chippwalters,
If you use Samardac Bridges you can model in NVil and then convert to MoI in one click. Great solution to solve organic stuff modeling with MoI.
A lot of people starting to use this approach, for example yesterday I got this message:

"Now I've exported SAMARADAC SPOON from NVIL via SAMARDAC Bridges and exported SAMARDAC SPOON from MOI as an .stl file and loaded it into Cura. Tomorrow I'll print it.
My (beginners version) of your spoon was created by following your tutorial which I've managed to follow having 'done' a bunch of your introductory tutorials.
I think that it's hard to get started in NVIL but I believe the it will be worth the effort.
I should mention that I've been using, from the start, the SAMARDAC Configuration!" (By mgg942)

PS
Forget to say, you have to use no less then this version of NVil to use with new config:
http://www.digitalfossils.com/Download/NVil-Apr-21-15.rar

Hi Andrei,

Yes, I know about your bridges workflow. And I’m happy for you and others who find it worthwhile. It’s seems appropriate for those other new NVil users to go to the NVil website forums to learn best on how to use your fabulous techniques in NVil– and then come to this forum to learn best on how to use MoI.

And thanks for your many fine MoI tutorials. I learned a lot from them. Recently, your renders of your stealth rifle were very nice. I especially liked how you rendered the foam in the case. You should post a tutorial of it over in the KeyShot forum. I imagine many would be interested. I know I would!

Thanks Andrei

I much prefer the lighter interface so glad you've gone back to that.

I appreciate your posts on Nvil, and the Moi Bridge. Without you posting here I would not of known about those workflows, both of which have come in very useful to me.

I'll be checking out those videos too as soon as I get a chance to see whats new.

Hi Andrei

This is just a suggestion.

One video I would be really interested to see (maybe other Moi users also) is how to retopo a high density MoI (or Nurbs) mesh with Nvil.

If it was how to retopo a hard surface model with Nvil would be even better !

As I've been quoted as part of this discussion I thought I'd offer my two-pennyworth.

I think that the Bridges topic is fully suitable for this forum as it extends MOI's usefulness.

I think that the original posting of Samardac Config was also entirely appropriate as there is a clear interest in the forum for affordable software to supplement MOI's capabilities and the Samardac Config does, I'm sure, make it easier to tackle NVIL, for a beginner like me at any rate.

However I suggest that follow up announcements might be better limited to a couple of lines of text and a link.

Mike aka mgg942

Kevjon this is Retopo tutorial:
Do not forget to turn Retopo OFF when you finish!

New domen is here: www.nvil.info
Here you will find all stuff about Samardac Config and Samardac Bridges and for sure tons of tutorials!

Thankyou Andrei, much appreciated. Certainly seems like fairly simple workflow in Nvil.

It does look a bit buggy though in certain areas, so it was also good you showed that in your video so I don't spend time trying to figure out why its not working for me.

kevjon, it was not a bug(I mean when I could not move up edges when I select full loop at 4.16). I just found solution. I'll fix it in new releas.
For now you can go Edit-Options-Using Vertex Normals on Transform (check it).
And it will work like a charm!

Cool thanks,

>go Edit-Options-Using Vertex Normals on Transform (check it)

I'll change my preferences so I can move loops without it messing up.

Hi Andrei,
I really like MoI and NVil they play well together and both are very affordable. I do all my hard surface modeling in MoI/Rhino and have started using NVil for organic modeling. Your configuration and tutorials for NVil have been a big help.
Thanks,
Bill

Hi Samardac,

Does Nvil support weight tension when working with subdivision surface ?
(I'm tired of edge looping my models ...).
And if it does, is there any export format that support this feature ?

I like this kind of workflow for sds modeling :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUmgnL2VLSg

Hi PaQ,
Nvil has the greatest ever functionality of creasing edges. Modo with those tools of weight tension is like a kid near NVil :) Also I do not meat such a tools in any other modellers. So NVil is the best.
Check this video: I showed here how it works:



Personaly I always use this crease commands and never creas edges by creating supporting loops.

