ZBrushCentral - ZCurve Version 4.1 (Update)

Digits

08-30-05, 08:57 PM

I have updated ZCurve, see this thread ZCurve 3.2 (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=27937)

Zcurve4_0.JPG (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:zb_insimg%28%2717048%27,%27Zcurve4_0.JPG%27,1,0%29)

What's New?

Morph - Morph between two Curves
Recording - Record your curves and then build them into a 3D Mesh

It was suggested that I make some video tutorials, so I did. I am afraid I don't have the patience or the talent to create a professional quality tutorials but hopefully this will help a few people get the hang of curvin

ZCURVE FLASH TUTORIALS (http://www.cyber-webs.com/zbrush/ZCurve/ZCurve4_0.htm)

Feel free to post your own experiments on this thread

If you want ZCurve to startup as a pluging extract the ZCurve_4 folder and ZCurveBooter.zsc into your Zbrush Startup/Zplugins folder

:ex:BugFix 8-31-05:ex:

Dern it! Please update to version 4.1 as I needed to fix a problem with the Morph function working at high resolution. Sorry bout dat

Digits

08-30-05, 09:00 PM

Here is an image I created while testing the script.

curve3a.JPG (javascript:zb_insimg('17050','curve3a.JPG',1,0))

aminuts

08-30-05, 11:10 PM

oh cool!!!

Thanks for all your time and effort with this one.....it's gonna be fun to watch you zcurve away me thinks :D.

Oh yeah.....I think I might need a zifworm intervention too....damn these are addicting utilities!!

dohhh...I forgot to mention......way cool image!!!

Svengali

08-30-05, 11:24 PM

Excellent upgrade, brilliant interface. The tutorials are powerful yet simple. All the hard work shows, D.

thankyou - Sven

boozy floozie

08-31-05, 02:36 AM

Dear Digits,
your image and utility look amazing.

Whether it would be quite so in the hands of a technophobe such as myself is quite another matter.
Looks complicated with many depths - but wait, I see you've posted some Flash tutorials to help us into the light.

Thanks for sharing your hard work.

Frenchy Pilou

08-31-05, 04:29 AM

...and amazing exploration of Geometry possibilities! :cool:
Pilou

sirquadalot

08-31-05, 08:37 AM

Digits...:cool: :tu: :tu:

Digits

08-31-05, 09:48 AM

Thanks for the replies guys!

If you have already installed 4.0 please get the new version 4.1. You can just replace your existing ZCurve_4.zsc with the one in the zip.

marcus_civis

08-31-05, 09:57 AM

Great work on the update - excellent new features. And the tutorials are a tremendous help. I'm sure a lot of people will appreciate your hard work. Thanks! :tu:

Buckie

08-31-05, 10:42 AM

You tha man digits... :tu:

Moochie

08-31-05, 01:02 PM

Most excellent! Thank you! :tu:

wenna

08-31-05, 02:32 PM

Thanks again for sharing your hard work. Looks like a lot of fun!! :D

Digits

09-04-05, 09:45 AM

Great work on the update - excellent new features. And the tutorials are a tremendous help. I'm sure a lot of people will appreciate your hard work. Thanks! :tu: Thanks for the support Marcus. I got a little curious to see just how helpful it was to create tutorials for Zcurve so I took a little peek at my webpage statistics over the last few days. The results were suprising.

67 out of 582 (minus return readers) DL'd the script

Perc of the 67 People who DL'd
---------------------------------------
36 looked at the ZCurve Webpage 53.7%
30 looked at the Intro 44.7%
18 looked at the first tutorial 26.8%
11 looked at the 2nd Tutorial 16.4%
9 looked at the 3rd Tutorial 13.4%
7 looked at the 4th Tutorial 10.4%
9 looked at the 5th Tutorial 13.4%
5 downloaded the Zips 7.4%

At least 2 hits per Tutorial were mine checking out the site.

I am not sure whether or not it reflects the general interest in Zscripts on the whole, that ZCurve is a real Stinker, or just the fact that Zcurve with all its functionality is just too intimidating for the average user to generate any interest beyond just a cursory glance. I suspect that it is a bit of all three.

