Press Release

Press Releases and Media Alerts for Luxology and modo

Luxology and Pixologic Collaborate on Innovative New Workflow for modo and ZBrush Users

New GoZ Feature Enables a Powerful Yet Simple Workflow Between modo® and ZBrush®

San Mateo, Calif. – July 22, 2009 – 3D artists everywhere are applauding the just-announced GoZ™ for modo feature from Pixologic, which improves the workflow between ZBrush, Pixologic’s premiere organic sculpting and texture tool, and modo, the 3D modeling, painting and rendering software from Luxology®. Luxology and Pixologic worked closely together to optimize the mesh geometry transfer between these two computer graphics applications to give users a more seamless and combined workflow.

“GoZ for modo opens new opportunities and maximizes workflows for artists and designers from all backgrounds,” said Brad Peebler, president and co-founder of Luxology. “By bringing these two modern 3D applications together through GoZ, modo and ZBrush users will experience a significant increase in time savings and efficiency.”

GoZ is a feature within ZBrush that automatically transfers mesh geometry and normal, displacement, and texture maps into modo and back again. This ability to easily move between two complementary applications offers tremendous freedom to artists, who use each product at different phases of the creative process. With GoZ, modo can be used to create a base model, such as a human head, to provide the basic anatomy. This model can then be instantly transferred to ZBrush via GoZ for brush-based addition of scars, warts and wrinkles. The enhanced model can then be passed back to modo to create the final rendered output files.

“I use both modo and ZBrush in tandem to create detailed characters that are lightweight enough to run in a game engine,” said John Hayes, lead character artist at Sega Studios. "I’ve found that GoZ unites the two most innovative 3D applications today, and modeling game characters within modo and ZBrush has never been easier."

Six-time Academy Award® winning makeup effects artist, Rick Baker, creates stunning digital renditions of creatures of all kinds using both modo and ZBrush. Baker’s experience working with GoZ is summed up by his recent comment:

“Using GoZ, ZBrush models can instantly be opened and rendered in modo and you can make changes in either application with ease, which is the feature I have been waiting for. Thank you, Pixologic and Luxology, for continuing to make your outstanding applications even better.”

“Pixologic is always searching for new ways to improve its products and provide its customers with more efficient services,” said Jaime Labelle, COO at Pixologic. “GoZ for modo is a direct result of requests from our users for greater ease-of-use between these two products and we look forward to continued successful collaboration with Luxology moving forward.”

Availability

GoZ™ from Pixologic is currently available as a feature of ZBrush3.2 on Mac OSX and will be available in the upcoming ZBrush 4 for the Mac and PC, shipping fall 2009. ZBrush retails for USD $595. Additional information regarding GoZ is available at www.GoZBrush.com.

modo 401 software from Luxology is currently shipping on both the PC and Mac platforms. modo is sold for USD $995.

About Luxology

Based in San Mateo, Calif., Luxology® LLC is an independent technology company developing next-generation 3D content creation software that enhances productivity via artist-friendly tools powered by a modern underlying architecture called Nexus®. Founded in 2002 by Allen Hastings, Stuart Ferguson and Brad Peebler, Luxology is home to some of the top 3D engineering expertise in the industry. More information on the company, its licensable Nexus® technology, its flagship product modo®, and a gallery of artists' images from the active modo community is available online at www.luxology.com.

About Pixologic

Founded in 1997, Pixologic® Inc. develops and markets innovative software tools for the film and video games, graphic design and illustration markets. The privately funded company is based in Los Angeles, Calif., with Research and Development located in Silicon Valley. ZBrush is a graphic application aimed at simplifying the science behind generating computer graphics. ZBrush appeals to a wide audience by providing empowering tools that give users intuitive and visual control over the digital images they create. By providing a unique synthesis of 2D and 3D capabilities in a single stand-alone tool, ZBrush collapses economic and ease-of-use barriers to creating stunning images. For additional information about Pixologic, visit www.pixologic.com, ZBrush’s artist community is available online at www.ZBrushCentral.com.

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© Copyright 2009 Luxology LLC. modo and Nexus are registered trademarks of Luxology LLC., in the USA and/or other countries. All products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Academy Award® is a registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

For more information, press only:

Lizzie Bennett, (503) 796-9822, Press Contact
Jennifer Foss, (503) 796-9822, Press Contact

Reader contact:

Luxology, LLC
1670 South Amphlett Blvd Suite 214
San Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 378-8506

Contact Luxology

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Reviews

Todd Sheridan Perry
Animation Magazine
August 2009

“Luxology is seriously out of control! I’m going to recommend that you go visit their website to check out all the colorful candy they have to offer in the Easter basket they are calling modo 401. I’m certainly not going to have enough room to even scratch the surface”

Al Dean
Develop3D
January 2010

“The development work between SolidWorks and Luxology means a bridge is being created between two complimentary 3D disciplines, a bridge that enables engineers and designers to give life to their ideas. It doesn’t matter if you’re a master at making sweet 3D graphics or just introducing your mind to the concept of a third dimension, all the old ways of creating cool looking visuals have changed. To put it bluntly, it’s now damn simple to make your models look amazing and for those who want a seamless path from parametric 3D design to animated realism, modo is it.”

Christian Choi
Live Design
January 2010

“modo is one of the most useful companions to a drafting package out there. Its rendering engine alone is worth the $1,000 price tag. It’s a first class tool that will breathe realism into your renderings and inspire you to design more. After all, what could be more useful than a tool that inspires us to take more chances in our designs?”

