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Model a Photorealistic Swiss Army Knife in Modo – Day 1

on Sep 18th 2009 with 44 comments
Tutorial Details
  • Software: Luxology Modo
  • Difficulty: Intermediate
  • Estimated Completion Time: 3+ Hours

Final Product What You'll Be Creating

This entry is part 6 of 9 in the Best Of Modo Session
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This entry is part 1 of 3 in the series Photorealistic Swiss Army Knife in Modo

Subdivision modeling is an extremely powerful tool that can allow you to add high levels of detail to your models in a relatively short amount of time. In order to use it effectively, however, one must know when, and more importantly, when not to use it.

In this three part, beginner to intermediate tutorial series, professional Modo artist, Matt Braeley, will demonstrate how to model a photorealistic Swiss Army knife, using polygonal and subdivision modeling in Luxology’s Modo 302.

On day 1 Matt will be covering the creation of the main body, and on days 2 and 3, he will add in the tools and the final details.

Additional Files/ Plugins:

Video 1

Download

Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Video 2

Download

Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

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By

Rollover to read this author's bio or click through to see a full list of posts by this author.

Matt is currently working as a freelance 3D designer in the UK, trying his hand at VFX work in his free-time. He loves learning new things, finding inspiring graphics, and dreaming up impossible fx shots.  

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  • Johan

    Marvelous tut, great tutor.

  • Bob deWitt

    Excellent teaching, Matt.

  • J. Bond

    Thanks Matt for all your efforts.
    I learned quite a few things

    1. The links for the 2nd videos download is actually pointing to same file – part 1

    2. Can you please speak a bit slower for us non-English speaking people ?

    • http://kaleb-3d.com Kaleb Aylsworth

      Ok video 2 points to the right file now:)

    • http://www.badgrenola.com Matt Brealey

      Hi J, I’m glad they were useful! And I’ll do my best to slow down slightly from now on!

      Thanks,

      Matt

  • Nico Hartto

    Wow, thanks! cgtuts+ is the best site I’ve stumbled in years :)

  • Anders

    Great tutorial, Matt. Luxology should hire you to make tutorials!

    Where do you find your reference images? Or do you make them yourself?

    • http://www.badgrenola.com Matt Brealey

      Hi Anders! So far for the tutorials on CGTuts I’ve been making my own reference images, usually by taking orthographic renders of a previous version of the model. (I’m not sure exactly what official images I’m allowed to include with the tutorial so I figure it’s best to stay safe on that one and create my own!)

      And thanks for the kind words :)

      Matt

  • http://www.nobrecursos.com.br Andeciuala Araujo Nobre

    hei man, are you apple soldier??? I just love your tutorials, you are a great teatcher… And very generous, becouse you always do that for free… at least your video tutorials on internet is! Regards from Brazil, i’m always looking at your videos. Keep it on!

    • http://www.badgrenola.com Matt Brealey

      Thanks, Mate!

      Matt

  • http://www.fuzzylizard.com Chris Johnston

    Excellent tutorials and very well done. I can’t wait for part 2.

  • Dan

    Wow!

    I just found you via the Luxology site.

    You are a *terrific* tutor!

    • http://www.badgrenola.com Matt Brealey

      Thanks, Dan! :)

  • Espen

    Exactly why is it so important to have polys with not more than 4 vertices?

    BTW great tutorials!

    Regards,
    ezpRado

    • will

      Polygons with more than 4 sides (Quads) smooth badly when you SUBD or on a curved edge, you can get away with triangles on flat surfaces and sometimes 5 sided polygons, but best to stick to quads or tris.

      On another note could you make a tutorial with modeling a full sub-d model, would be awesome.

      • http://www.badgrenola.com Matt Brealey

        Hi Espen. First of all thanks for the kind words :) What Will has said is absolutely correct – if you can find ways to avoid polygons with more than 4 vertices, you will have less smoothing/shading issues both when converting to a sub’d mesh, and at render time. It can also be an issue when you are working with many different pieces of software – although some can open/import and render these ‘N-Gons’, others may experience problems.

        Thanks!

        Matt

        P.s Thanks for holding the fort, Will! :) The second part of the tutorial does go into more detail on SubD’s – covering how I use them to enhance my traditional polygonal modelling workflow.

  • Jim Berton

    Matt, you are one of the best tutorial teachers that i have found. keep up the good work. when will the next part be released. i have learned tons in this first part.

    • http://www.badgrenola.com Matt Brealey

      Thanks, Jim, it’s appreciated!

  • Anders

    When will part 2 be up? I can’t wait to finish this fine tutorial! :-)

    • http://kaleb-3d.com Kaleb Aylsworth

      Matt has been slightly delayed with work recently, and it is still indefinite as to when part 2 will be available. Will keep you posted though!

      • Anders

        Next time you should recieve all the videos from the author before you start posting them, so you avoid this scenario. Just a thought.

  • http://www.badgrenola.com Matt Brealey

    Thanks for the support guys :)

    Anders : In most cases the way that the tutorials are created and posted works extremely well. In this case it is entirely down to me that the second part is a little later than anticipated. However things are now set up so that they should be a little smoother in the future!

