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Legacy Layouts


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With each new version of modo released, we always try fine-tune the workflow of the default interface, as well as make changes necessary to incorporate new features. We're aware some users prefer these legacy layouts from previous version and provide them as a convenience. They also work well when following older tutorial material, aiding newer users who may not be familiar enough with modo to find functions used in the training.
The various layout provided are listed below with brief explanations of their utility. These can be loaded from the menu bar using the "Layout > Layouts" commands and selecting the layout from the menu. Users can easily restore the default layout by selecting the '601 Default Layout' option form the menu at any time. In cases where the factory default was mistakenly overwritten, users may reset them using the menu bar command "Layout > Restore" and then select the layout to recover.

201 Default Layout

201 Default

modo 201 introduced rendering to the already powerful modeling package, necessitating the addition of the Shader Tree tab to the toolbox, housed on the left panel of the interface. This allowed users access to both the Item List and the Shader Tree simultaneously. Rendering and UV editing tabs were also added to the main GL viewport panel in the center facilitating a simpler workflow for those tasks.

 

301 Default Layout

301 Default

Further refining the powerful package that was 201, animation and sculpting functionality are added and the interface further streamlined, keeping the workflow simple an intuitive with an ever increasing tool set. Toolboxes are standardized on the left panel and item lists on the right.

 

401 Default Layout

401 Default Layout

modo 401 introduced much greater refinement to the animation capabilities, as well as a variety of rendering related functions, including replicators and fur. Tabbed workspaces become the norm, further focusing the toolset for each function. Toolboxes remain on the left panel with the items listed on the right hand side. All tabbed layouts have further refinement, including the paint and sculpt and animation layouts receiving their own toolboxes. The 'Layout' tab adds preset functionality aiding in the quick setup of scenes.

 

3D Sparse

Sparse Layout

The 3D Sparse layout is focused toward maximizing the openGL viewport view, where most of the modeling and painting action occurs. This maximized view trades the convenience of toolboxes and items lists for screen real-estate. Users fluent in pie-menus can find the tools they need quickly using keyboard shortcuts.

 

Color Picker

Color Picker Layout

Color being such an integral part of texturing, lighting and rendering, modo has an advanced color picker available. For designing color schemes for a scene, it may be helpful to utilize the Color Picker layout that maximizes the standard color picker to full-screen size. From within this view, users can select color models, set scheme rules and save sets of colors in a preset for application elsewhere in modo.

 

Theme Editor

Theme Editor Layout

The Theme Editor is essentially the color picker with all the options visible within a single viewport, and additional options visible within the preset viewport included at the bottom of the interface.

 

Model

Model Layout

The Model Layout is nearly identical to the Default Layout of modo 101, 102 and 103. This is a highly focused modeling environment. As such, it is a good choice for work that does not require any painting or rendering tools for it pushes these out of the way of the artist so that the focus is wholly on modeling.

 

Simplified

Simplfied

The 'Simplified' layout consists of a Menu bar, the single Perspective 3D Model View, a buttons only version of the modo Tools tool bar, a headless Mesh List, Vertex Map List and Tool Pipe, a Tool Qualifiers form, and a Tool Properties form. Similar to the 3D Sparse layout where tabs and other conveniences are traded for screen real-estate, the simplified layout reduces the tool menus to icons, maximizing the viewports overall size. For users not fans of using a pie-menu workflows, the Simplified layout provides and easier path to using the most common tools, also providing good utility to users working on smaller screens often associated with laptops.

 

Paint

Paint Layout

The Paint Layout looks and feels like a dedicated painting application. This layout pushes modeling and rendering tools to the background so you can focus on texturing your masterpiece. The layout consists of the painting tools across the top of the interface in icon form and a large workspace underneath. The main workspace is a tabbed viewport providing quick access to Render Single, UV Paint, UV Texture View, Clips and Preview. By default you are in a Camera view.
Paint tools are presented as icons along the upper left and a rapid way to access other useful views is provided to the upper right. On the right hand side of the layout is a viewport group with the Item list, Vertex Map list and a color picker for quick access. Beneath that viewport is another tabbed viewport group containing a Tools Properties section and Render Settings view. The first provides access to the current paint tool's properties so that you can control the tool with precision. You can also press the "K" key with your cursor over the 3D viewport to bring up a popover of the tool's properties directly under your mouse. The Render Settings tab contains the Shader Tree and a Render properties form.

 

 

Render

Render Layout

The Render Layout provides streamlined access to the main options you will need when focusing on the task of rendering your project. On the left hand side is the Shader Tree and Render Properties form so you can create and edit the various material and texture items and settings. The main 3D workspace provides you with the direct control over scene layout using a Camera view. On the right hand side the Item List allows you to create, select and edit items such as meshes, cameras and lights. Just above the Item List are three "Quick Access" buttons which open Palettes containing modeling tools, vertex mapping tools and a preview window, in that order. To render in this view, hit F9 or select the 'Render' command from the Render options of the menu bar. Above the addition of the 'Render Preview' window was added by pressing the 'F8' key.

 

UV Edit

UV Edit

The UV Edit Layout is provided for intensive UV editing sessions. The layout consists of three major areas and two smaller sections that can be expanded or contracted as needed. On the left hand side you will find the selection modes (in icon form or under a Quick Access button), the UV & Vertex Mapping tool bar and also a Tool Properties section. Just to the right of that section is the main UV edit viewport and to the right of that is a tabbed 3D viewport. These two views provide ample space for viewing your UV map and your textured model in the upper right as you edit.
Just underneath the UV and 3D viewports are additional viewports that collapse and hide nicely when the UV or 3D viewport is expanded. Under the UV view is an Image list and Command History and under the 3D viewport sits an Item List and Vertex Map List. By dragging the border between the UV or 3D view and the views beneath them you can expand and collapse the viewports as needed.

 

 

UV Edit 102

UV Edit 101

The 'UV Edit 101' layout consists of a Menu bar and four viewports that flank a central set of tool bars. On the left hand side are UV Texture and Perspective views. On the right hand side are a Top and Right view. In the middle of the display is a central UV and Vertex Mapping toolbar, plus a collapsed Vertex Maps toolset and a Tool Properties section. Rounding out this layout are a Mesh List, and a set of Selection mode icons accessible under a Quick Access button.

 

 

 

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funk July 19, 2012 at 3:08 AM

This page needs a major update. Many of the layouts no longer exist in modo 601

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