Finished ZScript: ZSwatch

[marcus_civis]

screengrab3.jpg
ZSwatch 3.0 is a simple but powerful way to save color palettes between ZBrush sessions.

Pick and store colors quickly using keyboard hotkeys. Colors are sampled from under the mouse or pen, from anywhere on the ZBrush interface.
Adjust colours on the fly using Hue, Saturation, Lightness and Tint. The sliders work together giving a wide range of color adjustments.
To pick a color while painting simply click on the cell. Load ZSwatch even while using Projection Master.
Save and Load palettes at any time. Loads palettes from ZColor (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=20665) and previous versions of ZSwatch. The current palette and slider settings are preserved between ZSwatch and ZBrush sessions.
Last Used File List in click-open tray for fast loading of saved palettes.

Download and try it! Full instructions in the zip.

ZSwatch started as a reworking of a script by Jay Mackey (Jay's Color Palette Thingamajig v1.4) with thanks to Jay and to Pixologic (TextureMaster) and Digits (who's code Jay used).
Thanks also to cameyo, Svengali, TVeyes, and Davey; I couldn't have written ZSwatch without 'borrowing' bits of their code. Thanks also to aminuts for testing, ideas and all round enthusiasm.

I hope you find ZSwatch 3.0 useful.

121 welcome.

Marcus
P.S. Code is available. Send me a message.

Edit: I've revised the plugin installation instructions. Also included in this zip is the ZLauncher icon.

UPGRADE: 25 January 2005

now pick Shaded or Unshaded colors from anywhere on the ZBrush interface.
Contrast slider added: increases or reduces contrast between palette colors.
Tint slider: negative values for subtracting color.
fixes include:
Used File List tray stays open until clicked closed.
Sampling the same pixel twice no longer turns cell black.

[Abyssis]

nice and usefull script, thank you :tu:

_____________________
Abyssis, poor ZB-worm

[stumpf]

Thank you for the script.

I think it's very useful for my work

Ralf Stumpf

[Sebcesoir]

OOHHHH Thank you so much!!!!

Ive not tryed it yet, but that what I wanted since a long time! I really dislike zbrush color choser, tyhis is much easyer to quick select colors! It should be integreted....
Thanks a lot!

[Svengali]

Marcus,

This is very, VERY slick! Thank you very, VERY MUCH!

I especially like the clean way you rescale the ZScript window size when you drop down the save/load list... I had not thought of that method, it's a minimally disruptive technique. (a nod to TVeyes, maybe?)

The help screens with their little illustrations and colored text are very well done. The whole script gets an "A" for design and execution. Be proud. :)

As for me, I'm going to add ZSwatch to my ZLauncher menu items.

Which reminds me - FYI, ZLauncher expects to find a .PSD ICON with matching name, in the same directory as the script - default icon size is 96 pixels, which is then scaled to fit whatever ZLauncher menu resolution the user decides on. At this point I'm not sure how many people still use ZLauncher, but it can't hurt to include the icon for those who do.

So. What's next on your ZScripting projects list?

Sven

[Frenchy Pilou]

...that was a "clock watch" very well known :D
Seems very useful :tu:
Pilou

[aminuts]

woo hoo!

This latest looks great and can't wait to add it to my arsenal.
Now I must remember to change the link in my signature!;)

Thanks Marcus!!


Sven, I had made some small icons for use in zlauncher as some of the scripts don't include them. I named them the same as the script file.....am pretty sure I used .psd but will double check that...cuz they aren't loading up in zlauncher like I had hoped.

[marcus_civis]

Abyssis, stumpf and Sebcesoir: thanks! The joy of zscripts is being able to add the things you need (well mostly). :D

Sven: thank you, you are too kind; as you know, I learnt all I know from the generous souls like yourself here at ZBC. Yes, I added in TVeyes' handy resize script (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=22826) (with a small modification). It's only when you add in a bit of code like that that you realize you needed it all along. :D As for ZLauncher, there's pic attached to this post for anyone that wants it. ... Next projects? Well, after I've caught up on sleep, income tax forms, eating, sleep and day job.. who knows? Ideas include ZPalette for more colors, and perhaps a general 'Last Used File List' ... but not for a while!

