Hello RobertH,

It's been years since I've taken a look at formZ, also being under the impression that it was mainly targeted at the AEC market. I see some real similarities (with workflow improvements) to Rhino+ADSM+Tsplines, with formZ Pro coming in at one third of the cost. Thanks for the info, it certainly looks like a strong contender for design work.

Hi OSTexo,

Yes, when I looked at formZ some years back, I wasn't that impressed. But since version 7, it seems like a whole new beast. With the version 8 addition of sub division tools I decided to give it another look. It does have a lot of tools for architectural design, but with the addition of the flowing organic lines used by Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid and Santiago Calatrava. In fact it was when I saw a model of a Zaha Hadid building and the Valencia Opera House by Calatrava done in formZ that it occurred to me that it could be used for so much more than just architecture. Being grounded in architecture with many design professionals depending on it is a good thing, with a lot of the quirks already worked out and for creating the good solid geometry necessary for 3D printing and CNC milling.

It has been used in movies for miniature model design, set design, pre-visualization, etc. in movies like Minority Report, John Carter, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jumper, Transformers, Time Machine and many, many more. It is used by animators, illustrators, engineers, industrial designers, urban planners and architects. It's a great surface and solid modeler. I've only been using it for a short time but I really like it.

Looking at some of the videos of the new Zbrush 4R7 you can create some really cool models. But when you analyze the work flow in those videos it looks so incredibly tedious to get anything done, not to mention, making any significant modifications must be a nightmare. FormZ lets you quickly put together a design and easily refine it. There's a definite learning curve but it seems so much faster than some of the other modeling software that I've looked at. Try the free 30 day demo, I think you'll be impressed.

I used FormZ for about 10 years. Its very powerful and the interface is well thought out, and I miss it.

The demand for parametric models with construction history as well as an industry standard native file format forced me to move to something else (SolidWorks).

Hi chrisd,

SolidWorks looks really cool but it was just too expensive for me. How do you like it and how does it compare to formZ? Just curious, what is the industry standard native file format? Thanks chrisd.

Hi Blindfoldjump,

I'm also trying to create concept cars with sub-d modeling and with nurbs and moi3d too.Many years ago I have tried to learn to create my concept cars with 3ds max,then I saw blender3d is improving it's tools often so I decided to learn blender3d sub-d modeling.Today I'm pretty good with 3d modeling cars,airplanes so I'm selling my 3d models on online 3d stock markets.I must admit I'm not very patient with smaller details.Three years ago I also decided to invest in graphic tablet and I'm practicing my sketching with autodesk sketchbook pro in my spare time.I'm selftaught designer(enthysiast),but I'm giving my best to represent my concepts best I can,to learn and to always improve my skills.Even I've never finished design or art school I worked as graphical and industrial packaging designer,where I learned to work with Rhino 4.0 and promissed me some day I will invest in something similar in the future,so I invested in moi3d.I also learned when I worked 1 year as industrial packaging designer,that nurbs and cad are industrial standard,but today maybe it is different so people who create sub-d models also has their part in creation real prototypes.I know back then, when I designed a bottle in blender3d(sub-d modeling),I also had to build it in rhino3d to be usable for real prototyping.Anyway because my passion for cardesign I learned to build my ideas with blender3d and with moi3d,but as Michael Gibson told you patch by patch without continuity in surfaces.More often I have the problem to create fillets for my sharp edges,if there would better tools for that kind of operations it would be awesome.My method of work when I create my concept cars is next.I create pretty fast car with blender3d,if my client like it I then use this 3d model as a reference and I simplify it or change design in moi3d V3 version.My aim is to create even better design with moi3d,then I create it with blender3d sub-d modeling software.If you want to learn sub-d modeling in blender3d you could check it on link below.

http://cgcookie.com/blender/cgc-courses/modeling-motorcycle/ for this course you have to pay 18$ but worths.I payed it for 1 month and I learned a lot.Also on that website you can find other free tutorials.

http://cgcookie.com/blender/cgc-courses/modeling-a-porsche-911-gt3-rs/

Check my 3d models created and designed with blender3d on my behance portfolio if you like.
https://www.behance.net/zenox3d

That was sub-d modeling now on links below you could check what I have created so far with moi3d,what I think looks pretty descent.
http://www.cgtrader.com/3d-models/aircraft/sport-private/honda-jet-private-aircraft-restyled
http://www.cgtrader.com/3d-models/aircraft/commercial/boeing-787-8-comercial-aircraft-cad-model
https://www.behance.net/gallery/15975325/Exona-2-stylish-concept-CAD-project


I've learned a lot on how to build my 3d models with moi3d by watching tutorials about rhino3d and particulalrly with solidworks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V71WJkLuZq4

Anyway I hope so this post and my advices will help you to chose the right tool for your workflow.

Robert,

There are a few parametric modelers that are in common use, SolidWorks, Pro Engineer, Unigraphics (now Siemens). I only have SolidWorks myself, and it seems SolidWorks files are generally well accepted. I would hesitate to call any one application the standard though.

I really like that FormZ can work equally well with meshes and nurbs surfaces, and I miss that in SolidWorks.

Thanks Chris, just to clarify, what your saying is that the SolidWorks native format is considered a standard format? What file type extension does it use?

Just out of curiosity, did you get a chance to play with the new formZ sub division tools in version 8? If so what did you think of them?

Thanks again for your reply!

Robert,

Yes, SolidWorks is a standard format for parametric/history based CAD but there are a few others including ProE and Unigraphics/Siemens.
Extensions are SLDPRT (part file), SLDASM (assembly file, references part files), SLDDRW (drawing file)

These programs are common for engineering and some product applications.

