Modo 17.0 launch: what’s new in Modo?

The Modo 17.0 launch marks the start of a new Modo — a tool that addresses the asset design needs of artists and designers across games, visual effects, product design and other industries. Hot on the heels of the Modo 17.0 launch, other releases will follow rapidly, consistently delivering to make Modo better throughout 2024.

If you missed our Modo 17.0 launch Livestream, you can keep reading to find out what’s included in the new release and beyond.

We’ve overhauled the core system for Modo 17.0, delivering an application that’s far more interactive, easier to develop for, and easier to test. 

Ultimately, we want to make the future of 3D for you, with easy-to-use tools for both experienced and novice artists, with no barriers. The new release sets a new path for Modo. A path where Modo just keeps getting better with each point and version release. 

"We've built a new foundation for Modo, enabling us to iterate and improve both performance and reliability faster than ever before," says Greg Brown, Product Manager.

Delve under the hood of Modo 17.0 

We’ve made some innovative adjustments under the hood to transform Modo into a finely tuned race car. The new architecture behind Modo enables meaningful improvements now while also establishing a platform that delivers future performance enhancements.  

One of the most significant changes we’ve made with Modo 17.0 is moving many of the calculations to a background thread. This is part of what enables the increased interactivity and performance improvements in Modo 17.0 as now, for the first time ever, Modo leverages multiple threads, taking greater advantage of modern many-threaded systems.

Not only that, Modo 17.0 also brings improved performance for modeling, rigging, animation, and more. 

Improve your performance in Modo 17.0

Thanks to a series of incremental tool updates, you can now model faster. We’ve made accelerations to 10 of Modo’s modeling tools and MeshOps, including a system-wide change called View Objects and further optimization of tools. Due to Modo’s modular nature, these updates will have a far-reaching impact on performance improvements beyond those 10 tools and MeshOps. 

A performance initiative for a DCC app wouldn’t be complete without considering offline rendering, and for Modo 17.0, we’ve partnered with OTOY to bundle the Prime version of OctaneRender. This means that all users will have easy access to the incredibly fast and high quality GPU rendering that OctaneRender provides. We’ve put together a handy guide to walk you through the registration process for OctaneRender. 

It's now also possible to get up to 50% speed improvements on Mac ARM. Modo 17.0 brings a new native ARM version of Modo for Apple silicon, resulting in up to 50% speed improvements when compared to emulating the X86 version of Modo for Macs.

More Modo, more advancements

Artists can now spend more time in the physically based Advanced Viewport, with the ability to toggle textures on or off, without the need to go into the Shader Tree. The new default AVP setting means that you can view environment lighting and any viewport lighting at the same time, so you can make sure all your lights interact as they should. Modo 17.0 also features  improved wireframe drawing along with the visibility of MeshOp handles and selections.

Also, thanks to a combination of VOs and incremental updates, MeshOps are now processed faster for a much more interactive and engaging experience. This is the first in a planned series of performance updates for 2024, which will see the performance of Modo continually improve. We’ve also enhanced many of the UX and workflow interactions with MeshOps.

Work faster, save time

With Modo 17.0, it's now faster and easier to use decals, and wrap flat images onto complex surfaces with minimum distortion and no UV creation needed. Combined with VOs, decals are now more predictable and valuable than ever before. 

PolyHaul was introduced in Modo 16.1 to combine multiple modeling operations into a single streamlined tool. In Modo 17.0, we’ve made the UI easier to navigate, and also added the option to use it in conjunction with Falloffs, for maximum precision. What’s more, we’ve also refined how PolyHaul deals with switching between modeling modes, ensuring that quality geometry is created, saving you time. 

Artists are also now able to quickly boolean patterns with primitive slice enhancements. Modo 17.0 makes it possible to clone with Primitive Slide. This means you can create multiple slices of the same shape at once, reducing the need for repetition when adding multiple slices to a mesh. We’ve also added Corner Radius for working with rectangles and squares, so that you can round corners of the shape that’s being sliced. This enables you to make quick adjustments to slices, without the need to switch between multiple shapes or presets.

Creating the tools you need for more productivity

Mesh Cleanup fixes broken geometry, and now includes Fix Gaps. This means that you no longer have to perform these operations manually, so you can stay productive and avoid interrupting your creative flow.

It’s also now possible to create partial radial alignments. Radial Align turns a selection into a flat circle. However, artists frequently need a partial radius, rather than a complete circle. Modo 17.0 brings the ability to create a partial radial alignment, giving you more tailored tools to enhance your artistry.

Looking to the future of Modo

While Modo 17.0 brings a number of substantial performance improvements, it also lays the foundation for continued enhancements in future versions.

Let us know what improvements you’d like to see next and what you’re loving about the latest Modo on our Modo Community page.

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