GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit v104 Beta

Scripts and Cong Files for GroBoto/modo modeling.

Introduction
These tools are in beta. Please forgive any shortcomings and proceed with caution. The Scripts and Cong les have only been tested with modo 501 & 601. GroBoto v3.2 (free update for all GroBoto v3 owners), is required to use the GroBoto Group-Based Material Tags, and Separate Groups for each GroBoto Group options. ...just a few small changes (and a bug x), since v103. Look for: v104 Note: in the text. This documentation is a bit sparse, and should be used together with our YouTube videos. Especially this one: http://www.youtube.com/user/groBotz#p/a/u/0/xSt2OjTpqUg ...although created with the v102 Toolkit, that video does cover most of the information in this PDF, and shows the Tools in action. It does not show the new Mesh Separator Tool. For latest videos and Toolkit Updates see: http://www.groboto.com/v3/Samples/GroBoModo

The Toolkit contains:

This Document. One modo Cong le: GroBotoTools_modo501_v104.CFG Four modo Perl Scripts (Essential modeling aids created specically for working with GroBotos OBJ output). GroBotoPrep_modo501_v104.pl GroBotoPatchEdit_modo501_v104.pl GroBotoInitTools_modo501_v104.pl GroBotoMeshSplit_modo501_v104.pl

The Scripts behind this Toolkit are beta versions but we believe they are pretty solid and complete at this point. More GroBoto-modo scripts will be added to this Toolkit soon. Basic error checking is in place. It is still a good idea to have the proper selections active before running them as described below. Nothing bad will happen if you dont, but you might get unexpected results. Thanks & Best Wishes, Darrel

Contents:
Setup Un-Installing Previous Toolkit Versions Setup Installing the Conguration and Script les GroBoto Mesh Prep Controls GroBoto Mesh Separator Controls GroBoto Patch Seam Weight-n-Slice Controls GroBoto Seam Falloff Controls Seam Falloff Examples Imported Patches & Parts Imported Parts & Materials Imported Seam Selections & Weight Maps Mesh Separator, Materials & Shader Groups Notes & Tips 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit

Setup Un-Installing Previous Toolkit Versions

Skip this page if you do not have a a prior version of the GroBoto Toolkit installed. Removing the GroBoto Toolkit Tab:
We are not sure this step is necessary, however a few users have reported odd behavior if its skipped.

In modos right-side Panels...

Right Click on the GroBoto ToolKit Tab Select Viewport Controls>Delete from the popup menu. Quit modo

g. 1 - Removing older GroBoto Toolkit Tab

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit

Setup Installing the Conguration and Script les

All of this is covered in the video: http://www.youtube.com/user/groBotz#p/a/u/0/xSt2OjTpqUg
If you have an earlier version of the Toolkit installed, remove those scripts & cong les from your modo user Congs and Scripts folders (the old les have the same names as these new v104 les, but end in _v102 or v103). After extracting the new scripts from the v104 Toolkit archive, place them in your modo user Congs and Scripts folders. modo can nd and open your user Cong & Scripts folders with the System Menu items Open User Congs Folder and Open User Scripts Folder... here are the paths just for the record: OS X /Users/YourUserName/Library/Application Support/Luxology XP/2000 C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\Luxology Vista Win7 C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Luxology After copying the GroBoto's Cong & Script les to the proper folders (and quitting/relaunching modo if it was open) you are ready to add the GroBoto Toolkit controls to modo's UI. There are several options, heres one we recommend (Zoom in on this PDF to see clearly).

Adding the Groboto Toolkit as a tab to an existing panel:

In modos right-side Panel / Tab View...
Click the little Plus-Sign (g 2). Select Application>Form View from the popup menu (g 3). Right-Click on the new Form View tab (g 4. obscured by popup in this snapshot). Select Viewport Settings>GroBoto ToolKit from the popup menu.

g 2.

g 3.

g 4.

