Tip for newbie head modelers re poly count

[Vikki]

I'm new to head modeling and was following tutorials in Quicklinks to learn. Then I was taught about low poly heads. Low poly heads are great and will work for most stuff that I've done but there are times when you need more poly count in certain areas for several reasons, but the one I find it most useful for is painting directly on the mesh, say in the lip and eye areas.

Dividing a mesh a lot can sometimes make the mesh so dense that it slows Zbrush down a bit. After reading a post earlier and I apologize I don't remember who explained the technique, maybe Hanuman, I tried some experiements with some heads.

I shaped my heads and divided as necessary for the eyes nose, mouth and ears. Then with the head in edit mode I masked the back of the head and inverted the selection. In the Tools>Modifiers>Deformation Palette I used the Optimize tool. You can watch the poly count reduce by mousing over the icon of the tool you are modifying in the Tools palette.

You can apply optimize more than once to the same area. I only do it until I just see the mesh count is getting too low and the ctrl-z to put it back to the last action.

Anyway, it gives a much lower poly head while still being able to have the dense poly needed for those certain areas that just have to have higher poly counts. :D

Anyway, just thought I'd pass that along. Don't know if it's here anywhere. I didn't come across it in my wanderings. :D

[ATronic]

I have indeed seen this technique in a few zscripts, but I can't find how you draw the mask on. Where is the button I would pick to do this? All I can figure out how to do is a full mask or a grid.

[Vikki]

Hey Atronic,

With the tool in edit draw mode hold the ctrl key and draw on the tool where you want the mask. Then invert it in Tool>Selection>Inv. :D

[ATronic]

Ahhh... Thanks a million.

[Hanuman]

When using a mask in conjuntion with optimisation this (http://www.pixolator.com/zbc-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=006759) thread is essential reading.

Also here is a mask script that place a very slim row of masking and smoothing buttons. Which is useful for modelling

EDIT 2.45pm: I've just added a new optimisation button to the previous script.

Oops there's a fault on the optimise button. back soon. Fixed 3.10pm

maskbuttons.txt (http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_file-1027325283may.txt)

[Vikki]

Hanuman! Very cool script! Thank you! I just downloaded the fixed version and tried it. :D Great script! :tu: :tu: :tu:

[aurick]

There are two ways to paint a mask, depending on your needs.

In Edit>Draw mode, holding down the Ctrl key turns your cursor yellow and allows you to paint your mask directly onto the model. This technique applies the mask ONLY where you paint it.

In Edit>Move mode, holding down the Ctrl key also turns the cursor yellow. But now you paint your mask by dragging a box across the model. This technique applies the mask to the front and back of the model at the same time.

Both forms use the currently selected alpha to define the shape of your masking tool. The first method is great for fine masking of specific areas. The second is usually most useful when you want to mask a large part of the model at one time. It's especially useful with the solid square alpha shape.