The 'Weighting' tools provides users a way to quickly and interactively adjust 'Vertex Weight' maps used for animation, including those created automatically using MODO's 'Bind' command. The Weight Map values are adjusted using MODO's familiar brush based workflow and is combined with a number of useful commands, providing users a powerful way to optimize and correct deformations related to weights. To see the results of the tools, users will need to select the target weight (this is done automatically when a Joint is selected) and make sure the 3D viewport is set to either the 'Vertex Map' viewport style or has the 'Show Weight Maps' option enabled, displaying the Weight Map as an overlay to the viewport.
Using the tools
The Weighting tools are located in the 'Setup' and 'Animation' interface tabs, under the 'Weighting' subtab of each toolbox. In order to use the Vertex Map tools, users will first need to select the target Mesh item layer in the Items List. Users will also need to create and/or select the appropriate 'Weight Map' in the Vertex Map list viewport. Please reference the 'Working with Vertex Maps' page of the documentation for information on creating vertex maps. In the case of editing Weight Maps automatically created during the Bind process
Adjust Weights--
The Adjust Weights tool enables users to haul (off handle drag) in the viewport to adjust the Weight values interactively. LMB+click and drag to the left or right increase or decreases the overall values, with additional options to Add to the existing values, display the numeric values of each vertex and Normalize the target map. Adjustments are made to the entire Map, or can be isolated to specific sections with a component selection.
Weight: This value determines the present Weight Value being applied to the the target Vertex Map.
Additive: When the 'Additive' option is enabled, the Weight values will be added to existing map values instead of replacing them.
Show Weight: When the 'Show Weight' option is enabled, small numbers are drawn in the 3D viewport at each vertex position for the target item representing the current weight value for the associated vertex.
Normalize: When the Normalize' option is enabled, adjusted weight values will take in to account the Weight values of other Weight Maps present for the target vertices and adjust them accordingly so the combined Weight values never exceed 1.0 (100%).
Fine Steps:When the 'Fine Steps' option is enabled, Weight values are applied in a much finer degree of precision, providing precise decimal values to the target.
Isolate Weights--
The Isolate Weights command is a one shot command that eliminates all Weight values outside of a selected area, therefore isolating the selected area. It is especially useful in eliminating crosstalk between neighboring surfaces with distance based weight maps, by simply selecting the area that is to remain and then pressing the 'Isolate Weights' command, removing all other Weight values from the map.
Paint--
The Paint Weights tool will paint Weight Map values using the same familiar workflow as painting texture maps. With the target Weight Map selected, simply define a Value to paint, RMB+click in the 3D viewport to set a brush size and the LMB drag over the surface to apply the weight value. Press and hold the 'Ctrl' key to remove the weight amount when painting. The Paint Weights tool also does double duty to paint Vertex Color Maps, users need only to select the appropriate map type before painting with the tool.
Paint Value: The 'Paint Value' option determines the strength of the Painting action. Higher values will saturate the canvas more quickly than lower values. Set to 100% to quickly overlay an area, and to 5% or under to make subtle adjustments.
Set Color: When applying values to a Vertex Color Map, the 'Set Color' option enabled automatically. Users can then define a 'Color' value and apply it to the target map.
Color: Defines an RGB value that is applied to the target Vertex Color Map.
Alpha: This value determines how the total opacity of the color applied to the Vertex Color Map.
Smooth--
The Smooth tool will blur, or soften Weight Map values, smoothing out their values across the surface they are applied to. With the target Weight Map selected, simply define a Smooth Amount to apply, RMB+click in the 3D viewport to set a brush size and the LMB drag over the surface to smooth the weight values. Press and hold the 'Ctrl' key to increase contrast (sharpen) neighboring weight values.
Smooth Amount: The 'Smooth Amount' option controls the strength of the smoothing applied to the Vertex Map. Higher values (>50%) will produce increasingly softer results, where lower values (<50%) will produce less noticeable softening.
Smooth Selected
The 'Smooth Selected' command will automatically soften the Vertex Map values of any selected geometry component. Additional applications will continue to further smooth the values, similar to a blur filter applied to an image. Also works well when applied using any of the available 'Falloffs'.
 Initial Vertex Selection. |  Smooth Selected Applied Once. |  Smooth Selected Applied a Second Time. |
Scale Down--
The "Scale Down' tool will interactively adjust the values in a map down toward '0' (zero), sort of like slowly reducing the values toward '0' (zero). Pressing and holding the 'Ctrl' key will Scale Up the values. The overall effect is sort of similar to dodging and burning in an image editor.
Scale Amount: The 'Scale Amount' determines the strength of the scaling applied to the values.
Erase--
The 'Erase' tool will remove any values in the target map that the brush touches. This isn't just lowering the value of the map to 0%, but completely removing the values for affected vertices. No property form for this tool as there are no user adjustable values necessary.
Set Value--
The 'Set Value' tool is sort of like the paint tool combined with the erase too, in that it affects any vertex it touches 100% with no fading or attenuation. Pressing and holding the 'Ctrl' key will erase the value.
Value: When editing Weight Map values, this option determines the Weight Value applied.
Set Color: When painting onto Vertex Color Maps, this option is enabled automatically allowing users to specify a color to apply to the map.
Color: Defines an RGB value that is applied to the target Vertex Color Map.
Alpha: Defines an Alpha value that is applied to the target RGBA Vertex Color Map.