Kenneth Wong
Desktop Engineering
June 2009

“With the new SolidWorks importer, you can open SolidWorks files directly in modo 401. This gives you the option to create not only photo-realistic renderings but also animation sequences using SolidWorks files. In modo’s environment, you could accomplish a number of things you might not be able to do easily in a mechanical CAD program.”

Josh Mings
SolidSmack
June 2009

“The new features in modo 401 are certainly impressive. The rendering does indeed look phenomenal and who doesn’t want to be able to instantly replicate geometry. For many, it’s a tedious workflow to go from one process to the other, modeling to materials to rendering to animation and back around again if something changes. What Luxology has done is combine that process into a single interface where each step can be touched at anytime throughout.”

Mark Bremmer
MicroFilmmaker Magazine
September 2009

“The interface is easy on the eyes, chock full of contextual menus, and displays some really common- sense features that leave me crying for similar features in the other packages I work with.”

“If you have multiple computers in your studio and want to create a render farm to accelerate your renders, I’ve found no easier set up than modo.”

“The rendered output from 401 is just fantastic.”

Ed Fear
Develop Magazine
August 2009

modo 401 feature article by Ed Fear gives a great review of the software, including a strong customer angle by highlighting Black Rock Studio and id Software which emphasize how modo 401 is very well-suited for game development.

Mike de la Flor
Studio Monthly Magazine
August 2009

“The ongoing development of modo as a major powerhouse took a significant step forward with Luxology’s release of modo 401. While just about every part of modo was tweaked by its developers, this update focuses on advanced rendering features, much improved animation, enhanced workflows, and, as always, better modeling tools.”

Tom Schlander
Digital Production
Germany
July | August 2009

“Luxology hat nun mit modo 401 das nächste Level beschritten. modo 401 bietet ein noch höheres Maß an Realismus beim Rendering und die Möglichkeit, noch mehr Details in eine Szene zu bringen.”

Mark Clarkson
Desktop Engineering
December 2008

“Luxology’s modo 302 might just be the perfect tool for quickly creating and manipulating new designs.”

Allen Harkleroad
Designer Today
June 2008

“I think I just found my new favorite 3D application. I’ve been a long-time user of 3ds max, Lightwave and several other 3D tools, and I will have to say that modo 302 blows them all out of the water (literally).”

Mark Bremmer
Micro Filmaker
February 2008

9.9 out of 10 rating

“If you need to create realistic objects quickly and have them rendered in photorealistic style, without taking aspirin or late nights, get modo. If you model lots of content for your productions, but battle with the modelers in other applications, get modo.”

Mike de la Flor
3DWorld
Issue 97

“The new digital sculpting tools alone are reason to upgrade to modo 301.”

Patrick Noland
SubdivisionModeling.com
March 2007

“modo is sure to fit in most any pipeline due to its strong feature set and an application environment that allows those coming from other modeling applications to transition easily.”

Bruce Bicknell
Photoshop User Magazine
Jan/Feb 2007

imageSynth review
Five out of Five rating

“I was up and running with imageSynth in no time and I’m now creating seamless textures in one-third of the time that it used to take. ...Overall, this is one of the best plug-ins to come along in years for artists who use Photoshop.”

David March
Game Developer Magazine
5 of 5 rating

“What do you get when you add a bunch of cool features and an efficient SDS modeller to an existing tool that’s rock solid? modo 202.”

Ko Maruyama
Creative Mac
September 2006

imageSynth review

“You don’t need to have modo, or even be a 3D artist to appreciate the new Photoshop plugin from Luxology. Fueled by amazingly strong math formulae developed by Allegorithmic, imageSynth makes perfectly tiled images that can be used as backgrounds, material maps, or just about anything...”

Kelly L. Murdock
GameDev.net
September 2006

4.5 out of 5 rating

“Overall, modo 202 is a stand-out package that is focused on doing what it does better than any other package.”

Fred Galpern
Animation World Network
September 2006

“...Luxology is to be commended for offering so much in a free update, especially at a time when their competition is offering quite a bit less in expensive, less worthy updates.”

Mike de La Flor
Macworld UK
August 2006

“New paint, UV, and rendering tools make modo the new leader in subdivision modellers”

Mike de La Flor
3D World Magazine
September 2006

Range of features: 9/10
Value for money: 9/10
Overall Rating: 9/10

“modo has rapidly become the preferred modelling solution for professionals in the arenas of film, gaming, visualisation and education, and a favorite of many independent artists. One of the main reasons for its popularity is Luxology’s attention to developing a user-centric application, facilitating the working process.”

Simon Danaher
Digital Arts Magazine
July 2006

Four out of five stars

“An elegantly designed, refined 3D system.”

Ko Maruyama
Mac Animation Pro

“You can paint directly into the scene, with lightning fast results.”

Fred Galpern
VFXWorld
June 2006

“Luxology’s attention to their users’ desires sets it apart from other high-end 3D software developers.”

Mylenium
CreativeCOW.net
Review Part 2
Review Part 3

4.5 out of 5 cows

“The great thing about modo beyond its flexibility is its fresh approach to solving problems that make 3D so hard for many people.”

Sean Wagstaff
Macworld Magazine
March 2005

4.5 out of 5 mice

“The best tool we’ve seen for subdivision surface modeling.”

	Upcoming Events
	View a complete list of events of interest to the modo community. CGI at Photokina Join Luxology at the Computer Generated Imaging (CGI) stand at the Photokina Expo, September 21 - 26, 2010 in Cologne, Germany. Learn more >