Tutorials - Modumate

Micro-Tutorials

(94 videos, 43m 26s)

0: Getting Around

(8 videos, 2m 17s)

Orbit

Right-click and drag to orbit around the spot you hit.

Pan

Middle-click and drag to pan side to side.

Zoom

Scroll up to zoom in. Scroll down to zoom out. Type "ZE" to "Z"oom to the "E"xtents of your project. Type "ZS" to "Z"oom to the "S"elected object(s).

Cycle View Modes

Modumate models have 4 layers of hierarchy. Press: F1 to view the first layer ("Massing Graph"), F2 to view the second layer ("Separators"), F3 to view the third layer ("Surface Graphs"), F4 to view the fourth layer ("Attachments") ... and F5 to view physical objects only (for renderings/walkthroughs).

Fly

Hold right-click and press WASD to fly around your scene.

Walk Around With Gravity

Turn on Gravity to walk around your design like a video game, using WASD + mouse. 1 click, no exporting required - Modumate's a one-stop shop.

Change Field of View (FOV)

Change your field of view (FOV) to fit your needs as you model exteriors and interiors.

Plan & Elevation Views

To work in plan view, Orbit your camera as high as it will go.To work in elevation view, Orbit till it's flat.

1: Your Massing Graph

(34 videos, 28m 55s)

What's a Massing Graph?

Your Massing Graph is the foundation of your BIM model. It's a diagram of all the assemblies that separate your project's spaces, and the places they connect to each other. You will host Walls, Floors, Roofs, Ceilings, Doors, Windows, and other such "Separators" onto it.

Draw an Edge

Drawing edges is the lifeblood of massing in Modumate. Click the Massing Graph tool, then its "Edge" drawing mode, then a start point, then an end point.

Type A Distance

Type a distance and press Enter to commit any segment-based action at a specific length, including Massing Graph, Surface Graph, Move, or Stretch.

Linear Snaps

In any pending segment operation, align the pending segment to a world axis to see a linear snap.

Shift to Force Linear Snap

In any pending segment action, while a linear snap is active, hold Shift to force that snap so your cursor can snap elsewhere in the scene.

Horizontal Rectangle

Draw horizontal rectangle Massing Planes with the Horizontal Rectangle drawing mode.

Vertical Rectangle

Draw vertical rectangle Massing Planes with 2 clicks using the Vertical Rectangle drawing mode.

Complete A Plane

Close a planar loop of edges to make a plane. Planes must be planar. If the edges aren't coplanar, they won't make a plane.

Massing Hotkeys

"MG" enters the Massing Graph tool. Ctrl + 1 enters Edge drawing mode. Ctrl + 2 enters Vertical Rectangle drawing mode. Ctrl + 3 enters Horizontal Rectangle drawing mode.

Select

In Select mode, click objects to select them.

Add To Selection

Hold Shift to click more things into your selection.

Remove From Selection

Hold Ctrl and click selected objects to remove them from your selection.

Bounding Select

Cick-drag left to right to select all objects in the rectangle.

Cross Select

Click-drag right to left to select all objects that cross the rectangle.

Select All

Press Ctrl + A to select all objects in scene.

DimString Handles

Select a single object to see dimension strings ("DimString") telling you the lengths of its edges and neighboring distances. Dark DimStrings are active - type a new value and it will move the selected object.

Stretch Handles

Move

Move selected objects from along a vector from one point to another. The Move command can use linear snaps and typed distances.

Rotate

Select objects to rotate, pick a center of rotation, a reference angle, and a destination angle.

Join

Unnecessary edges/vertices are bad. Clean them up using the Join tool. Click two parallel edges or planes to join them.

Delete

Press Delete to delete selected objects.

Minimal Delete

Press Ctrl+Delete to delete only the selected element, and leave behind as many neighboring elements as possible.

Hide

Press "HI" or click the Hide button to hide selected object(s).

Unhide

Press "UH" or click the Unhide button to reveal all hidden objects.

Undo/Redo

Press Ctrl+Z to undo your last action. Press Ctrl+Y to redo you last undone action.

Draw a Wall

Here's how to draw a plane that will host a Wall into your Massing Graph.

Draw a Floor

Here's how to draw a plane that will host a Floor into your Massing Graph.

Draw a Door

Here's how to draw a plane that will host a Door into your Massing Graph.

Draw a Window

Here's how to draw a plane that will host a Window into your Massing Graph.

Transcribe an Existing Conditions Survey

Most projects start with existing conditions. Here's how to get an existing conditions survey into Modumate.

Elevate a Floor Plan

Here's how to elevate (add walls to) a Floor Plan you've transcribed into Modumate.

Add Doors and Windows

Here's an example of adding the planes that will host Doors and Windows to your Massing Graph.

Draw a Stair

Here's how to draw a plane that will host a Stair into your Massing Graph.

Draw a Roof

Here's how to draw a set of planes that will each host a Roof into your Massing Graph.

2: Your Separators

(28 videos, 9m 8s)

What Are Separators?

To turn your Massing Graph into a physical model, you host Separators onto its planes, edges, and vertices. Each Separator's BIM definition can be customized, and the way it's hosted can also be customized.

