I think this is important :/

[Dominik Susmel]

Hi,
I've downloaded Zbrush demo and was amazed at those demo's by Pixolator. Now, this looks pretty nifty, like Artisan, but cooler, or should I say: "Just different". What bothers me is this, I use MAX and Maya in my everyday job. What I would like to know is how Zbrush models and textures translates to this environments, that is, if they do at all. I've seen there is a .obj export that also exports textures, but this is disabled in demo.
If someone could export any of those Pixolators heads into .OBJ file with textures so I can take a peak in MAX or Maya to see what do I get as an output there. Also, VERY IMPORTANT is, is it possible to get a same vertex count and numeration when exporting modified object out from Zbrush. I say this because I have morph targets in my mind. Thus, making a head in Zbrush and all subsequent morph targets in it and exporting them out as .obj (or whatnot) into MAX or Maya.
Next, I've seen this great demo samples from Pixolator (the guy that made Zbrush, right?), but he only made heads, now has anyone tackled with body merging of heads from Zbrush later in some other 3D application like MAX or Maya?
I hope I was clear on my question and I hope you will provide some constructive feedback.

sincerely,

Dominik Susmel
retro Force Croatia
dsusmel@rocketmail.com

P.S.
I insist on Pixolator's head to be exported into .obj so I can compare them with result in Zbrush, since they are included with it.

[Ron Harris]

funny you should mention bodies...take a look on this forum as Picsas' work...very good stuff...and there is a torso a couple of postings back too that is simply awesome...also click on the user southerns stuff....you should be pleasantly suprised...and far as maya conversions and stuff...there is a recent posting by dob, and its called lotus farm..click on that...that may all answer alot of what you are asking...but the technical ppl on the site will be more help in the specifics I am sure..and Welcome to the Omnipotent World of Zbrush... :tu:

[upham]

Hi Dominik Susmel
I'm not sure if anyone would be 100% keen on posting one of Pix's head models as permission hasn't been given. I'm sure Pix wouldn't mind, but you really should ask him via email and he'll proberly send you one.

Try pixolator@pixolator.com

He's a regular on this forum (his own forum!) and he's also a busy-boy working on ZBrush development 24/7.

I think you'll find THIS (http://www.pixolator.com/zbc-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=001655) thread interesting with regards to ZBrush models and other applications.
Alot of people use ZBrush with Poser & Bryce, (check out THIS (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/demo/posertutorial/tutorial.htm) tutorial by Southern about importing obj poser models. This is mainly because they are flawlessly compatible with ZBrush. Not too many people here have the money for Maya which I understand handles .obj files. I myself use Max and use a third party obj-2-3ds converter as the max obj plugin doesn't give the best results.
You'll find ZBrush doesn't change the polygon or vertex count when importing/exporting, unless the user changes the mesh purposly.

Also the QUICKLINKS (http://www.pixolator.com/zbc-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=000049) page has a good index of tutorials and tips. (scroll down till you find "Other Applications - importing & exporting".

Please ask anymore questions as I'd like a Maya user to use ZBrush as I believe it's a Goldmine waiting to be discovered!
Upham :)

[el_pix]

dominik, unfortunately i can't try myself (demo only), but as long as you don't subdivide or optimize your mesh in Z, thus altering the number of polygons), everything should work fine and some people here have actually done it (mostly in poser) with amazing results, i think upham gave you the link to the relevant threads already, so i'm skipping this :)

upham, just stumbled upon what you said about importing .obj files into max, i'm doing the same with my lowpoly nendo and wings stuff, which may be quite a different task for the plugin to handle (guess it's the HABware plugin, right?), but works perfectly for me. being a stupid demo user in zbrush (not for long, hopefully) i have no idea if that will work .. but there's a maxscript that handles .obj files here:
http://gmax.digitalarenas.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Downloads&file=index&req=viewsdownload&sid=1

maybe that does the job better (ok it's for gmax, but scripts work for both.

i don't really care about poser geometry, but after seeing the fabulous renderin doB (?) did on his last posting with imported and rendered geo in max, i'd like to know what your experiences are, especially concerning uv mapping and texturing ???
does it really work? can you easily model something in max, import it to Z, texture-export-(animate?)-render it?
i mean, i *want* the full blown ZBrush anyways, but would be nice to know if i can actually do what i'm planning, once i finally can afford this brilliant app.

thx for even reading this lengthy questionnaire :)