[Figure 7] The animations you create can be controlled through the playback icons beneath the timeline. 

Beneath the timeline itself are the animation controls with common playback icons, like Rewind, Play, Next Frame, Last Frame and so on (see Figure 7).

[Figure 8] The frame area at the center bottom of the timeline not only displays the current frame, but it also allows you to jump to a desired frame. 

Centered in the timeline is an input value area that shows the current frame. Simply, this allows you to set your timeline to a specific number. You can enter the value, click and drag the arrows to the right, or even just click in the timeline to change the current frame. Figure 8 shows an arbitrary position at frame 95.

To the right of the current frame value are your keyframe controls. Here, you can create a keyframe, drop selected channels, or create specific transformation keyframes. In a moment, you'll learn about keyframes and how they are used in modo 301/302.

[Figure 9] Clicking the Options button in modo's timeline offers more specific control over timing and keyframes. 

There's one more area to show, and that's the Options button. You'll find this to the left of the current value area. When you click the Options button, a small panel will appear, as shown in Figure 9, that allows you to set the current timeline value, the full scene value, the time format (such as SMPTE time code or film time format), as well as the frames per second of your animation. You can also open the Graph Editor, which is opened by clicking the small envelope icon to the right of the Options button. You'll learn about the Graph Editor a little later in this chapter.

Each excerpt from Daniel Ablan's The Official Luxology modo Guide, Version 301 will help you discover the power of Luxology modo. The book covers the latest version of modo, which features new animation and sculpting capabilities as well as enhanced creative control for the user. Learn step-by-step how to use the modo interface and each tool and feature as you work within the application, from getting started to saving the final product. Skills are taught using projects that take the reader from simple modeling to complex tasks, taking advantage of various tools and options along the way.

The Official Luxology modo Guide, Version 301 by Daniel Ablan. Boston, MA: Cenage Course Technology, 2008. 456 pages with illustrations. ISBN 13: 978-1-59863-497-6; ISBN 10: 1-59863-497-6 ($49.99).

Dan Ablan's love of 3D animation sprang from a job as a corporate video producer. Along the way, he discovered 3D animation and within a year, formed his own part-time animation business. Ablan is now president of AGA Digital Studio Inc., a 3D animation and visual effects company in the Chicago area. AGA Digital has produced 3D visuals for broadcast, corporate and architectural clients since 1994, as well as post-production services. In between animation jobs, Ablan writes books on the subject. He is the author of eight best selling international books on 3D animation. He is also the founder of 3D Garage.com, a website dedicated to 3D learning. He has written columns and articles for multiple magazines and has been teaching seminars since 1995 both across the country and at AGA Digital Studios. Ablan is also editor-in-chief of HDRI 3D Magazine, a magazine dedicated to animation and digital imaging.