Types of Separators

The Separator object types are: Wall, Floor, Ceiling, Roof, Stair, Railing, Door, Window, System Panel, Mullion, Beam/Column, and Countertop.

Starter Assemblies

Modumate comes pre-loaded with many starter assemblies. Start from them, and customize to make your own.

What's A Preset?

A Preset is a recipe for a construction object. It's the basic unit of Modumate's BIM. Every construction part or assembly, whether a brick, stud, board, frame, panel, handle, layer, wall, floor, door, etc, is a Preset.

Edit an Assembly Preset

Start customizing your Assembly Presets by clicking the Edit button. This brings up the BIM Designer, which is a node tree of all the properties and references the assembly is made of.

Navigating the BIM Designer

Pan with middle-click. Zoom with scroll. Click nodes to expand them. Click "Back to Project" to exit.

Swap a Preset

Click a Preset's Swap button to replace it with a different Preset. This causes unsaved changes on the parent Preset.

Save an Unsaved Preset

When a node is outlined in blue, it's saying "my values don't match any Preset saved in your project! What Preset is this?!" You have two options: 1. Save - overwrites the old Preset with these new values. This causes updates to every Preset that references this one. 2. Save New - branches off the old Preset and adds a new one to the project.

Edit a Typeable Property

Edit a typeable property such as name and dimension, by clicking the field, typing a new value, and pressing Enter. This causes unsaved changes on the Preset.

Edit Color Property

Edit a color property by clicking its Swap icon, choosing a new hue in the Color Picker, and clicking away. This causes unsaved changes on the Preset.

Edit Asset Property

Asset properties include Material, Mesh, and Profile. Click their Swap button to choose an alternative. This causes unsaved changes on the Preset.

Reorder Layers

Click, drag, and release to reorder layers in the BIM Designer.

Filter Preset Lists Using Text

Any time Presets are listed, you can filter it by typing text in its omni bar.

Cascading Unsaved Nodes

Whenever you add a new Preset to your project, it causes unsaved changes on the parent Preset. This is because the parent wants to know: "when you branched off my child, did you want... 1) all instances of me to adopt the new Preset ("Save"), or 2) to branch off me to make a new parent Preset ("Save New")?

Presets Are Linked

Presets are linked data objects. When you change a Preset, it causes changes everywhere the Preset is referenced, even across different assemblies and object types.

Host Separators Onto Massing Graph

Hosting is the best way to get Separators in your scene. Use the Paintbucket drawing mode, and click on target hosts.

Flip On Host

Use F to flip across, R to reverse along, and V to flip vertical, when hosting your Separators on your Massing Graph.

Offset Object from Host

Objects can be offset to 3 "stops": back, centered, or front from their host object. With respect to your camera view, press: -W to offset a selected object one stop up -A to offset it left -S to offset it down -D to offset it right

Change Host Properties for Preview Object

Use W/A/S/D to offset and F/R/V to flip your object's preview, even before you click to place it.

Hybrid Drawing Modes

For simple objects, you can simultaneously create the Massing element and host an Assembly onto it, in one click.

Change an Object's Assembly

Change what assembly an object uses for its definition. Click the object, then the Swap icon on its Preset, then choose a new assembly Preset.

Replace All Instances of an Assembly

To replace all instances of an assembly with a different assembly, press Ctrl+A to select everything in the project, then click the relevant Preset's Swap button, then choose the relevant alternative.

Host Walls Onto Massing Graph

Here's how to host Walls into your project's Massing Graph.

Host Doors Onto Massing Graph

Here's how to host Doors onto your Massing Graph.

Host Windows onto Massing Graph

Here's how to host Windows onto your Massing Graph.

Host Floors Onto Massing Graph

Here's how to host Floors onto your Massing Graph.

Host Ceilings on Massing Graph

Here's how to host Ceilings on your Massing Graph.

Host Roofs on Massing Graph

Here's how to add roofs to your Massing Graph.

3: Your Surface Graphs

(8 videos, 3m 47s)

What Are Surface Graphs?

Your Surface Graphs are a diagram of where to lay out the Attachments that decorate your project's surfaces. You will host "Attachments" (Finishes, Cabinets, Trim, and FF&E) onto them.

Only Add Them Where Needed!

Only add Surface Graphs where you need to subdivide a surface into regions, e.g. for Cabinets, or Finish Regions, or special Trim locations. For all other surfaces, we'll take care of the Surface Graphs for you.

Add a Surface Graph

Add a Surface Graph so you can subdivide your surfaces. Click the Surface Graph tool, then click a surface.

Draw Edges

Use Edges to subdivide your Surface Graphs into regions. Click the Surface Graph tool, then Edge drawing mode, then a start point, then an end point.

Detach From Surface

Sometimes your Surface Graph needs to change extents - perhaps because a Cabinet needs to straddle two Surfaces. You can customize a Surface Graph's extents by selecting its boundary edges and moving them.

Fragility 1

When a Separator gets split, all Surface Graphs on it are deleted. For best results, model and host all Separators near an important surface before investing time in its Surface Graph.