Anywho, I pretty much zscript solely for my own pleasure not for fame or fortune. I just found it very interesting to spy on the mating habits of our internet culture. Pretty fasinating stuff!

acmepixel

09-04-05, 11:00 AM

Hi Digits,

I for one am in the -very interested but a bit overwhelmed- category.
I plan on using your scripts once I get more basic functions under my belt.

I am very impressed with what your plugins can help us to achieve with Zbrush. And am very greatful for talented zscripters like yourself. So don't be disappointed with low web hits. i think I may not be the only one who wants to learn your plugins, but who doesn't have the time to do it right now.

I have a Digits folder dedicated to all of your plugins and tutorials. I will be refering to it once I'm up-to-speed.

So please keep on with the good work and keep an eye on the long term view.

Moochie

09-04-05, 11:59 AM

Dunno if this helps, but here's what I thought:
The interface looks complicated. The first tut covers the new stuff you've added so, if coming to the utility for the first time, it's really hard to get your head around what's going on. The assumption I made was that the following tuts would be even more in-depth. They're not .. they are very clear presentations which take little existing knowledge for granted. But of course you don't know that until you've viewed them.

There are a number of procedures to learn. Personally, I learn best with a sheet or two printed off with 'do this then do that' step-by-step instructions, with a brief 'because' paragraph. Then I can dab away at the utility with a crib sheet on hand. Do a procedure a couple of times and it sticks.

So .. my suggestions would be: have a way to hide part of the interface, so that only core elements are visible. A beginner's version, if you will. Once a user is confident with the basics, they can flick a switch and all the more advanced stuff becomes available. I've no idea if that is easy or hard to do, or how much work it would entail. Or even if others would welcome it. But I know I would.

Second idea is a printable crib sheet: step by step no-brainer instructions. Again, I can't speak for anyone else, but I would absolutely love to use your utility and I'd find practical, simple instructions invaluable. The artistic possiblities are so obvious and exciting .. a foot up is all that's needed.

Thanks again for all your work. I'm not looking for a 'make art now' button. Just a way to break down learning your utility into bite-sized chunks, which is all my addled brain and available time allow. :)

Moochie

09-04-05, 12:06 PM

Heh heh .. I now see there's a link to your previous thread .. which contains a pdf! Wahoo! I am off like a rat up a drainpipe. This evening is dedicated to learning ZCurving for me. Cheers!

Moochie

09-05-05, 01:09 AM

Digits

09-05-05, 09:49 AM

Ok .. reporting back. The pdf tutorials are very good. Thanks! Playing with the dials tends to result in curves disappearing way off screen somewhere, and I can't work out how to Ctrl+N to clear everything. I'm sure I'm simply missing something (I tried Clear in the Shift+D menu, but that only seemed to remove my last curve, not all of them .. I need a destructo button heh heh). I'm going to try the 'whip' tutorials tonight. Thanks for your input Moochie.

Not sure what is going on with the Clear Screen, except it will only clear the current layer and if you have a current object in Edit or Transform Mode it won't clear that.

For your other problem, I am not sure what is going on there either but here is a procedure that should get you a starting curve every time.

1. Make sure you are out of edit/transform mode, i.e. no red circle or gyro.
2. To Set your Start Point press L-SP. This should create a 3D sphere at the current location of your Start point.
3. Do what you have to do to get into TRANSFORM:MOVE so that you have a Gyro.
4. Drag the Gyro to the location that you wish to start on the Canvas and press S-SP to save the Start Point.
5. Now drag the Gyro to the Location that you wish the curve to End and press S-EP to save the End Point.
6. On the Navigation Panel press the R (Reset) button to set the 2 control points to the default.
7. Press the CREATE button. This will create a Zsphere object on the Canvas that stretches from your Start Point to your End Point.
8. To modify Control Point 1 press the Sel-CP1 switch and use the Navigation Panel to move the position of CP1. As you move you should see the Zsphere object start to bend.
9. To modify Control Point 2 deselect Sel-CP1 and Select Sel-CP2. Use the Navigation Panel to move the position of CP2. As you move it you should see the changes reflected in the Zspheres.
10. By using the Sel-SP, CP1, CP2 and EP switches you can precisely create the curve that you need. By selecting one or more of the Control points you can also change the diameter of each Control point.