    In the meantime thanks for your patience, and apologies again for the delay on this one. It’ll be up and with you ASAP.

    Matt

    • Anders

      No problem, Matt. You’re doing a great job and I understand that you’re a busy man.

  • John

    Hey Matt,

    the solids/surfaces you draw in your tutorial are slightly transparent. When I draw in Modo they’re completely opaque and it makes them harder to work with. How to I make them slightly transparent like you have?

    thanks,
    John

    • http://www.badgrenola.com Matt Brealey

      Hi John. If you hover your mouse over a viewport and tap the ‘O’ key, you’ll bring up the display options. In there you can turn on the ‘Overlay’ option, and with a Transparency level set to around 50% you should be pretty much good to go!

      Let me know if you have any trouble though.

      Thanks!

      Matt

      • http://www.roguedog.com matt

        guys, this didn’t seem to work for me. are you talking about 401? i’m really new to 3d (coming from 2d), so you may have to bear with me. thanks.

      • http://www.roguedog.com matt

        nevermind, i just found it.

        matt

  • will

    I really hate it when people whine about FREE tutorials, he is taking the time out of his life to bring random strangers on the internet free tutorials that could be put on a dvd and sold for 40+ bucks or more, just be greatful that he is doing it for free and he’s teaching you something new, being paitent would go a long way and make matt feel alot better that he doesnt have to rush to produce quality work.

    Big thanks to you matt, and keep it up :) (ps whens your website getting updated) <– sounds a little contradictive ;)

    • Anders

      Hey Will,

      I assume you are refering to me with your ‘whine’ comment. Actually, my constructive critisism was aimed at CG Tuts and not Matt. Matt is doing a great job. But I’m supporting CG network with 9 dollars every month, so I think I’m entitled to express my (constructive) opinion.

      • will

        A whole 9 dollars you must be proud, its nothing to do with CG tuts its the person who supplies the content, and seeing as they dont make it them selfs there lays your problem. you wasnt actually constructive, you offered a bad opinion on how they should fix it, they dont employ the people who do the free tutorials they relie on them, if no one did free tutorials this site wouldnt even be up.

      • Anders

        You are missing my point, but whatever.

      • Jim Berton

        knock it off kiddies or you are going to get grounded.

    • http://www.badgrenola.com Matt Brealey

      Hi Will!

      Glad you like the tutorials :) My site should be up within the next month, hopefully with some bi-weekly quick tips and things like that. Keep a look out!

      Thanks,

      Matt

  • http://www.roguedog.com matt

    matt,

    great video. i have to view it several more times, but so far, i’ve learned quite a bit. i’ve been looking for some type of tutorial(s) for beginners — me, i’m strictly 2D (graphic design). i think you’d do well if you created a series of training videos. i’d certainly be interested in a beginner type one.

    for the life of me, i can’t figure out why there isn’t a glossary of terms for modo, either built in, or online.

    anyhow, i can’t wait for video #3.

    matt

    • http://www.badgrenola.com Matt Brealey

      Thanks, Matt. I’ll hopefully have my own site up within the next few weeks and I’m aiming to have some quick-tips and perhaps one or two longer, paid, training series’ up there within the next few months (although when I say paid I’m not talking a lot!)

      Meanwhile keep an eye out here :)

      Thanks,

      Matt

  • locomoco

    By far the most excellent, easy-to-follow, informative tutorial! Many thanks for taking the time putting this up Matt!

    Have a brilliant day!

    • http://www.badgrenola.com Matt Brealey

      Thanks, locomoco! Glad you liked it :)

      Matt

  • Phil Francken

    Hi Matt,

    Great Tutorial. Learned a lot about how to use modo from them. I know someone asked you already about the reference pictures, and that you said that you made your own, as you didn’t want to get involved in a copyright fight with whomever. Since you made them yourself, would it be possible for you to make them available for downloading? Would be cool. No worries if it’s not possible. :)

    Thanks
    Phil

  • http://www.swissarmyknives.com.au/ pocket knife

    Hey its very good. I like to own it because of its look and also functionality.

  • http://www.swissarmyknives.com.au/ swiss army knife

    After visit this post I think that this knife is more useful because we can use this knife as various tools because it contains many different tools.

  • http://iumar.net Umar

    Matt .. your tutorials really helped me starting modo .. i use to work with rhino and cimema 4D .. what do you think about my work iumar.net/threedee.html .. thanks

    • http://www.badgrenola.com Matt Brealey
      Author

      Thanks for the kind words Umar, I’m really glad it helped! I took a look at your site and I love the bolts and the bearings – I’m a big fan of that kind of technical model :)

      I’d love to see your what you come up with if you work through this tutorial.

      Cheers!

      Matt

      • http://iumar.net Umar

        Yeah infect i did it long time back using rhino and cinema4d and interesting part is i also love technical / mechanical models :) .. now i am concentrating on modo and frankly speaking the way you teach is awesome i learned a lot .. I’d love to show you when i ll come up with something .. thanks a million Matt

  • http://www.willusher.com Will Usher

    These videos are a great example of Americanism’s! Ha.