The Official Luxology modo Guide, Version 301 [Paperback]

Daniel M. Ablan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1598634976 | ISBN-13: 978-1598634976 | Publication Date: May 14, 2008 | Edition: 001

Discover the power of Luxology modo, a robust software application that makes 3D modeling fun and easy. "The Official Luxology modo Guide, Version 301" covers the latest version of modo, which features new animation and sculpting capabilities as well as enhanced creative control for the user. You'll learn step-by-step how to use the modo interface and each tool and feature as you work within the application, from getting started to saving the final product. Designed to be read in sequence, the book is divided into four parts, beginning with an introduction to the easy-to-use modo interface, editors, and work planes. Once you're comfortable in the application, you'll dig into each of the awesome tools as you build, layer, model, animate, texture, and render with modo. Skills are taught using projects that take the reader from simple modeling to complex tasks, taking advantage of various tools and options along the way. With modo version 301, the 3D modeling possibilities are endless!

Product Details

• Paperback: 456 pages
• Publisher: Course Technology PTR; 001 edition (May 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598634976
• ISBN-13: 978-1598634976
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #827,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dan Ablan is president of AGA Digital Studios, Inc., a 3D animation, photography, and training company in the Chicago area. AGA Digital has produced 3D visuals for broadcast, corporate, and architectural clients since 1994, as well as post-production services in conjunction with Post Meridian, LLC. AGA Digital Studios, Inc. also provides lifestyle photography services with Dan.
Dan is the author of 13 books from New Riders Publishing, Thomson Course Technology, and Sybex. They are: LightWave Power Guide (v5.0), Inside LightWave 3D (v5.5), Inside LightWave [6], LightWave 6.5 Effects Magic, Inside LightWave 7, Inside LightWave 8, and co-author of LightWave 8 Killer Tips. His latest books are Digital Photography for 3D Imaging & Animation, Inside LightWave v9, and The Official Luxology modo Guide. He also is the author of [digital] Cinematography & Directing, and served as technical editor for [digital] Lighting & Rendering. Dan was also a contributor to After Effects 5.5 Magic, from New Riders Publishing. His 12th book is just out this month - The Official Luxology modo 301 Guide. Book #13 is now available, also from New Riders Publishing and Adobe Press -
Photoshop CS4 Studio Techniques. Dan has written the revision to this popular series from Ben Willmore.

Dan is also the founder of 3D Garage.com, a website dedicated to computer software based video training. 3D Garage is owned and operated by AGA Digital Studios, Inc. and offers high quality DVD-ROM based LightWave 3D, modo 3D, Mac and Photoshop training courseware. Dan offers a two day, one on one digital photography workshop through 3D Garage.com as well. AGA Digital Studios, Inc. is a NewTek authorized LightWave training facility and reseller. Dan Ablan has written columns and articles for LightWave Pro magazine, Video Toaster User magazine, 3D Design magazine, 3D World magazine, and NewTek Pro magazine. Dan has been teaching LightWave seminars since 1995 across the country, and at AGA Digital Studios, Inc. Some of the companies Dan has trained include Fox Television, ABC-TV New York City, CBS-TV Indianapolis, WTTW-TV PBS Chicago, Lockheed Martin, and many others. Dan served as Editor-in-Chief of Keyframe Magazine (now HDRI 3D magazine) for two years.

In addition to his daily duties at AGA Digital Studios, Inc., Dan Ablan is also an accomplished photographer having photographed since 1980. Coming from the days of film and darkrooms, he has studied photojournalism in college, and has made the full transition to digital. He and his wife have a portrait studio in the Chicago area (www.AblanGallery.com).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great Teacher - Crippled Learning..., December 8, 2010

By 

W. Bell (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Official Luxology modo Guide, Version 301, 1st Edition (Kindle Edition)

Since I'm currently considering the purchase Modo version 5 when it is relased, I wanted to download the v4 trial of Modo and see if it was an application that I could really get some use out of, making the expense of purchasing a license worth it for me.

