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edgework · 25th January 2007, 18:09

So, I finished the 1 month evaluation and broke down and bought Modo. Truth is 1 month isn't enough to figure out what it does and does not do.

There are some really nice features that put it ahead of Hexagon, falloffs in particular. The deformation tools are powerful and they work. For the most part, Sub-D smoothing feels sturdier and more predictable. I tried to duplicate the results of a couple of modelling tutorials, and the shapes felt more unweildy in Hexagon.

On the other hand, Hexagon's Universal 3d Manipulator, with access to contextual menus all at the click of a mouse offers a simplicity of effort with a maximum of result that Modo seems to make much more complicated. Edge modelling seems to work much more intuitively in Hex, though there are more options available in Modo.

A couple of threads on the Luxology forums suggest some real deficiencies with Sub-D surfaces, pinching at poles that can't seem to be worked around. The thread was comparing C4D Modo, with the obvious decision going to C4D, but when I loaded the file into Hex and Carrara, both came through with the same level of smoothness as C4D. Another thread suggests that extruding a profile along a curve can be problematic in ways that Hexagon avoids effortlessly.

As I have only worked through a fraction of the tutorials (there are gigs and gigs of them) I can't say for certain, but I don't believe that Modo handles Ruled Surfaces, Coons Surfaces or Gordon Surfaces, and I don't know how it compares with other Amapi-derived tools like the the Double Sweep.

Morph targets, however, are effortless, UVs seem to offer some options not available in Hex, and, though I've just scratched the surface, the renderer seems awesome.

Bottom line: I'm not disappointed that I bought it. They offered a $200 discount at the end of the evaluation period and I took it. But it's given me a renewed appreciation for the elegance and ingenuity that produced Hexagon, and makes me all the more hopeful that, one day, it's full promise will be realized.

Meanwhile, I'll be pushing files back and forth in .obj format to exploit the benefits of both modellers.

25th January 2007, 18:09	#5 (permalink)
edgework Spline Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 44	Modo vs. Hexagon So, I finished the 1 month evaluation and broke down and bought Modo. Truth is 1 month isn't enough to figure out what it does and does not do. There are some really nice features that put it ahead of Hexagon, falloffs in particular. The deformation tools are powerful and they work. For the most part, Sub-D smoothing feels sturdier and more predictable. I tried to duplicate the results of a couple of modelling tutorials, and the shapes felt more unweildy in Hexagon. On the other hand, Hexagon's Universal 3d Manipulator, with access to contextual menus all at the click of a mouse offers a simplicity of effort with a maximum of result that Modo seems to make much more complicated. Edge modelling seems to work much more intuitively in Hex, though there are more options available in Modo. A couple of threads on the Luxology forums suggest some real deficiencies with Sub-D surfaces, pinching at poles that can't seem to be worked around. The thread was comparing C4D Modo, with the obvious decision going to C4D, but when I loaded the file into Hex and Carrara, both came through with the same level of smoothness as C4D. Another thread suggests that extruding a profile along a curve can be problematic in ways that Hexagon avoids effortlessly. As I have only worked through a fraction of the tutorials (there are gigs and gigs of them) I can't say for certain, but I don't believe that Modo handles Ruled Surfaces, Coons Surfaces or Gordon Surfaces, and I don't know how it compares with other Amapi-derived tools like the the Double Sweep. Morph targets, however, are effortless, UVs seem to offer some options not available in Hex, and, though I've just scratched the surface, the renderer seems awesome. Bottom line: I'm not disappointed that I bought it. They offered a $200 discount at the end of the evaluation period and I took it. But it's given me a renewed appreciation for the elegance and ingenuity that produced Hexagon, and makes me all the more hopeful that, one day, it's full promise will be realized. Meanwhile, I'll be pushing files back and forth in .obj format to exploit the benefits of both modellers.