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit

GroBoto Mesh Prep Controls

The top portion of the Toolkit contains GroBoto's Prep Tool controls. This Tool should be applied immediately after importing your GroBoto OBJ le. It does several things: [1] Creates a couple of useful Selection Sets based on GroBoto's seam network. We recommend setting this to 1 less than the number of Seam Rows set in GroBoto. [2] Optionally converts the imported Surface Normal Map to two Weight Maps (only valid if you exported with Groboto's Output in Normals vertex map option). We recommend setting the Map Strength to 1.0 (full strength). Other values are most useful if you intend to mix these vertex maps with others. [3] Optionally activates Catmull-Clark subdivision. We recommended the default value of 2 (Current level is set to 1). This makes the Weight-n-Slice editing more effective, but is conservative because GroBoto meshes are fairly dense. Creates a Comment Tag recording the options used. That tag lets us warn you if you attempt to run the Prep Tool on the same mesh again.

g. 5 - Toolkits Mesh Prep Controls

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit

GroBoto Mesh Separator Controls

This Tool separates a mesh (specically a mesh imported from a GroBoto generated OBJ le), into several separate meshes. The new meshes are based on GroBoto Groups in the source GroBoto model. Before Running: Your selection should be the imported mesh item in modos Item List (see page 13).

Setup in GroBoto
For this tool to work, two options in GroBotos Export Panel must be enabled when creating the OBJ (g 6 -zoom in for better look): Separate meshes for each GroBoto Group Add GroBoto Group-based Material Tags On import, modo automatically converts the OBJ material groups into modo material tagged polygon sets (as seen in modos Lists tab after import). For more detail on how GroBoto generated OBJ les are translated into modo elements, maps & selections, see pages 10 through 13.

Applying in modo
Fig. 7: Toolkit - Mesh Separator Controls [5] GroBoto Mesh Separator Control Sheet After import (and optionally running the GroBoto Prep Tool, above), we are ready to separate the imported mesh using the controls in this section of the Toolkit tab. [6] The Sheets two Control Items Create Shader Groups Create Meshes from Material Groups The Create Meshes from Material Groups Button is the Apply button. It runs the script which separates the single imported mesh into several new meshes based on, and named from, any material-tagged GroBoto Groups found in the imported OBJ mesh. If the Create Shader Groups Popup is Yes, this tool also creates new Shader Groups in the modos Shader Tree. These new Shader Tree Groups match the new meshes, and have their Polygon Tag set to that same named material polygon selection (as found in modos Lists > Statistics > Polygons > Material).

g. 6 - GroBoto Output Panels Top:Mac Bottom:Win

g. 7 - Toolkits Mesh Separator Controls

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit

GroBoto Patch Seam Weight-n-Slice Controls

This Tool sets up GroBoto Patches for easy, editing (See Patches & Parts, page 9). It creates a Vertex Weight Map that is solid (100%) in the patch interior, tapering to 0 across the Seam Rows surrounding the patch. When that Weight map is used as modos Falloff, the Patch responds in a smooth, elegant way to any mesh modeling tool. The Tool can be used on a single patch or any combination of several. Before Running: Your selection should be made with the Materials Selection Mode, and the Polygon Tag Type set to Part... as shown in the video. [8] Slice Start Row, Slice End Row, Slices Per Row Determines which quad loops surrounding the selected patch(s) will be divided by slicing. Slice End Row should never be more than the Strip Rows setting used when exporting from GroBoto. Rows are counted outward from the sean center, starting with 1. For example, a setting of Start Row 1, and End Row 2 would slice the row closest to the seam center, and one more towards the Patchs center. Setting Start & End equal, slices just that row. Slices per Row Determines how many slices are created for each row. One slice creates 2 rows, 2 slices creates 3, etc. The total number of rows will be: ((End Row - Start Row) + 1) x (Slices per Row + 1) NOTE: Set Slices per Row to 0 if you want to generate the Weight maps without modifying the mesh. v104 Note: Did not work in 103 - has been xed. [9] Weight Prole Type & Amp Offers either a tight, sharp turn where the interior of the patch meets the seam, or a more rounded prole. In both cases this is achieved by setting the Vertex Weight values, which in turn effect how individual seam rows react to modeling tools (when the Weight Maps are used for modo Falloff).

g. 8 - Toolkits Weight & Slice Controls

Amp sets the degree of bias of that Vertex weighting higher values creating a stronger leaning towards Sharp or Rounded behavior. [10] Set as Falloff Automatically sets the newly created Weight Map as the current Falloff (or optionally adds it to any currently active Falloffs). You can always choose the Weight Maps as your Falloff later if you decide to switch this option off. Notes: v104 Note: This Tool now names the Weight Maps to match the selected Patch - see next page. It creates two Weight Maps (the second one has NOT appended to the name). The NOT patch has the Weight of everything except the selected Patch to 1.0 (100%).