Chris:
” the control mesh and edge/vertex weighting will be lost. However, the object won't change shape”
Outstanding – thats all I needed to know. I will get that plug-in. Thanks for the tip Chris

RobertH:
Thanks for the links.
So far with FormZ Im very impressed by it. The UI doesn't feel as intuitive as MoI does though. However the time spent for the learning might be worth it, you have certainly made alot of great arguments for it and the software hasn't shown anything that would speak against what you say. Im still leaning back and forth here between Rhino and FormZ, still need some more experience in both software's to be able to take a mature decision.

You're quite right, there are alot of videos showing the different features, which is awesome. I would however love to see one where the modeler actually goes through a longer and perhaps more complex modeling task to really understand the capabilities. Do you know of any?

Nikola:
Thanks alot for taking the time and sharing your experiences and your workflow. Very informative for me. I checked out your stuff, and really like your designs, especially ”E futureOn”-concept, strong design.

Regarding Blender: I have to say that I really like Blender. And even more I like how they decided to create and open source free software. I think this will boost alot of users to develop the software together as a community which will most certainly lead to something amazing in the future (if not already). If I would have known about Blender earlier I probably would have chosen it as my sub-d modeler, however I already bought my license for MODO and also Im very interested in following the development of Meshfusion as an exploratory design tool, so I think I will stick to MODO. Thanks alot anyway for showing me the videos on it.

Hi

Sorry for the late reply, I've been away...

Here are some videos you may like:

Note that in the models/modeling that are shown in the videos, have anti-alias turned off and the display resolution is set to simple medium. This can be easily changed and you get a much higher resolution display, (if your hardware can handle it of course, I have absolutely no problem on my system). And you can switch between these at any time.

bonzai3d - Designing a sleek aerodynamic land sailer (bonzai3d is an older subset of formZ)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ5FoZPQlF4

Discover form•Z: Creating contemporary 3D forms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LTD-k2VB-E

Subdivision modeling and 3D Printing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGNucQ83__w

Discover form•Z 2 parts: parametric modeling in a modern fluid interface
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdVm0dSn6mY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBuSkTdxgpg

build a house in 30 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n0FGm3kw2I

bonzai3d - Valencia Opera House (bonzai3d is an older subset of formZ)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bvkIC5NmO8

Fabricating a Lattice Structure with form•Z
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N9SupPkbFU

Hey
Thanks again Robert! Looking forward to go through these :)

10 minutes Car blocking out.

Thanks for the video Andrei. I've always wanted to model a car - now I have the tools to attempt it. But it will have to be a car of my own design, so no one can say it doesn't look like a Porsche :)

After forming the body in NVil I'll use MoI for the wheels, lights, trim pieces, ect.

In MoI, I should be able to project curves onto the body and make NURBs headlight lenses for example. Not sure which smaller components are best to make in sub-D and which are best for MoI.

Ed Ferguson

And this one :)
For those who like to make details in MoI.

Hey blindfoldjump,

I found a tutorial for creating a dune buggy in formZ that I thought you might find interesting:

ftp://ftp.formz.com/pub/formz/PDF_files/tutorials/version_8/dune_buggy.pdf


These are pretty cool too:

ftp://ftp.formz.com/pub/formz/PDF_files/tutorials/version_8/bicycle_wheel.pdf

ftp://ftp.formz.com/pub/formz/PDF_files/tutorials/version_8/shells.pdf



BTW what did you think of the videos?

Thanks Robert!

"BTW what did you think of the videos?"

Well so far everything seems great about FormZ. Im currently taking a break from my vehicle designs, working on some real-life projects to pay the bills :)
When I get back I will purchase MoI (my trial finished a couple of weeks back) also I will take a decision on what other software to purchase, FormZ is certainly on top of the list, the videos youve provided are helping a ton.

I will start posting on this forum when my designs are getting somewhere, showing the progress and also asking about the problems I will (most certainly) run into :)
Thanks again Robert!

Best
Niklas

Hi Niklas,

I've had FormZ for a couple of years now. I purchased it because I couldn't get SketchUp to easily create watertight models for my 3D printer. FormZ, like MoI is a solids modeler and it's a big difference.

I ended up taking a hard look at MoI just a few months ago based on another user who's work I admire.

While I agree about much that has been said regarding MoI not being able to be a full auto modeling package, I have to say, it does pretty well.

Here's a render of a model I completed in a few days, which is going into a video and magazine on future transportation. It's the first time I had to really push MoI to get it to do some things, but for the very most part, I'm happy.



I tried creating the canopy/body in a SubD program, but it looked to 'soft', then I tried in SketchUp and no matter what I did I couldn't get it right. So I created all of the compound surfaces, top, sides, left, right, and bottom, and then trimmed them with each other. And then I used the blend tool to connect everything up. Worked out pretty good.

chippwalters, "I tried creating the canopy/body in a SubD program, but it looked to 'soft', then I tried in SketchUp and no matter what I did I couldn't get it right."
Looks like you just jumping from one app to another trying to compensate your lack of skills. And the reason is not because apps is not good but looks like your skills are not enough. That stuff could be made and with subD(very easy) and with sketchUP(harder).

WTF, Andrei, show some respect, please.

Guilherme,
What we are doing here? Give compliments to each over? Or talking about things?

Man said he can not do it in SubD and Sketch UP, but in MoI he could. So what it is? Nothing then lack of skills. And so I have to say, something like -
OH... MoI is great, briliant software that is allow us to make things that is impossible to make in SubD or Sketch UP? This is I have to say?

Here a lot of people even have no enough skills to discus this or that software, but they know fore sure what is good and what is bad.
So better than jumping from one package to another try to polish your skills in something one. And do not make dilettantish statements like in SubD something looks - Soft.