Fragility 2

Surface Graphs can be deleted if their host surface changes how many corners it has. For best results, model and host all Separators near an important surface before investing time into its Surface Graph.

Draw a Bathroom

Here's an example of how to draw the surface graphs in a "5-by-7 bathroom".

4: Your Attachments

(4 videos, 56s)

What Are Attachments?

To turn your Surface Graphs into physical finished surfaces, you host Attachment assemblies, such as Finishes, Trim, Cabinets, and FF&E, onto your Surface Graphs. Each Attachment's BIM definition can be customized, and the way it's hosted can also be customized.

Customize an Attachment Assembly

Attachments are Presets that you can customize in the BIM Designer. See full info about customizing Presets in Ch.2 Separators.

Hosting is Preferred

Hosting onto a Surface Graph is the best way to add Attachments into your project.

Hybrid Drawing Modes

You can put a Finish assembly on a surface with 1 click, and Modumate will add the backing Surface Graph for you.

5: Your Instant Renderings, Walkthroughs, and DWGs

(11 videos, 3m 28s)

3D Views Menu

The 3D Views menu is where you manage your views and customize their attributes. Access it from the right toolbar.

Change Time of Day

Change the Time of Day to test how the sun reaches your spaces, and set up gorgeous renderings. Open the 3D Views menu and type a new year, month, day, hour or minute into the Time of Day, or scroll your wheel over any value to change it by 1.

Save/Update/Rename 3D Views

Save 3D Views to easily access useful or beautiful views of your project. Open the 3D Views menu, then: -To save a view, and click the "+" button next to "Saved Views". -To update a view, click its Update button. -To rename a view, click its Edit button, type a new name, and press Enter.

What's A Cut Plane?

Cut Planes represent your DWGs. They pass through a plane, and look in a direction. You can export DWGs from them instantly, as often as you want.

Cut Planes List

See your plans, sections, and elevations laid out in the Cut Planes list.

Add A Cut Plane

Add a Cut Plane to get another instant DWG from your model. Click "Add New Cut Plane" or type CP, choose a start point, choose a direction the cut should look, and press Escape.

Show/Hide Cut Planes

Show and hide Cut Planes by clicking their eyeball icon

Move A Cut Plane

Move Cut Planes to change where your DWG cuts your building. See the linework update in real time.

Resize A Cut Plane

Resize your Cut Planes to ensure your DWGs cover the relevant area. Click the plane, click its stretch handle, move your mouse, optionally type a distance and press Enter, and click again.

Rename Cut Plane

Give your Cut Planes descriptive names, and your DWGs will bear the same name.

Export DWGs

Get instant DWGs from your Cut Planes. Open the Cut Planes menu, click "Export", choose the DWGs you want, click "Export", choose a save location.

Click-Along Guided Tutorials

(10 videos, 47m 51s)

0: Overviews

Modumate in 60 Seconds

(0m 59s)

See Modumate's whole workflow in less than a minute.

7-Minute Tour

(6m 31s)

See a deeper dive into Modumate's workflow in this seven-minute overview.

1: Design Your Architecture

1A: Model Your Massing Graph

(7m 05s)

The Massing Graph describes your building's separate spaces. Its elements become hosts for your construction assemblies and connection details. In this video, we show you how to create and edit your Massing Graph.

1B: Craft Your Separators

(4m 18s)

"Separators" are the construction assemblies that separate spaces (Walls, Floors, Roofs, Ceilings, Doors, WIndows, Stairs, Railings, Panels, Countertops, Beams/Columns, and Mullions). In this video, we show you how to design them.

1C: Host Separators Onto Your Massing Graph

(5m 28s)

Separators host onto your Massing Graph to give it physical form. In this video, we show you how to host them quickly and easily to make your building real.

2: Design Your Surfaces

2A: Model Your Surface Graphs

(5m 10s)

Surface Graphs describe the layout of your finishes, cabinets, and trim. In this video, we show you how to create and edit your Surface Graphs.

2B: Craft Your Attachments

(5m 36s)

"Attachments" are your finishes, cabinets, trim, and FF&E - the interior elements that make a building special. In this video, we show you how to design them.

2C: Host Attachments Onto Your Surface Graph

(4m 20s)

Attachments host onto Surface Graphs to give them physical form. In this video, we show you how to host them quickly and easily to make your spaces beautiful and "finished".

3: Get Instant Documentation

3A: Instant Renderings and Walkthroughs

(3m 48s)

Modumate is natively gorgeous, so it doesn't need separate rendering tools. In this video, we show you how to set up views and walkthroughs of your BIM model.

3B: Instant Background DWGs

(2m 18s)

Modumate can instantly export beautiful background DWGs. In this video, we show you how to create Cut Planes and export DWGs.

White Papers & Helpsheets

This is a small but growing collection of printable guides to help you become a Modumate pro. Looking for a guide or helpsheet we haven't created yet? Reach out and we'll make it!

Hot Keys and Keyboard Shortcuts Hot Keys and Keyboard Shortcuts

Quickly navigate the tools and modes of Modumate with keyboard shortcuts. You can access all of the tools and modifiers with one or two taps of hot keys to keep moving. Many are two keys like L I for the line tool - simply type the L then I.