Also being a new Kindle user, I still find myself buying physical books because
1) a lot of the technical books I read aren't in the Kindle format and

2) a lot of those technical book are graphical in nature (color) and I'd prefer to not view them on a B&W device.

Please Amazon, come out with a color eInk Kindle ASAP!!!

I have found however it helps if I open the book using Kindle for PC, on a 2nd monitor so I can at least view the color images that way.


In this case, I overlooked my pretty sound reasoning of buying a physical book for the immediacy of a Kindle download so I could get straight to reading and learning.

Having followed Dan's teachings from all the "Inside Lightwave" series of books, I knew that this Modo training would be GOOD and allow me to make an informed decision if I want to spend nearly $1K on a new software package.


First I'd like to say the training IS very good; the beginning chapters get you up to speed with the Modo interface and how to work your way around the program.

Granted Modo is currently at v4 and this book is about v3 but for the most part, things are pretty similar, and there is an option in the program to make it "act like" v3 for when 1 or 2 menu items don't show up as mentioned in the training.


However at this point I will say that when you get to the more advanced training, this is where having the Kindle version becomes a LIABILITY!

The DVD included with the physical book IS NOT AVAILABLE with the Kindle version (and currently there is not a way to download this additional material) and a LOT of the advance tutorials DEPEND on the assets contained on the DVD!

As an example, one of the earlier lessons teaches you how to texture a door key - the book asks you to load the provided scene (which you don't have!)

I took it upon myself to treat that as a challenge to model the key myself since I'm supposed to be learning the software! (Which came out really nice actually.)

The follow lesson again referred to DVD assets asking you to load a martini glass scene.

At this point I became frustrated because sure, I could model that too, but I wanted to just follow what the training was trying to teach!

The breaking point for me however was when the lesson ended >referring me to "further training" contained within MOVIES on the disc!<

So far every other tutorial I've read afterwards follows suit; half the training in the text the remainder on the DVD...


A lot of books are doing this now, give you some training within the text but include additional and/or advanced training on the included disc(s).

I don't have a problem with this, in fact I feel it's great, but in this case it a COLD LIABILITY to what I've purchased and my training is cut short!

I've contacted the author in the hopes that one day he'll make the DVD contents available as a download from his website, but until / if then, I'm at the point now where I feel let down by the providers of this Kindle version (author and Amazon), especially since the book breaks a lot of its latter training between text and DVD and a download was never made available.

It is certainly obvious to the author that the training is split like this for sure...

All of the previous reviews here are based on the physical book, so I felt it was necessary to WARN Kindle readers what will be lacking if they decide to buy it.

After my experience with this book and knowing how most technical books DEPEND on the disc content (rather than simple providing the discussed assets for completeness), I will NEVER buy a Kindle version of a book that comes with a DVD again unless I can clearly see that some DOWNLOADABLE content is also available for the Kindle or for the book in general.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Intro to Modo, July 21, 2008

By 

{ a } (STL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Official Luxology modo Guide, Version 301 (Paperback)

This book really covers the fundamentals of Modo 301/302. With this book and about 2 weeks I was able to take care of most things.. helps that Modo as an application is very well thought out - but having this book really helped me learn Modo.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Training at its best..., June 26, 2008

By 

Todd Groves "3dtodd" (Santa Monica, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Official Luxology modo Guide, Version 301 (Paperback)

Dan Ablan continues his excellent training series on Luxology's modo with a new book on version 301 and updates included for 302. Bottomline is you won't find better training than this. Although this book is intended for beginning users, artists of any level will benefit from Dan's training. The reason being that while applications of this sort can be approached in similar ways by many teachers, Dan provides you with a powerful workflow that only can come from his years of experience with 3D applications; which include professional apps like Lightwave. Being a happy owner of other training by Dan Ablan and this book, I felt it deserves the 5 stars I gave it. Oh, and don't forget the hours of additional video training on the DVD that comes with the book.