If you can get this to work and practice it a few times so that you can create a curve at will at any location and orientation on the canvas then you should be able to start experimenting with the other functions that are available to you such as Rotate, Flip, Morph and the Recording/Build stuff.

Also, be careful of using the LAY function which uses the existing canvas to adjust the Z-Depth of your object. If the curve lies over portions of the canvas that, for example reaches the backplane of your image you can end up with some interesting shapes if you rotate your object.

I hope this helps.

Digits

09-17-05, 07:59 PM

Got a little inspired by Lemonado's 4 Meats (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=28866) thread and created this with Zcurve while working on a few new features.

curve7b.JPG (javascript:zb_insimg('18168','curve7b.JPG',1,0))

wenna

09-17-05, 11:08 PM

wow digits, that is just amazing! very very neat! Can I ask if there is away to save the flash files to hard drive? They are really great!

Thanks so much for updating this fun script!

Moochie

09-18-05, 02:55 AM

Very delicate, beautiful and intricate! The knot apps over in the mentioned thread are easy to use and produce great results, but nowhere near the complexity of this. I've printed off your instructions from a few posts back (thanks!) and will definitely try harder to master your ZCurves.

Digits

09-18-05, 08:28 AM

wow digits, that is just amazing! very very neat! Can I ask if there is away to save the flash files to hard drive? They are really great!

Thanks so much for updating this fun script!
Thank you guys

Wenna you can download ZcurveTutorialsZipped (http://www.cyber-webs.com/zbrush/ZCurve/ZCurveTuts.zip) and extract to your hard drive. I haven't updated the script yet but just trying out a couple of new features.

Random Curve - Press a button and you never know what you are going to get. Hopefully add a bit of chaos to your image.

Swap Curve - Swaps Control Point 1 and Control Point 2. So if you have a curve that goes Whup E Doo, press the button and it will go Doo E Whup

Feel free to post your own experiments.

Digits

09-20-05, 08:07 PM

I created a new Tutorial hopefully showing some techniques working on a real image.

ZCurve Tutorial 6 (http://www.cyber-webs.com/zbrush/ZCurve/zcurvetutorial_6.htm)

I wanted to see what the resultant improved version looked like Tiled

curve7d.JPG (javascript:zb_insimg('18367','curve7d.JPG',1,0))

Moochie

09-21-05, 01:25 AM

Thank you! That is so clearly explained and presented. Now I've no excuse! :tu:

Frenchy Pilou

09-21-05, 02:39 AM

...a texture ?
A random color between the Morph drawing?
Pilou

Sebcesoir

09-21-05, 11:00 AM

Look s wonderfull, but I cant handle it weel yet...

I ll try your tutoril... I want to do some jewelry, could help me a lot....

Digits

09-21-05, 11:07 AM

Thanks guys for your interest

...a texture ?
A random color between the Morph drawing?
Pilou Now you got the wheels turnin, that would be a cool feature.

Another little diddle

curve8.JPG (javascript:zb_insimg('18405','curve8.JPG',1,0))

Frenchy Pilou

09-22-05, 05:19 AM

...to take any 3D object for replace the Curve ? :rolleyes:
Seems same concept :)
Pilou
Ps Cool wicker flower :cool:

Digits

09-22-05, 08:55 AM

...to take any 3D object for replace the Curve ? :rolleyes:
Seems same concept :)
Pilou
Ps Cool wicker flower :cool:If I get what you mean, you can already do this with ZCurve.

1. Create a Curve
2. Select another 3D object and draw it on the canvas
3. Press either L-SP or L-EP. This will move your object to the Starting or Ending location of the Curve your created on the Canvas.
4. With your new object you can use Move, Flip, Scale +/-, and Rotate to adjust your object. If your new object is a Zsphere model and it doesn't have any child spheres you can even use it as a Morph target!

Keep them ideas coming! I'd love to see what your imagination can do with ZCurve.

