Hi rampackwobble, I've attached the patch here so you can give it a try.

To apply the patch download the attached lwo_contour_export_patch.zip file, and unzip it and copy the 3 included files into the MoI 2.0 installation folder. Then make sure MoI is not currently running, and then run the update.cmd file.

(NOTE: if you're on Windows 7 or Vista, the UAC system prevents the update.cmd file from writing to the "Program Files" folder, so either temporarily disable UAC or open up an admin command shell as described here and then run update.cmd from that command shell)

Then to activate the new LWO export option you need to enable it in moi.ini - to do that open up the moi.ini file for editing, there is a button for that in MoI under Options > General > "Edit .ini file".

Inside the .ini file, go to the [LWO] section and add in this entry:

[LWO]
WritePartTags=y

You can just add that as a new line at the end of the [LWO] section.


That will then make "Part" tags exported to the LWO file, with the polygons generated from each surface in the original NURBS model assigned to a different numbered Part tag. With those Part tags set up it is then possible to enable the contour rendering in Modo 501, so that a border will be rendered between the different surfaces in the original NURBS model.

Maybe PaQ can post some pointers about where those settings are at in Modo to enable the contour rendering inside there.

- Michael

Nice modelisation & rendering!

Fabulous! Nice work PaQ.

Thanks for adding this Michael.

I can see 501 has some serious high end anime potential.

@ paQ - I've always found your ships inspiring. That style really suits them too. Awesome.

@danperk - Very nice. You almost have a mecha thing going. For some reason I'm reminded of Ghost In The Shell (if you're familiar with that). The first movie. Definitely a great render.

Michael, this quick response to your users just got you a sale.

I have had my eye on moi for a while now, but now that I have 501 and I saw this cool new feature you added it just tipped me over the edge.

I am really excited about learning nurbs, and from what I've seen moi looks ideal.

Wow! PaQ, that is awesome.

Thanks Michael!

Hello there,

Thanks everone

So to render the contour in modo :

- Turn the mesh into a static mesh ('change type in the item list')
- In the Shader tree, Final Color output ... activate the contours and use the segment boundaries method

That's it !

Pay attention, converting a mesh into a static mesh discard the uv's, so you might loose some of your shading work.

Very nice models and great renders. I like your style a lot.

Don

Ah this is brilliant. Thankyou so much!

Andy

Ditto. Great looking renders. Thanks for the patch. I have modo 501 so have installed the patch.

Cheers
Nigel / 3DKiwi

Wow! Really cool models and rendering!

Another bit of information for those wanting to render the countours in Lightwave. In modeler there is a parts to surface command. If you run this on the model, you can then turn on surface borders in Layout and it will render nice edges along those borders.

They look like "MoI' renders after a little ground shadow and reflection additions... !!!! :o

Just had to try it myself. :) Certainly better then the previous workflow I had for rendering curves in Modo.

Looks great Andy!

Did you also generate the image at a larger initial size and then downscale it?

- Michael

No I didn't, this was the actual size of the render. I did increase the edge width from 1 px to 2px, and I wonder if that helps smooth out the antialiasing on the lines.

Very cool stuff in this thread, well done guys.

Cheers

Thanks for the new functionality Michael, and thanks to Paq for testing, (and I suspect suggesting).

I did some experimenting with this and found that if you have a solid object the whole object will be
outlined, as in the background object. If you want all parts outlined as in the foreground object then
you just need to use Edit - Separate in Moi before exporting to LWO.

Hi danperk - actually you're supposed to be able to keep it together as a solid when you export.

Do you notice any difference if you export with welding turned on or off?

Are you doing this in Modo or LightWave?

Also do you have the contour mode set to "segment boundaries" and not the other "surfaces" option for it?

- Michael