Frenchy Pilou: thanks for the big 'tick'! :D

aminuts: thanks and thanks! :)

Marcus

Edit: ZLauncher icon is included in the zip

[willog]

Thanks Marcus very much appreciated.

Also looks pretty cool too :-)


Bill

[Svengali]

Marcus and Aminuts...

I just checked out my FYI and remembered a perculiarity in ZLauncher.

Having a .PSD icon in the same folder with the .TXT file will display ok in ZLauncher if it links to a.TXT file. If you add in a .PSD named the same as a .ZSC file that already existed, it WON'T BE DISPLAYED.

HOWEVER: if the original .TXT file is launched with a .PSD file present in the same directory, the .ZSC file that is generated, incorporates the .PSD icon into the .ZSC file - which ZLauncher then finds and happily uses in its menu display.

Ack! Sorry for my original FYMI (For Your Mis-Information).

To summarize, if you just use your .TXT file to regen a new .ZSC file it should have your icon imbedded. Posting the new .ZSC file should assuage all the ZLauncher coo-coos out here. :)


Sven

[aminuts]

Ahhhhh Yes!!!! Aminuts bonks self in head!!

Thanks Sven now that you mentioned it...dohhhh I remember having the same problem before long ago and this was the solution!

[marcus_civis]

Sven:
Thanks, here is a version with icon included. Hope you're assuaged.;) The zsc has been recompiled and the psd added; otherwise the zip is exactly the same.

I didn't mention that both zips contain a launch file and instructions for using ZSwatch as a plugin, calling it either from a button that can be dragged to the UI or by the hotkey 'B' [this can be changed if needed]. For anyone using the script a lot as I do :D , this is a very convenient method.

Cheers,
Marcus

Edit: Now all included with zip at the start of this thread.

[TVeyes]

This is an excellent script Marcus. Polished and well designed. I agree with Sven, definitely an A.

I love the color adjustment sliders and the way the color picker works. I had not thought about locking the height of the zscript window, smart. The dropdown menu is a nice touch. Good job.

So, what is the next project? :D

[marcus_civis]

willog: I'm glad you like it. As you may have guessed, I like pretty things. ;)

TVeyes: many thanks; not sure exactly what the next project will be but I've a couple of ideas. :)

Marcus

[cameyo]

Hi Marcus :D
Great !!!
Thanks for share.

cameyo

[marcus_civis]

Hi cameyo, :D

Thanks, I couldn't have done it without your help.

Marcus

[wenna]

Thanks so much for this script!! This is very useful to me; thanks for sharing and the instructions on how to get as a zplug!

[aurick]

This is a great ZScript, and should be very useful to a great many people!

I wanted to pass along some important information, however, about the correct way to install plugins.
The info can be found in this F.A.Q. topic (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?p=187434).

You may want modify the info on installing your script as a plugin to reflect the info in the FAQ.

Thanks!

[marcus_civis]

wenna: glad you like it. On the ZPlug issue, you had better follow aurick's instructions, or my revised instructions in the zip at the start of this thread.

aurick: many thanks! And thanks for setting me straight on the plugin issue. I think a few of us have been very bad for some time. ;) Anyway, the ZSwatch instructions have been revised accordingly.

Marcus

[Svengali]

For anyone else (like me) who has a ZPlugs folder full of homebrew plug-ins and assorted garbage, here is a list of files and subfolders from a virgin install.


ZPlug files originally installed in:
ZBRUSH2\ZDATA\ZPLUGS

(folder) ProjectionMasterData
(folder) ZHelpTopics
EvaluateMultiDraw.zsc
HelpBrowser.zsc
HotKeyDrawSize.zsc
InteractiveLight.zsc
MultiDisplacement.zsc
ProjectionMaster.zsc
Splash.zsc
TextViewer.zsc
WebZPlug.dll
ZPluginFTPTest.zsc
ZSort.dll
ZSpinner.zsc


As Per Aurick's suggestion (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?p=187434) I moved everything else into the ZSTARTUP\ZPLUGS folder.

