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‘modo’

Engineer vs. Designer! Rich Hurrey Talks modo,
Animation, Rigging and More

26 Oct, 2011 by Josh Mings in CAD, DESIGN
3D Human CAD Models

As you may know (or not), digital puppet-maker and modo rigging master, Rich Hurrey of Pixar Animation Studios, has recently released new modo 501 Rigging Master Course. After years in the works and a spectacular video production that explains all the possibilities of animating models with modo, it’s definitely a course to pick up. Rich was also kind enough to join us on the Engineer vs Designer podcast, Episode 13 (woot!), and it pretty much rocked our world. Unfortunately, being only a 20 minute show, we weren’t able to include nearly everything we wanted in the final cut. We’re adding an extended audio interview to EvD, but we wanted even more. So today on SolidSmack, we want to connect the dots.

And if that weren’t enough inducement to read on, what about $25 off said rigging course? We thought so. Coupon code after the jump.

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Luxology Bashes Hell out of Modeling
with New modo Bashing Kit

27 Jul, 2011 by Josh Mings in NEWS, RESOURCES

What’s better than a 3D model with a bunch of curvy bits? A 3D model that replaces the curvy bits with more knobs, pipes, cutters, angles, conduit, boosters and extrusions than is reasonable or even imaginable. If you’re high fiving your face in agreement, you’ll want to remove the hydraulic actuators from your jowls and smile at this. Luxology has released the all new modo Bashing Kit with an assortment of mesh presets and image maps to bash ultimate spectacular into your sci-fi scenes and take your mechanized modeling to the next level.

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SES2: Studio Environment Set for modo, SolidWorks and More

23 Jun, 2011 by Josh Mings in CAD, RESOURCES

What’s big, bright and full of light? The SES2 light kit from 9b Studios. If you recall the first Studio Environment Set (SES1) from render rocker Yazan Malkosh, you’ll know awesome, easy-to-use light presets for modo, Microstation and SolidWorks are the name of the game. This version brings in 50 more HDR images spherically mapped for your environment illuminating pleasure.

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The Ease of Architecture in SolidWorks: Project Frog

25 May, 2011 by Josh Mings in DESIGN

Creating amazing looking structures using SolidWorks… Many doubt it, others toy with it and still others know just how to blend the capabilities to make it possible.

Project Frog, out of San Francisco, CA, is one of the later. They’ve got sweet looking, highly efficient, modular building systems down in a big way. They do it all in SolidWorks and have even extending it to use with Luxology’s modo preset and rigging capabilities. From concept to construction each piece of structure is designed to fit together perfectly. Ryan Olson, Product Design Engineer for Project Frog was kind enough to provide the specifics of how they take on architectural structures and explains exactly why it works.

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PhotoView 360 Lovers Celebrate. Improved Transparency and More.

23 May, 2011 by Josh Mings in CAD


Everyone needs a little love. Even those that get to sit around all day tinkering with light settings and camera angles. As Rob Rodriguez details in his blog post, PhotoView 360 (PV360) users may have new reasons to model a hand and give a fully rendered high five to each other. Here’s what you’ll want to check out.

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Workflow Slammin’, Render Bammin’ modo for SolidWorks Kit is ON

18 Apr, 2011 by Josh Mings in RESOURCES

You may want to stop suckin’ that SolidWorks model through the regular old modo SolidWorks import for a few days. Why? You’re about to get a stronger, rockin’er, suckin’er solution to bring all those bits and bobs into modo.

It’s the modo for SolidWorks kit. It’s coming soon along with more materials, more compatibility, SolidWorks-like UI enhancements, training video and, and, and… SO MUCH MORE! If you want the low down, there’s a webinar Tuesday, April 19 and Thursday, April 28th.

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Luxology Puts the Smack in the New Package Design PACK.

14 Mar, 2011 by Josh Mings in RESOURCES

Oh the joys of being able to put ‘Smack’ in a headline and having it actually rhyme. Don’t forget this day folks. DON’T FORGET IT. Not for the reason of rhyme, but for the very reason that Luxology, has automated package design ecology, and is crackin’ render scenes with no apology. Check the tech-nology.

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SolidWorks World: Wicked Cool Studio Lighting for modo 501 and SolidWorks PV360

25 Jan, 2011 by Josh Mings in CAD

Illuminate! It’s what I yell when ever I walk into a dark room, put on a black shirt or hang a litter of albino kittens over the edge of my laptop screen. It’s what you’ll yell as well when you apply these fresh hot HDRI’s to your renderings.

The Studio Environment Set 1 from Yazan Malkosh of 9b studios has 51 beautifully developed presets to bathe your models in. Take a look.

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Behind the Scenes on the SolidWorks Drive to Design

29 Nov, 2010 by Josh Mings in DESIGN

There’s been a rebellion of sorts. SolidWorks, to the mild dismay of the regular PR and ad agency channels, has gone out on their own. Not in any permanent way, mind you. Regular programming will soon return, but in the meantime, SolidWorks is getting back to their roots and dishing out a little emotive attitude to prep you for SolidWorks World 2011 and make you think back a little bit on your own roots of design and engineering. And SolidSmack? Well, we have a glimpse behind the scenes to see why and how this all came about.

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Scan Your Cave, Model It in modo, Call It a Day

24 Nov, 2010 by Josh Mings in TECH

After you shut down a dangerous cave system to allow a hibernating bat population to thrive, there’s only one thing left to do… scan it with lasers.

That’s exactly what 3D Technologies R&D has done to the entire Piusa Cavern in south-eastern Estonia. As a matter of fact, they scanned it, modeled it in modo, then put it into one of their 3D touchscreen kiosk so others could experience caving from the safety of a visitor center.

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