Frenchy Pilou

09-22-05, 09:13 AM

...when you draw an 3D object this one don't go on the start or the End
A message arrived With "Swicth" Now or Not, because you are in Edit Mode"

Something is yet missing :)

Eureka !!!
It's me !
I have not token a Zspere object not transformed, a primitive or a Zsphere object Unified :rolleyes:

Your script is some difficult to memorise :)
A little train is obligatory !
So I am training :D look and re look the tuts :lol:
Hoppfully your tuts are terrific ! But another time there is a lot of serial of manipulations :)
And when I arrive at the end of the the tut I have forgotten some stages :rolleyes:
I believe that I write that on a paper :D
Pilou
Ps When you make a morph it's just a direct translation, there is no rotation
Is that possible ?

Digits

09-22-05, 10:44 AM

I have no doubt that you will get the hang of it with practice, even finding out what not to do is part of the learning.

Ps When you make a morph it's just a direct translation, there is no rotation
Is that possible ?
I will have to check when I get home, but 99.9% sure that Morph will indeed Rotate the object as it goes along.

To test this

1. create a curve
2. Press MS to store the Morph Start
3. Use the Gyro to Rotate your curve
4. Press ME to Store the Morph End
5. Press Morph

Check to see if the Morph rotates from your starting Position to your ending position.

Note: Using the Gyro to rotate will sometimes encounter the old Gyro Lock that we know so well, so the Rotation may or may not be exactly how you planned it.

Hope this helps!

Frenchy Pilou

09-22-05, 01:43 PM

The morph rotate and translate between 2 curves :D
I progress :rolleyes:
A little thing that I don't find is a button "preview" ???
You talk about it in the tut... but...where is that ? :)
Training continue...

Just a thing :using the Gyro with a curve has "block" the cursor & the program :qu:
There is not a variable in rotation who overpass a limit ?
If that arrive again I will try to make the same drawing for help you to find the bug :)

Pilou
Ps You have not project to "mark' each morph during a morphing for obtain a Multimarekrers ? :)

Digits

09-22-05, 02:43 PM

A little thing that I don't find is a button "preview" ???
You talk about it in the tut... but...where is that ? :)
Just hit the 'a' key to turn preview on so you can see the mesh, this is the standard shortcut key for Zbrush, I did not program that into my script.

Just a thing :using the Gyro with a curve has "block" the cursor & the program not sure what you mean by "block" ???

There is not a variable in rotation who overpass a limit ?
If that arrive again I will try to make the same drawing for help you to find the bug
I have tried to come up with code to overcome Gyro Lock but my brain isn't big enough

Ps You have not project to "mark' each morph during a morphing for obtain a Multimarekrers ?
Since each curve has it's origin at the start of the mesh and not in the center I did not include this feature because alot of times the markers would overwrite the previous. If you want to multimarker some curves, convert each curve to a polymesh first, then use the TOOLS:DEFORMATION:UNIFY button to move the Pivot Point to the Center. Since this also rescales the mesh you would also have to scale it back to the correct size.

Great questions, thanks Frenchy

It might help to memorize the 4 laws of ZCurve

1. Create a Start point for your curve. (S-SP)
2. Create a End Point for your Curve. (S-EP)
3. Press the Create Button
4. Use the Navigation Panel in Conjunction with the Sel-SP, Sel-CP1, Sel-CP2, and/or Sel-EP switches to modify the curve in Realtime.

Note: If you drop out of Edit mode with your curve to select another tool etc... Just press the Create button again and the script will re-create the curve as you last left it. In this case you don't have to go thru steps 1 and 2 again. In fact, after you create a curve just keep moving/modifying and snapshotting the same curve over and over if you want to.

Frenchy Pilou

09-22-05, 03:14 PM

That's arrive on time again with only use buttons Morph Me Ms & Swap :)
Crash the prog but not the system !
Ctrl + Alt + Del help me in this appening ;)

Thx for take the time to aswer :)

Just a last wish : is not possible to enable a button (one's more but useful) for the "SnapShot" ?
Because make Shift + S after each drawing is some painful !
(press the button Snapshot with the mouse also )

I am very slow minding & progress slowly :D
I attack lesson 3 indeep :)

Digits

09-22-05, 03:20 PM

After thinking a bit about Frenchy's feedback I thought it might help to explain a bit about how ZCurve works.