Nvil can export in .obj and .dae.
Unfortunately as I know these formats do not support this kind of information like creased edges, so you can not save it in .obj. But if you need model in .obj just export subdivided model.
And for sure all creased edges information is saved in NVil native format .vws.

Hello Andrei,

Thanks for the posted video, very interesting.
However from what I see, modo is far to be 'kid', quite the contrary :P

You seems to know Nvil very well, I have some flying hours on modo ... let's see if we can communicate :)

I don't see any difference about basic weight functionality.
But I'm still wondering if Nvil can have tension falloff like show in the first video. (so adjusting the crease strength along an edge selections).

Also Nvil seems to loose weight tension when you freeze your model, modo doesn't if you use native subdivision. (see attach)
What I mean is that edge weight is not reflected in the freezed topology. Is there an option in Nvil to get this topology result ? (right model on the posted image).
Let's be clear, native modo subdivsion as lots of flow compared to catmull clarck, but there are also some benefits.

The new Zmodeler ?
http://pixologic.com/zclassroom/homeroom/lesson/zmodeler/#edge-crease

Paq,
I'll argument that statment about kid. NVil has this crease commands (Smardac Config):

Shortcut - B, Drag to create/modify creases.

LMB - Creas/Uncreas
RMB - Uncrease (Drop crease)
MMB - Select creased

Shortcut - N, Crease Modifier. Drag to modify Crease

LMB - Creas/Uncreas Start
RMB - Creas/Uncreas End
MMB - Bias (Change mid point of Uncreasing)
Alt+N - Reset Individual Edge Creas Modifier. (Use it when you modify Single edge that is not divided by another edges)

And this is what this shortcut (N) does this is called Falloff in MODO:


or this:

You can move Bias to change center of Falloff. You can Creas/Uncreas Start/end to control amount of crease in Falloff. (You can check that video from 1.50 to see it in work)

Does Modo has all this commands? And are they so streamlined like in NVil? (only 2 shortcuts B and N and no any windows and other needless stuff). This is why I consider NVil the best.

"Also Nvil seems to loose weight tension when you freeze your model" No it loos nothing.
I'm not very familiar with that different types of SubD in MODO but I can reproduce all that examples in seconds.



And Shaded:


I just changed amount of crease. In middle example it was set to maximum.

Pilou,
Personally I can not think about Zmodeler in serious way. For me it is like some new toy from ZBrush. I can be wrong but looks like it is far away from Real SubD modeling capabilities. So many nuances is here.

New version 2.3 is here.

Updates:
1. Creased edges was back to red Color. I accidentally make them black in previous version.
2. Now in Retopo mode you can transform and it will snap to reference object.

Experimental features:

1. New feature that keep Harden edges Hard after Autosmooth, allow me to make Autosmooth practically automated. Now it set to Alt. And It will run everytime when you navigating viewport.

2. Quick Pivot setting was added. I analyze what combination of pivot position/orientstion I use most of all and made buttons for this. Also I set Shortcuts for this, check it in toll tips.

Use no less than this version: http://www.digitalfossils.com/Download/NVil-Apr-23-15.rar

Download:
www.nvil.info

What is the nature of the link above http://www.digitalfossils.com/Download/NVil-Apr-23-15.rar

a free version, a demo version, a pro version ?
Who can use it ? a customer of Nvil, a register member, a simple visitor?

Some infos of the new toy Zmodeler ;) (scroll the page)
http://pixologic.com/zclassroom/homeroom/lesson/zmodeler/

Hi Pilou,

Looks like a full version, but you can turn it in demo mode if you don't have a serial.

Hi Andrei,

Thanks for the info, looks like I have 2,3 feature request to do for Modo :o)

As for the customization, should be possible in Modo too ... well I'm note sure about the contextual sticky key + mouse button, but I'm not a big fan of this kind of thing as I never remember them.

Just a last one, it's me or there is no other display mode that the default one ? (you know, like reflective environment to get a better idea of surface quality)