Archive notice: This article was originally published on May 13, 2009. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
The new features in detail:
- Inverse kinematics. Users could select the base of a hierarchy and create a complete IK chain with controls. IK Blend provided continuous switching between forward and inverse kinematics.
- Up Vector. Another click added an up vector, directing the IK vertically and preventing unexpected movement at tight angles.
- Direction Constraint. This converted one object’s movement into another’s rotation—for example, moving a locator to rotate a door hinge.
- Custom Shapes. Locator controls could be changed from crosses into selectable basic shapes and excluded from rendering, providing a direct approach comparable with NURBS controls in Maya.
- Dynamic Parenting. For temporary interactions such as picking up objects, parenting could switch and be keyframed between World and Parent. Luxology demonstrated an IK chain opening a door through a Direction Constraint.
- Path Constraint and Position. Objects could move along splines. A demonstration attached a spline between a rotating cannon and a passing chicken so the cannon tracked its target with adjustable lag, while projectiles travelled along the path at configurable speed and frequency.
- Multiple Constraints. modo 401 allowed one-to-many and many-to-one connections, such as controlling lights and camera from one locator or aiming one camera at multiple targets.
- Item User Data. Activating an object could display selected HUDs, enabling time-saving rigging shortcuts and complete scene rigs.
- Groups. Objects could be dragged into groups that supported joint selection, locking, keyframing, detailed parameter control and shared shaders. Hierarchy modes included Hierarchy, Trunk and Branch.
- Light Linking. Groups could be illuminated only by selected lights, refining exposure control.
- Compensation / Unparenting. Compensation mode prevented objects from jumping across a scene when inserted into a hierarchy and added Unparent in Place and Extract in Place.
- Select Redirection. Group selection could trigger arbitrary functions, such as displaying a robot head’s animation HUD when its control was clicked.
These tools expanded modo 401 beyond its former modelling and rendering role and opened the door further towards full animation.