Basically, the script allows you to control 4 points on the canvas, the Start, End, Control Point 1, and Control Point 2. The location of these points on the canvas are shown in the sliders for each point. When you press "Create" the script creates a Zsphere chain that starts at the Start Point and Ends at the End Point. The 2 control points act as magnets on the Zsphere chain to bend them. When you use the controls to Move, Rotate, Flip or modify one or all of the 4 control points the script is actually moving/Rotating/Flipping/changing these 4 points on the canvas, then the Zsphere chain is redrawn using the new information.

If you have used any 2D drawing packages that have Bezier Curves you should be able to relate to the handles that they use so that you can bend the line around. It is the same principle that Zcurve uses it 4 control points to do except the only visible indication you have to see what you are doing is the curve itself. Also, unlike those 2D drawing packages with ZCurve you can create curves in 3D space.

Hope this helps those of you that are having trouble, I wish I were a better instructor. Questions help alot.

Frenchy Pilou

09-22-05, 03:47 PM

You have missed my last wish :D

Just a last wish : is not possible to enable a button (one's more but useful) for the "SnapShot" ?
Because make Shift + S after each drawing is some painful !
(press the button Snapshot with the mouse also )

Maybe a "take back" after a morph will be fine :)

Of course yes I undertand the Bezier curves or similar but it's the succession of stages and input who are some perturbating and hard to memorize :)

And the Control Point 1 has x2 y2 z2
And the Control Point 2 has x3 y3 z3
Some names pertubating too :)
Maybe Start Point 0 must have x0 y0 z0 etc ...for a rationnal point of view :)

I persevere ;)

Ps Is the button "clear" reset all things ?
because when I push it and make "Create" curve keeps some old points ?
There is not an automatic resize start ?
Last curve seems no refresh !

Digits

09-22-05, 04:15 PM

Just a last wish : is not possible to enable a button (one's more but useful) for the "SnapShot" ?
Because make Shift + S after each drawing is some painful !
(press the button Snapshot with the mouse also )

I can do that, thou there are sometimes where you will have to remember to turn it off, as when you are adjusting. But it would be a fine feature.

Maybe a "take back" after a morph will be fine :)

What I do is get out of Edit Mode and press CTRL Z to undo the last operation. Then to get back to Zcurvin I press Create again to get my Curve back.

And the Control Point 1 has x2 y2z 2
And the Control Point 2 has x3 y3z 3
Some names pertubating too :)
Maybe Start Point must have x0 y0 z0 etc ...for a rationnal point of view :)

I have named them X0,Y0,Z0, (start) X1,Y1,Z1 (CP1) X2 Y2 Z2 (CP2) and X3,Y3,Z3 (End). I will make them 1 thru 4 if it will make it more clear.

Ps Is the button "clear" reset all things ?
The Clear in the Control menu only clears the current layer. All your Curve Settings will remain as they were as well as any other layers in your image.

Thanks again for your feedback

Frenchy Pilou

09-22-05, 05:02 PM

In your tut number 6 the cursor of the learning teacher seems distroy !
On my screen it's a white square + the arrow inside !
Is that normal? ;)

So I begin to see how all works :)
In some days no doubt that this crazzy script will not have no secret for me but it's not so easy to manage all functions in a same overview :rolleyes:
Zen is necessary :lol:

Pilou
Ps
Nothing to do for automatic textures ? :)

Digits

09-22-05, 05:23 PM

Ah! the crazy white square. I used a program called Wink to make the tutorials and that is what it does to the onscreen cursor when it rendered the flash file. Perhaps there is a way to fix it?

Yes, grasshopper Zen would surely help us all.

p.s. Yes, textures is already in the next release.