Sven

[marcus_civis]

Thanks Sven, that's really useful. Time for some housekeeping...

Marcus

[wenna]

Thank you.. I've got mine all sorted out now and working great! Thank you again for the wonderful script and thanks for that default listing.. what a mess I had.. lol
Thanks Aurick for your instructions!

wenna

[marcus_civis]

Upgrade, with a couple of new features and a few fixes, posted at the start of the thread.

[wenna]

Thank you so much for sharing this and taking the time to upgrade it. Works so great as plug-in!

[Atwooki]

Excellent script Marcus :tu::tu:

a definite classic for the ZLauncher....:D

Thanks again!

Atwooki

[TVeyes]

The new version works great, thanks for the new features. Clever how you grab the shaded colour :tu: Very useful.

[Tim Leydecker]

Hi Marcus,

thanks for putting this together. I´ve been using an older build until now,
which has alllready been a tremendous timesaver and really helped me
getting started with coloring and texturing in ZBrush.


Cheers

tim

[Marsyas]

I'll definitely need this. Thanks! :tu:

[Entomogant]

A great plugin! It makes painting textures a lot easier!

I have just one comment: It would be great if the plugin remembers the folder which i last loaded / saved a palette. It is very annoying to click through all folders every time... :rolleyes:
Then it will be perfect!

[marcus_civis]

A great plugin! It makes painting textures a lot easier!

I have just one comment: It would be great if the plugin remembers the folder which i last loaded / saved a palette. It is very annoying to click through all folders every time... :rolleyes:
Then it will be perfect!

Hi Entomogant,
Thanks for your comments and I'm glad you like my plugin. There is a list of last saved palettes - click the tray arrows at the bottom of the plugin. :)

EDIT: Other than that what you want is not possible using zscripting, just at the moment. I'll add it as soon as it's possible! :)

Cheers,

[flash_gordon]

hi :)

cool script, very helpfull, but i think that it wolud be great when during the work We could store color in a particular cell using some button -not only hotkeys

In version 2.1 i saw it, and this was very good idea - tiny square

a solution when first I must click the cell and then adjusting color is a little annoying, and makes a little disorder in palette

this is only my opinion :) anyway very good work :tu:

my first post :D I just start playing with zbrush...

[marcus_civis]

Hi,

Welcome to ZBC and thanks for your comment. My thinking was that using a hotkey made it quicker to sample colors from under the mouse (without having to set the color first) but it would be easy enough to pick the active color as you suggest AND have a hotkey so I'll bear this in mind for when I update the plugin. I hope to do this in the not-too-distant future.

I hope you enjoy using the plugin (and ZBrush).

Cheers,

[ghonma]

Great plugin, thanks for sharing this with us !

I have one slight issue though, not sure if it's something i'm doing wrong or what. I cant get the swatch window to stay open. I press 'b' and i get it alright, but if then i press '[' or ']' (to resize teh brush), the window closes itself. Is this supposed to happen ? Any way to keep it always open cause it's very useful when texturing.

I'm using it in zb3.

-thanks

[marcus_civis]

Great plugin, thanks for sharing this with us !

I have one slight issue though, not sure if it's something i'm doing wrong or what. I cant get the swatch window to stay open. I press 'b' and i get it alright, but if then i press '[' or ']' (to resize teh brush), the window closes itself. Is this supposed to happen ? Any way to keep it always open cause it's very useful when texturing.

I'm using it in zb3.

-thanks

ghonma,

Thanks for trying ZSwatch. What you describe is a problem with zscripting generally in that only one script can be active at a time. The draw size hotkeys [ & ] are zscripted and that's why using them causes the palette to disappear. Thaere's not really a way around it, other than pressing 'B' again to recall the palette.

