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San Mateo
1978 posts
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Why not! After all I promised.
So I got a chance to talk to the dev team this morning. Things are looking good. We still have this somewhat elusive issue with the NV hardware but we are narrowing it down and working with NV directly to see if they can point us in a direction as well. Of course, there are other bugs that are being hunted and killed as well as some bugs still coming in from testers. All in all we are making good progress but do not have a concrete release date. Do I sound like a broken record? Because I sure feel like one. On the other hand we do have a little exciting news. This week we are putting together our first RC disc. Thats "release candidate". To get the release process in tune we are going to burn some phsical discs and send them out for testing. This will include a bunch of training material in the form of videos and most of the inline help system. This will help test the installation and delivery mechanisms.
Here's the interesting part. We aren't sending these to beta testers. We are going to send a handful of discs to community members so we can get some real "in the wild" late stage testing going. Before I get a run of "Pick me! Pick me!" emails let me tell you right now if you email me with a request to be in the program you are immediately disqualified. Seriously. So how will we pick people? I thought about this a long time and it's tricky because what we need are people who know modo (less time to get up to speed) and who can communicate effectively. My solution is that I will be lurking the forums (as I always do) looking for people who are posting cool images in the WIP section, tutorial videos in the tips and tricks section and/or answering questions for other users. This way I know the people we work with understand modo and can communicate clearly. This will maximize the effectiveness of the process. This is NOT inclusion in the beta program not does it indicate these people will become beta testers. Additionally those who qualify will be asked to go under NDA prior to receiving the software.
So there it is. I need to get back to checking the other sections of the site to see who my testers are going to be...
Oh yeah. Some cool stuff. Today I want to focus on some images done by our developers. In particular Allen Hastings and Stuart Ferguson. For those of you who do not know Allen and Stuart they are the founders of Luxology and have been in 3D...well...longer than I have. ;) Both of them started in 3D graphics years ago as a means to create their own short films and both of them are excellent artists. So I love it at the end of a project when they get to take some time for testing. They always do such good stuff. It's such a refreshing thing to have an engineering team that is lead by artists as ours is.
Stuart updated his vase image and I think it turned out beautifully.
Allen is showing off some of his code by giving our testers some samples of subsurface scattering.
First diffuse and spec only:
Now subsurface only:
Now a combination:
How about a jade dragon?
Perhaps the Buddha?
more...
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3/27/2006 - 6:30 PM
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San Mateo
1978 posts
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So much love it spilled over!
Scary goblin!
Sorry for more painting vidz but I think this is relevant to modeling as well since it is about adding high frequency detail to the mesh with a really cool technique Gregory clued me into today.
Bake it
Paint it
Enjoy!
BP
Message edited by BradPeebler on 3/27/2006 - 6:44 PM
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3/27/2006 - 6:31 PM
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Brooklyn, New York
91 posts
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nice! tnx for update!
Like the return of image synth to the vids..!
Love the vids as usual.
will
Message edited by willus on 3/27/2006 - 6:50 PM
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3/27/2006 - 6:32 PM
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Chrome City, USA
225 posts
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Like this Thursday+Monday stuff. Hehe. Finally first response I think for once.
EDIT: Oh drat, I gotta learn to type faster.
...back to my bell tower...
_______________________________
Jeff Andrews
Chrome City Studios / FX Models
Message edited by quasi on 3/27/2006 - 6:33 PM
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3/27/2006 - 6:33 PM
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Cedar Falls, IA
586 posts
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wooo! *new shoes dance*
new shoes, new shoes....
Old Glory Robot Insurance - For when the metal ones come for you. And they will.
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3/27/2006 - 6:39 PM
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California
3687 posts
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downloading right now.Brad can you do me a favour, id to start a new community project:
http://forums.luxology.com/discussion/topic.aspx?id=5866
can you make it happen?
