Still not entirely solid on my understanding of modes...

When playing all the modes of a scale, is the key to playing correctly to keep the exact same tones, specific to quality and everything, or the exact same intervals as the original scale?

Example:

All the modes of C major spelt diatonically.

Cdefgabc = Ionian
Defgabcd = Dorian
Efgabcde = Phrygian
Fgabcdef = Lydian
Gabcdefg = Mixolydian
Abcdefga = Aeolion
Bcdefgab = Locrian

But a good way to practice them is in order of brightness all starting from the same note so you can actually "hear" the difference. If you just play them as written above it can sound like you are just starting the C major scale from a different degree (place in the scale).

So play them in this order and you will notice that it progressively gets darker sounding and one note is altered each time.

C Lydian (CDEF#GABC)
C Ionian (CDEFGABC)
C Mixolydian (CDEFGABbC)
C Dorian (CDEbFGABbC)
C Aeolian (CDEbFGAbBbC)
C Phrygian (CDbEbFGAbBbC)
C Locrian (CDbEbFGbAbBbC)

Once you know the shape and/or the intervals for each mode you can start it on a different note.
Does this help or have i missed something that you are unaware of?

Nope, that confirms what I was pretty sure I had finally understood...thanks!