I do hope to update the plugin at some time and will perhaps find a better way of working with color swatches.

[-WOODY-]

Wow, thanks marcus. I've been waiting for this one for a long time.

I hope you don't mind, but I've created 2 skin tone palattes which I thought would be pretty handy to have around when it comes to texturing.

I'm not sure if I should put them here or start another thread. If you don't want me to link it here, just say so and I'll delete this post and put it somewhere else.

SkinTone_Palettes (http://members.cox.net/woodmiester/SkinTone_Palettes.zip)

[marcus_civis]

Woody, thanks for sharing those. I think it's fine to have the link in this thread. :tu:

[aaraaf]

I've started playing with the poly painting and the very first thing I looked for was something that did just what this did!

It works really, really well. Is it possible to get this working in one of the "flyout" type setups that the ZBrush buttons work with? I'm on a Tablet PC with very low resolution and anything to take up less space is greatly appreciated!

Perfect compliment to Polypaint...

[marcus_civis]

I've started playing with the poly painting and the very first thing I looked for was something that did just what this did!

It works really, really well. Is it possible to get this working in one of the "flyout" type setups that the ZBrush buttons work with? I'm on a Tablet PC with very low resolution and anything to take up less space is greatly appreciated!

Perfect compliment to Polypaint...

Thanks aaraaf, :)

I'd like to update this so that it is easier to use with ZB 3.1. Whether something along the lines of your suggestion is possible I've yet to see. I'd certainly like to have a version that doesn't get dispelled if you use another plugin - the main drawback with this version.

[wckedsunny]

Hey Marcus

Thanks for this, I am just starting to download all the plugins.

anyhow half the plugins on zbc are created by you. ;)

BTW I noticed today that you became a moderator :D

Thats great man, congrats.

[marcus_civis]

Thanks Sunny, :)

Be careful which plugins you use with ZBrush 3.1. Even those for ZBrush 3.0 may not work correctly (the writers will be updating them). Of mine, ZSwatch is OK and Image Plane 3.1 (but this has some workflow issues that need addressing).

Cheers,

[wckedsunny]

Yes Marcus

Till now I have only got hold of these two only. :D

There was one to load reference image for modeling and the material pack2 one? are they updated?

I will definetly need these two if I have to start working again.

[marcus_civis]

Y
There was one to load reference image for modeling and the material pack2 one? are they updated?


Sunny,

I think Material Pack2 should work OK. Neither of the Reference Image plugins will not work but I plan to update Image Plane 3.1 as soon as I can so that it works for reference image modeling in ZB 3.1.

[Intervain]

darn me - why haven't I seen this before?! :rolleyes: I've been always cursing I can't pick colours freely in zbrush and here's a neat solution. THanks so much marcus!:tu: :D

[Gareee]

This looks exactly like what I needed! Thanks for this!

[caccipergolo]

thanks for this one!!!!
i wish i've fuond this before!!

[Gareee]

I'm frankly kind of amazed there isn't an official smaller dockable one for the left shelf, since it's really a very basic "must have" painting tool. least this one provides the feature, but I'd prefer to see a smaller one for the side shelves.

Expandable for additional management functions, but collapsed, with just the colors available, and maybe a plus or minus to add or subtract them, and a rang, to generate a color range between picked colors.

[zhu`]

Thanks Marcus very much appreciated
thanks for share:)

[XIII]

any chance of a 3.5 version?

[marcus_civis]

any chance of a 3.5 version?

I am planning an update to this as soon as I have time.

[YouMustBeThisTall]

Any chance someone want to develop this for me.

(Number PAd version of Swatch)

It is sequence based.
And the premise is that you don't need to switch hands so to speak when choosing a color.
The second function is a quick modification of the current color for incremental variation.

If anyone is interested I have more to share on the best way to sequence it ergonomically.

[Mike Rhodes]

And a version for 3.2 (the red-haired stepson's edition :D ) ...?