The human race is going through a shift in consciousness, from 3D to 5D. Reattach to your higher self and wake up! 10/10/10-11/11/11-12/21/12
Message edited by Son Kim on 3/27/2006 - 6:50 PM
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3/27/2006 - 6:40 PM
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230 posts
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Hey Brad great stuff THX.
Do you think we could get some render and light settings for these images you posted?
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3/27/2006 - 6:42 PM
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Paris, France
394 posts
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You're late. Do you know what time it is here?
But good vids and pics. :)
My solution is that I will be lurking the forums (as I always do) looking for people who are posting cool images in the WIP section, tutorial videos in the tips and tricks section and/or answering questions for other users
Good stratagy to liven up the forums. I'll probably bite.
www.kvaalen.com
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3/27/2006 - 6:42 PM
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Fort Myers, FL
469 posts
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WOO!!
:)
hmm.. i think allen should have tested his SSS code on stuart's candle hehe
im excited to hear things are progressing, and will hopefully be ready for shipment
meloncully
MODONAUT :D
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3/27/2006 - 6:43 PM
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Germany
387 posts
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Quote from Kvaalen :
Good stratagy to liven up the forums. I'll probably bite.
Yeah, I think we will see a LOT of input over the next few days. ;)
Good update. Love the jade dragon, downloading the videos right now. Can't wait...
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3/27/2006 - 6:44 PM
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California
3687 posts
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Quote from Luxology Webmaster :
Yes, It'll happen later tonight.
thank you Jason :D
The human race is going through a shift in consciousness, from 3D to 5D. Reattach to your higher self and wake up! 10/10/10-11/11/11-12/21/12
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3/27/2006 - 6:50 PM
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San Antonio, TX
2022 posts
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Updates! WEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
Edit: Weeee.... oh. Anyway since everyone seems to be reading this, I had an idea for a new forum section called "Roadblocks" or the like. A section that is focused only on mesh problems and technical difficulties not related to Modo itself, but related to the goal of finishing a model or particular piece of a model. I think seperating this from the general "WIP look at what I have" section would streamline the proccess of posting a request for help and getting it. People interested in helping out others would be better able to keep an eye on that section and learners and the less skilled would be in a position to advance their skills at a quicker pace. Blah blah blah, blah blah blah, blah blah (blah blah blah blah blah, blah blah) blah lol. Oh... Well I thought it was good idea:)
Message edited by RazorX on 3/27/2006 - 7:21 PM
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3/27/2006 - 6:54 PM
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Menomonie, WI
357 posts
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Good stuff... I'd like to see some SSS on the candle in that vase image, but it is coming along quite well. Thanks Brad!
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3/27/2006 - 6:54 PM
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Canandaigua, NY!
360 posts
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Very impressive stuff! Downloading vids now. Fingers crossed.... Must release pressss-eee-ussss.
“I was born ready.”
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3/27/2006 - 7:04 PM
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Orlando, FL
568 posts
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Quote from Masterjedi :
Good stuff... I'd like to see some SSS on the candle in that vase image, but it is coming along quite well. Thanks Brad!
I agree, thats the one thing that kills the image for me.
modoArchiver coming soon...
http://www.vimeo.com/channels/modoarchiver
------------------------------------
www.cgmstudios.com
www.twitter.com/concussiongfx
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3/27/2006 - 7:12 PM
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Los Angeles
303 posts
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"My solution is that I will be lurking the forums (as I always do) looking for people who are posting cool images in the WIP section, tutorial videos in the tips and tricks section and/or answering questions for other users."
Aaaagh! Just my luck... I've been stuck in 2D animation land for months! Curses!
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3/27/2006 - 7:14 PM
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Professor of Modonautics
256 posts
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Allen's SSS coding looks great.
I'm really excited about the paint tools in modo too! =)
Thanks for the update Brad!
