Luxology has announced the release of modo 201, a new update to its 3D modeling software for Mac OS X and Windows. Modo 201 is available for $895; updates from previous releases cost $395.
Modo provides users with 3D modeling, painting and rendering capabilities. The software is used in game development, film special effects, video product, graphic arts and design visualization.
New to modo 201 is advanced modeling features like a Solid Sketch tool that lets users create branched base meshes, round bevel controls, faster sculpting and more. A new Mesh Paint that lets you place geometric details like wihskers or hairs.
Integrating 3D painting tools have been added to this release – you can use brushes that apply effects like real-time bump mapping. Masking and blending is supported; line, fill and gradient tools are available; support is also provided for pressure-sensitive input devices like pen tablets. The paint tools work in 3D or UV views.
Modo 201 has a new rendering engine that supports global illumination and physically-based shading techniques, subsurface scattering, anisotropic blurry reflections and micropolygon displacement. Lens distortion, motion blur and depth of field are supported, as well. The render engine can also “bake” results into image maps.
System requirements call for Mac OS X v10.3.9 or later and a G3, G4, G5 or Intel processor, 1GB RAM, 100MB available hard disk space, OpenGL-compatible graphics card, 1024 x 768 and Internet connection for product activation. Modo 201 ships as a Universal Binary that runs natively on Intel or PowerPC-based Macs.