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit

GroBoto Seam Falloff Controls

This Tool sets up GroBoto Seams for easy, sophisticated, editing (See Exported Seam Selections & Weight Maps, page 11). It creates Vertex Weightmaps that fade along the length of the Seam and, optionally across the. Using that Weightmap as modos Falloff gives a smooth, elegant behavior to any modo modeling tool. The Weight map is generated by growing, or propagating, along the seam. This propagation starts (with a weight of 100%) at any selected polygons or vertices that lie on the seam rows, and fades out gradually. Before Running: Use on GroBoto meshes that have been processed with the GroBoto Prep Tool (page 5) Make your Poly or Vertex selections on any seam rows selections should cover entire width of seam rows (Its ne if the selection extends beyond the seam row polys any excess will be automatically trimmed). [12] Falloff Length: The number of propagation steps (like modos polygon grow selection, but conned to seam polys). [12] Ease In & Ease Out: When these are both zero, Falloff along the length of the seam is linear. Positive values make the falloff shallower at the start (Ease In), and/or end (Ease Out). Negative values make the falloff steeper. [13] Seam Prole Falloff: Denes how the weightmap falls off across the width of the seam. The options are: None - Flat - Constant value across the seam Linear - Triangular prole with peak at Seams center Round(s) - Bell-like, round hump at Seams center Sharp(s) - Sharp spike in center leveling at edges

[13] Seam Prole Bevel Rows: Denes number of outer Seam Rows that will have a Linear Prole (regardless of the Seam Prole Falloff option selected above). Best bevel is with the None - Flat option yielding a prole with a at top and beveled sides. [14] Create Weight Map: This is the Run button. We dont call it Apply because running the tool does not change any geometry and only creates new Weightmaps in a sense, changing nothing). When run, the Weightmap is created and made the active Falloff. All of the vertices effected by the Weightmap are selected (and only those vertices). Notes: If there are active Falloffs when you run this Tool, an alert will ask if its OK to deactivate them (Falloffs interfere with the Tools functions). The Tool expects to nd a Polygon Selection Set named seamCenterRows (normally created when you run the GroBoto Prep Tool (see page 5) on a newly imported GroBoto Mesh.

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit

1. A few polys selected 2. Fallo length set to 50. No Ease In or Out 3. Pro le set to Flat

Seam Falloff Examples

These images show the set up and creation of a Seam Falloff Weight Maps (g 1a and 1b). The effect of that Seam Falloff Weight maps on a simple vertical translation, is shown in gure 1c. Figures 1d and 1e show the same translation applied to weight maps created with different Ease settings. Figures 2a - 2c show the same process with multiple Seed polygons selected prior to generating the Weight Map.
Ease Out 50

1a
Resulting Weight Map No Ease In/Out

1b
Ease In 50

1c

A video with step-by-step examples and examples of the Seam Prole options is available here: http://www.groboto.com/ v3/Samples/GroBoModo

-or-

http://youtu.be/ daxVsJJwXsg

1d

1e

2a

2b

2c

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit

10

Imported Patches & Parts

What we call Patches in GroBoto become Parts in modo when you use GroBoto's Group by Patch export option [1]. These Parts are then easily selected in modo with the Materials Edit Mode [2], and the Select>Polygon Tag Type set to Part [3]. They also show up in modo's Lists [4]. We recommend using GroBotos Group by Patch Option [1]. It offers the nest-grained selection options in modo. This illustration shows the recommended GroBoto Mesh Output/Export settings (Top), and one of the benets of using those settings after modo import (Bottom). For good Patches & Parts import, the only critical GroBoto setting is Group By Patch [1]. That provides you with easy access to GroBotos smallest export element, Patches. Patches are sub-elements of Primitives (for example a Cylinder has 3 patches: Sidewall and two Caps). Additional patches are formed by the intersection of GroBoto Primitives. Any set of polygons surrounded by seams (edge loops), is considered a unique patch. As seen in modos Statistics Panel, [4], each patch has a descriptive name inherited from the imported GroBoto OBJ. v104 Note: Naming is now more descriptive: seatFoot-L Obj: 324:Cylinder Surf:0 Patch:0 Indicates a patch/part that: belongs to the GroBoto Group Wheel comes from Object #284 in the model is from a Cylinder Object type comes from that Cylinders surface #0 is Patch #0 from that surface