Semper Fidelis,
Charles T. Woods
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3/27/2006 - 7:26 PM
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Cedar Falls, IA
586 posts
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Brad: I love how you get all Bob Ross with your voice while painting. :) Anyone see that Boondocks episode? hahaha
I can't hook you up with the guy who invented normal mapping (Cohen et al: http://www.cs.unc.edu/~geom/APS/APS.pdf), I could hook you up with the guy who invented real-time parallax mapping, though. *shrug* Maybe that will show up in modo 202/203?
Old Glory Robot Insurance - For when the metal ones come for you. And they will.
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3/27/2006 - 7:40 PM
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Orlando, FL
568 posts
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did anybody else notice that Brad started to channel Bob Ross towards the end of the second video?? Right around the part where he says that he wants to meet the guy who made normal maps... I was waiting for brad to start painting some "Happy Trees" on that sphere.
modoArchiver coming soon...
http://www.vimeo.com/channels/modoarchiver
------------------------------------
www.cgmstudios.com
www.twitter.com/concussiongfx
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3/27/2006 - 7:42 PM
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Wayne, PA
449 posts
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i think a cool thing to do would to make it "imagesynth" as you paint. then you wouldn't have to do all that saving and texture rendering that wastes all that time.
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3/27/2006 - 7:47 PM
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776 posts
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Wow, sweet nectar of the Gods!
Subsurface scattering with diffusion and specular combined! :)
I think I think, I,,, I just fainted.
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3/27/2006 - 8:08 PM
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Auckland NZ
1377 posts
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Sry for the painting vids?!?!? OMG the painting is awsome why would you be sorry :P , MMmmm painting.... MMmmm Wacom....Cheers,
Raptizore
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3/27/2006 - 8:50 PM
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Dubai
1392 posts
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Nice =)
the main reason i got Modo when i moved on from LW was to see what Al and Stu were doing , ( tho I got XSI as a backup due to Modo 201 release date ....)
nice to see they are artists, not just code monkeys =)
Modo as always Look like a super tool.
Still Where's a released date ?
IT's just getting way too long without a set date =/
XSI is becoming my new 3D level !!
Modo may get left behide,..
IF XSI adds 3d painting before Modo is released,
that just wouldn't be good =(
( XSI is working on it and they don't do prerelease marketing as per Luxology/Newtek )..
________________________________________
Just Shut up and model something !!!
I hunt and kill fanboys for fun.
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3/27/2006 - 8:59 PM
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San Antonio, TX
2022 posts
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There really is no such thing as a code 'monkey' in my opinion when it comes to programing 3d applications. The math is very involved. But yeah, it is cool to have artists making the program.
Also I beleive the reason that Luxology chose to do the pre-release marketing is the lack of an installed userbase and no brand recognition. They would have to sloth the online forums and dangle carrots in front of as many 3d artists as they could hope to reach online. Tis the only way they could pay their people at this point. Brad is the PR on the boards giving the impression of community involvement, and the agressive 1 month trial period of the program along with options to re-up your trial period all fall into this advertising cannon. You can't blame them really, they need to gain HIGH visibility as quick as possible being 'newcomers'. This is gonna pay off big time for them when 201 is released. Right now modo is a straight modeller.. Joy right? Make model then export. Well now your gonna be able to realize your scene within the program. Your gonna be able to create, texture, bake, spackle, shlep(?), and really be able to integrate the program as one of the most vital tools in your pipeline. So right now they offer 103 with a free upgrade and a very flexible trial period. They are saying, "look what we can do for modelling... don't you want to see what we can do with texturing and rendering?" So you end up with people reading all this stuff about the upcoming release and some will buy in now affording lux some instant return on there work, and then you have others that have played the demo and are white knuckled waiting to try out 201 and buy. Their shit is hot and they know it. It's very smart marketing IMO.
Plus who doesn't like cool tech demos? :)
Message edited by RazorX on 3/27/2006 - 9:31 PM
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3/27/2006 - 9:09 PM
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