, modo 202
features performance gains, tool improvements and innovative
extensions to its overall toolset to create an enhanced
workflow for artists working in game development, film
visual effects, video production, graphic arts and design
visualization. Registered modo 201 customers can upgrade
to modo 202 free of charge, and a free 30-day full-featured
evaluation version is now available for immediate download
from www.modo3d.com.
At SIGGRAPH 2006 in Boston, modo 202 will be demonstrated
at the ATI booth (#1513); available for artists in the
Guerilla Studio (room #52); and featured in a series
of video presentations that can be downloaded from the
Luxology website on each day of the exhibition. For more
information on Luxology and modo 202 at SIGGRAPH, please
visit modo3d.com.
“modo 201 is fast, but modo 202 is blazing fast,” explains
Brad Peebler, president and co-founder of Luxology. “modo
202 is a significant advancement towards our grand vision
for modo. We built modo from the ground up to integrate
modeling, painting and rendering in a way that dramatically
improves workflow for 3D designers in all disciplines.
modo 202 refines this development one step further, allowing
artists to focus even more on creating and less on process
and repetitive steps.”
Beta Testers Applaud Speed and Performance
“modo 202 is a great improvement over an already
impressive first release of modo 201,” said Philip
Lawson, multimedia and design student. “Luxology
has packed many updates, fixes and new features - all
of which make modo even more enjoyable to use. Faster
render speeds are very welcome and the new UV tools,
such as overlap highlight and pinning are extremely handy.
With this update, Luxology proves once again that they
listen to user requests.”
“Before getting modo 202 I used Deep Paint to
paint my models in a real-time environment,” said
Dan Silverman, freelance 3D artist. “Now I use
modo exclusively. It allows me to model, UV map and paint
in the same application and get the job done easier and
faster. The improvement in render times from modo 201
to modo 202 is breathtaking, with renders completing
up to three times faster.”
“modo 202 makes it possible for me to work with
huge CAD and scientific models, handling thousands and
even millions of polygons in real time without any problems,”
said
Juan Jose Gonzalez Diaz, freelance artist.
“I've seen renders completed up to three times
faster with modo 202,”
said
Dr. Neil Hayes, BS.c. arch|visuals, Brighton, UK. “The
improvement in render speed from 201 to 202 is breathtaking.
modo 202’s thicken tool is one of those features
you never knew you needed - it’s a real time saver.
modo 202's new render region option is also a great example
of Luxology's commitment to improving workflow.”
modo 202’s New and Improved Features
Rendering – Performance is now optimized
to achieve a peak rendering speed that is 42 percent
faster than modo 201. Rendering workflow is streamlined
by improvements to the render window, including a convenient
way to interactively adjust gamma display and a handy
way to flip between 10 images for render review. The
render window now provides an editable Limited Region
control for quickly rendering a specific portion of the
image. Soft shadows can now be generated from point and
spot lights. Faster, more accurate image map re-sampling
improves final image generation, and irradiance caching
improvements substantially elevate global illumination
quality and performance.
Modeling – Enhancements include a new
create SubDiv option for the popular Pen tool, and a
thicken tool for adding inner or outer thickness to geometry.
A totally new object-to-object baking capability captures
the surface detail of a complex object and automatically
applies it to a simpler object for real-time applications.
New ‘game’ and ‘unitless’ grids
further increase modo’s suitability for modeling
game assets. A new bounding box display option for geometry
facilitates the manipulation of large datasets. UV editing
operations are expedited in modo 202 with a new filled
UV display mode that highlights unwanted overlaps in
the UV editor. A new interactive UV relax with a pinning
feature greatly simplifies the process of untangling
overlapping UVs.
Painting – 3D painting behavior is improved
when working on challenging areas such as folded UVs
and along UV borders. 3D painting workflow is also bolstered
with a new visible image ink display mode which lets
artists place an image over a model and brush the image
onto an underlying model. A new image ink stamp mode
speeds the interactive rapid placement of logos, dirtmaps,
scars or other images on the surface of models.
Improved workflow – Enhancements include
the ability to see scene lights in Advanced OpenGL, and
to interactively adjust the F-Stop, focal length and
focal distance of cameras. Support for Autodesk FBX and
X3D formats are extended for expanded interoperability
with other 3D applications.
About modo
Engineered
to smoothly integrate into existing tool pipelines and
work together with other leading 2D and 3D software
applications, modo 202 accelerates the creation of world-class
models, associated color and normal maps, and ultra
high-quality renderings, all while providing a comfortable
and intuitive working environment. Used in feature films
such as “Manchurian Candidate,” “Da
Vinci Code,”
“Meet the Robinsons,” “The Ant Bully,” and
“Codehunters,” modo is known for being a
unique and powerful artist-friendly tool that combines
modeling, painting and rendering in a fused workflow
for artists in a variety of markets.
Pricing and Availability
modo
202 is available now for the price of USD $895. Current
modo 201 users can upgrade to modo 202 free of charge
and users with earlier versions of modo (modo 10x) can
upgrade directly to modo 202 for USD $395. modo 202
is available through Luxology and its worldwide reseller
partners on both the Windows and Mac OSX platforms.
A free 30-day full-function evaluation version of modo
202 is also available for immediate download from modo3d.com.
Streamlined in size for more rapid download, the modo
202 evaluation version includes a starter pack of sample
files and an interactive exploration guide that provides
an artful introduction to modo’s most popular tools.
To purchase, learn more about modo 202 or see a gallery
of images, please visit www.modo3d.com or contact Luxology
at (650) 378-8506.
About Luxology
Based
in San Mateo, Calif., Luxology®, LLC is an independent
technology company developing next-generation 3D content
creation software that enhances productivity via artist-friendly
tools powered by a modern underlying architecture. Founded
in 2002 by Allen Hastings, Stuart Ferguson and Brad
Peebler, Luxology is home to some of the top 3D engineering
expertise in the industry. For more information on Luxology,
its flagship product modo™, and the active modo
community, please visit www.modo3d.com.
######
©
Copyright
2006 Luxology LLC. modo is a trademark of Luxology LLC.,
in the USA and/or other countries. All products
or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective holders.
For more information, press only:
Liaison Inc.
Scotti
McGowan, (604) 929-8498, Press Contact
Reader contact:
Luxology, LLC
1670
South Amphlett Blvd Suite 214
San
Mateo, CA 94402
(650)
378-8506
info@luxology.com
http://www.modo3d.com
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