Surface & Patch numbers are 0 based. A single surface -- like a Cylinders sidewall -may be divided into several patches due to intersections with other surfaces ...all of which will be quite clear once you try selecting by material/part as described above.
g. 9 - GroBoto Output Panels Top:Mac Bottom:Win

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit

11

Imported Parts & Materials

GroBoto Imported Parts & Script-Generated Maps & Selections When exporting with the Select by Patch option in GroBoto, each GroBoto Patch is converted to a modo Part. Those Parts are named based on their GroBoto Group Name, Primitive Number, Primitive Type, and Surface number (see previous page). A single GroBoto Group typically contains many objects and even more individual Patches/Parts. The Parts are essential to editing GroBoto-Created models in modo, and are the key element used by the GroBoto Patch Seam Weight-n-Slice tool (see page 7). This illustration shows modo elements derived from an imported GroBoto OBJ. In this example, the Toolkits Mesh Separator has been applied, creating three meshes (seen in modos Items List) Note that Item Mesh names match the Material Polys in modos Statistics List. See page 13 for more on relationships between GroBoto Groups, Meshes, Lists and the Mesh Separator Tool.

g. 10 - GroBoto Output Panels Top:Mac Bottom:Win

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit

12

Imported Seam Selections & Weight Maps

GroBoto Mesh Prep (see page 5) creates two selection sets (consisting of all or part of GroBotos seam quad rows depending on your choice when running the Prep Tool). These selections are very handy for setting Edge Weights, and creating Ridge/Channel geometry see our Videos:

YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/groBotz GroBoto Site - Toolkit Videos: http://www.groboto.com/v3/Samples/GroBoModo

g. 9 - GroBoto Output Panels Top:Mac Bottom:Win

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit

13

Mesh Separator, Materials & Shader Groups

The Mesh Separator (see page 6) divides a single imported Mesh into several meshes based on the GroBoto Groups in the OBJ le. The OBJ material tag (usemtl), delineates the new meshes. That frees the OBJ group tag (g), for sub-elements like patches or objects... giving you easy access to both in modo. Using the material tag is also a natural t with GroBotos bitmap output. When the Separate Meshes for each GroBoto Group option is selected, a separate texture map image le is saved for each group. The Mesh Separator creates new meshes with their original GroBoto Group names. Optionally, it also creates a matching set of Shader Tree Groups, (g. 10, right image), with their Polygon Tag properties set to match the new meshes. Before Running: Your selection must be an imported mesh item in modos Item List (g. 10 left image, top arrow). Note that the material poly groups are available before running the Separator. After running, (center image), separate meshes replace the original mesh in modos Item List.
g. 10 - Left to Right: Before Separator; After Separator; Shader Tree after Separator

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit

14

Notes & Tips

The Basic Steps
We will have a new video soon, and the existing videos are still quite relevant. Meanwhile heres a very basic step-by-step that focuses on the new GroBoto v3.2 features and how to leverage them with this v104 Toolkit. GroBoto v3.2 (free update), is required to use the GroBoto GroupBased Material Tags, and Separate Groups for each GroBoto Group options. For latest videos and Toolkit Updates see: http://www.groboto.com/v3/Samples/GroBoModo

A. Create yourModel in GroBoto. B. Assign Primitives and Boolean Clusters to GroBoto Groups. Each Group can have its own
Seam and Map Export settings. A separate texture Bitmap le will be created for each Group. C. Export with the following settings: (see g. 11 of course bitmap size and various seam settings will vary with each model). 1. Separate Meshes for each GroBoto Group On 2. Group by Patch Selected 3. GroBoto Group-based Material Tags On 4. Vertex Map set to As OBJ Normals 5. Bitmaps On

D. E. F. G.

Import OBJ in modo. Run GroBoto Prep Tool. Run Mesh Separator. Model in modo with Patch Seam Weight-n-Slice (and any/every other cool modo tool).

We recommend using the 16-Bit image options (TIFF or PNG), for Bitmaps. Especially if you intend on using them for displacement.
g. 11 - Recommended Export Settings for maximum Toolkit Leverage & Options