IntroductionThese tools are in beta. Please forgive any shortcomings — and proceed with caution.The Scripts and Config files 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 fix), 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 Config file: GroBotoTools_modo501_v104.CFG• Four modo Perl Scripts (Essential modeling aids created specifically for working with

GroBoto’s 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 don’t, but you might get unexpected results.

Thanks & Best Wishes,Darrel

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit v104 • BetaScripts and Config Files for GroBoto/modo modeling.

Contents:

Setup • Un-Installing Previous Toolkit Versions 3

Setup • Installing the Configuration and Script files 4

GroBoto Mesh Prep Controls 5

GroBoto Mesh Separator Controls 6

GroBoto Patch Seam Weight-n-Slice Controls 7

GroBoto Seam Falloff Controls 8

Seam Falloff Examples 9

Imported Patches & Parts 10

Imported Parts & Materials 11

Imported Seam Selections & Weight Maps 12

Mesh Separator, Materials & Shader Groups 13

Notes & Tips 14

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 it’s skipped.

In modo’s right-side Panels...

• Right Click on the GroBoto ToolKit Tab• Select Viewport Controls>Delete from the popup

menu.• Quit modo

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit • 3 .

!g. 1 - Removing older GroBoto Toolkit Tab

Setup • Installing the Configuration and Script files

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 & config files from your modo user Configs and Scripts folders (the old files have the same names as these new v104 files, but end in ‘_v102’ or ‘v103’).

After extracting the new scripts from the v104 Toolkit archive, place them in your modo user Configs and Scripts folders.

modo can find and open your user Config & Scripts folders with the System Menu items Open User Configs Folder and Open User Scripts Folder... here are the paths just for the record:

OS X /Users/YourUserName/Library/Application Support/LuxologyXP/2000 C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\LuxologyVista Win7 C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Luxology

After copying the GroBoto's Config & Script files 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, here’s one we recommend (Zoom in on this PDF to see clearly).

Adding the Groboto Toolkit as a tab to an existing panel:In modo’s right-side Panel / Tab View...

• Click the little Plus-Sign (fig 2). • Select Application>Form View from the popup menu (fig 3).

• Right-Click on the new Form View tab (fig 4. obscured by popup in this snapshot). • Select Viewport Settings>GroBoto ToolKit from the popup menu.

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit • 4 .

!g 2. !g 3. !g 4.

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 file. 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.

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit • 5 .

!g. 5 - Toolkit’s Mesh Prep Controls

GroBoto Mesh Separator Controls

This Tool separates a mesh (specifically a mesh imported from a GroBoto generated OBJ file), 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 modo’s Item List (see page 13).

Setup in GroBoto

For this tool to work, two options in GroBoto’s Export Panel must be enabled when creating the OBJ (fig 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 modo’s Lists tab after import).

For more detail on how GroBoto generated OBJ files 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 SheetAfter 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 Sheet’s 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 modo’s 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 modo’s Lists > Statistics > Polygons > Material).

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit • 6 .

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

!g. 7 - Toolkit’s Mesh Separator Controls

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 modo’s 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 Patch’s 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 fixed.

[9] Weight Profile Type & Amp Offers either a tight, sharp turn where the interior of the patch meets the seam, or a more rounded profile. 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).

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 • 7 .

!g. 8 - Toolkit’s Weight & Slice Controls

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 modo’s 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 (It’s fine if the selection extends beyond the seam row polys — any excess will be automatically trimmed).

[12] Falloff Length: The number of propagation steps (like modo’s polygon ‘grow selection’, but confined 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 Profile Falloff: Defines how the weightmap falls off across the width of the seam. The options are:None - Flat - Constant value across the seamLinear - Triangular profile with peak at Seam’s centerRound(s) - Bell-like, round hump at Seam’s centerSharp(s) - Sharp spike in center leveling at edges

[13] Seam Profile Bevel Rows: Defines number of outer Seam Rows that will have a Linear Profile (regardless of the Seam Profile Falloff option selected above). Best bevel is with the None - Flat option — yielding a profile with a flat top and beveled sides.

[14] Create Weight Map: This is the ‘Run’ button. We don’t 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 it’s OK to deactivate them (Falloffs interfere with the Tool’s functions). The Tool expects to find 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 • 8 .

Seam Falloff Examples

These images show the set up and creation of a Seam Falloff Weight Maps (fig 1a and 1b).

The effect of that Seam Falloff Weight maps on a simple vertical translation, is shown in figure 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.

A video with step-by-step examples — and examples of the Seam Profile options — is available here:http://www.groboto.com/v3/Samples/GroBoModo-or- http://youtu.be/daxVsJJwXsg

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit • 9 .

1. A few polys selected2. Falloff length set to 50. No Ease In or Out3. Pro!le set to Flat

Resulting Weight Map No Ease In/Out

Ease In 50 Ease Out 50

1a

1b 1c

1d 1e

2a 2b 2c

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 GroBoto’s Group by Patch Option [1]. It offers the finest-grained

selection options in modo.

This illustration shows the recommended GroBoto Mesh Output/Export settings (Top), and one of the benefits 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 GroBoto’s 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 modo’s 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 Cylinder’s surface #0• is Patch #0 from that surface

Surface & Patch numbers are 0 based. A single surface -- like a Cylinder’s 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.

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit • 10 .

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

Imported Parts & MaterialsGroBoto Imported Parts & Script-Generated Maps & SelectionsWhen 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 Toolkit’s Mesh Separator has been applied, creating three meshes (seen in modo’s Items List) Note that Item Mesh names match the Material Polys in modo’s Statistics List. See page 13 for more on relationships between GroBoto Groups, Meshes, Lists and the Mesh Separator Tool.

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit • 11 .

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

Imported Seam Selections & Weight MapsGroBoto Mesh Prep (see page 5) creates two selection sets (consisting of all or part of GroBoto’s 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/groBotzGroBoto Site - Toolkit Videos: http://www.groboto.com/v3/Samples/GroBoModo

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit • 12 .

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

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 file. 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 fit with GroBoto’s bitmap output. When the Separate Meshes for each GroBoto Group option is selected, a separate texture map image file 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, (fig. 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 modo’s Item List (fig. 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 modo’s Item List.

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit • 13 .

!g. 10 - Left to Right: Before Separator; After Separator; Shader Tree after Separator

Notes & Tips

The Basic StepsWe will have a new video soon, and the existing videos are still quite relevant. Meanwhile here’s 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 Group-Based 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 it’s own

Seam and Map Export settings. A separate texture Bitmap file will be created for each Group.

C. Export with the following settings: (see fig. 11 — of course bitmap size and various seam settings will vary with each model).1. Separate Meshes for each GroBoto Group • On2. Group by Patch Selected3. GroBoto Group-based Material Tags • On4. Vertex Map set to • As OBJ Normals5. Bitmaps • On

D. Import OBJ in modo.E. Run GroBoto Prep Tool.F. Run Mesh Separator.G. 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.

GroBoto-to-modo Toolkit • 14 .

!g. 11 - Recommended Export Settings for maximum Toolkit Leverage & Options