Here is a quick an dirty example using textures

curve8a.JPG (javascript:zb_insimg('18460','curve8a.JPG',1,0))

Frenchy Pilou

09-22-05, 07:19 PM

Very cool textures Digits :cool:
aa.jpg

Pilou
ps
Form is Zcurve, Clouds is Texture reflect 4, Frame is not Zb ;)
I am started :D
What adventures game exploration ! :lol:
Pss
Any chance that you input the six movements on the numeric key Board ? (another choice)
(Cameyo's Zplace habit :rolleyes:
Because clicking mouse is another time painful ;)

Psss
Just trying to "Mark" some curves with M during a Zcurve session
Recalling the Multi Markers
That works fine if I go out from the Edit mode : That's very cool :cool:
Refound the Copy / Past using The MM & Gyro
= Ctrl + Shift : Shift release --> use the Gyro + Click (Ctrl always pressed :)
What a pianist :D

Digits

09-23-05, 07:21 AM

Wow Frenchy, I think I hear the drums. Very african feel to your image. Sounds like you are getting the feel of things. Really cool to see some Zcurvin goin on. You are giving me some good ideas to make the script better and easier to use, thanks buddy!

Frenchy Pilou

09-25-05, 07:27 PM

...this script is some funny :)
Why not put the Size - on the left & the Size + on the right? :)
Waiting the texture :)

aa.jpg

Forms are Zcurve, frame is not Zb

Digits

09-26-05, 07:31 AM

ZCURVE VERSION 4.3 UPDATE 9/26/05

This last one has a aquatic feel to it.

Been really busy, so I haven't finished any documentation for the new version with some of your suggestions. But to get you going here it is.

You will have to replace the contents of your ZCurve_4 folder with the files in the Zipfile.

To use the Texture feature.

1. Select the Texture you want to use in the Texture Palette
2. Press the TEX button. Every curve will now be assigned this texture.
3. When you want to change textures, select the new Texture and press TEX again.
4. When you don't want a Texture, select No Texture in the Texture palette and press TEX.

To use the Snap function
1. Turn Snap On
2. This will automatically snapshot the curve to the canvas after every modification.
3. Turn Snap Off when done.

NEW FLASH TUTORIAL - ZCurve Version 4.3 Features (http://www.cyber-webs.com/zbrush/ZCurve/ZCurve4_3.htm)

Thanks again for your help Frenchy, I appreciate it.

aminuts

09-26-05, 08:36 AM

ahhh nuttin like a new toy for breakfast!

Thanks Digits!!!

bism

09-26-05, 03:08 PM

Frenchy Pilou

09-26-05, 03:29 PM

..."Set Parameters" (nearest the button Text...ure)
Press it 3 times and you will see Angle, Scale, Value (maybe value too :rolleyes:
Move the cursor as you want or better enter a number and press the SpaceBarr :)
Funny script isn't it ?
Try also the Zplace2 (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=23343&highlight=Zplace2)script by Cameyo for moving your objet with the Numéric keyboard (as arrow keys) as a Logo Tortoise :)
Davey Inbetweener (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=552&highlight=inbetweener), Digits and Cameyo are the masters of Crazzy Geometric Scripts :cool:
Pilou
Ps Only 9 answers for the Inbetweener :eek:, it's not fair for this incredible script ! :cool:

Digits

09-26-05, 04:06 PM

Great tool! I think I have it figured out for the most part. My only problem is I can not seem to change the number of morph iterations. It is locked on "2". Is there a button somewhere to unlock it?

Thanks.Like Frenchy says

Press the * button, which toggles thru the Angle, Space, and Scale parameters. You will want to change the Scale parameter to adjust the number of iterations. You can type your setting right into the slider or use the mouse to drag the slider to a value. The default value is 5 (5% of 100 = 20 iterations) So I am not sure why you are seeing only 2.

Example
Scale value Iterations
5 = 20
10 = 10
20 = 5

Digits

09-26-05, 06:50 PM

Added Flash Tutorial of new features to the new download on page 3.

you can also get it here

ZCurve Version 4.3 Features (http://www.cyber-webs.com/zbrush/ZCurve/ZCurve4_3.htm)

Frenchy Pilou

09-26-05, 07:34 PM

More and more crazzy!
What is the limitation of creation of an ordinary curve of Zspheres in your script ?
Children ? Symmetry x,y,z ? Numbers of noddles ? (180 said the tut)
Your script becomes a programme inside the programm !
Fractal indeed :D

Pilou ;)
Ps
I have seen in your new tut that you have made a knoot :D
Sure that you can participate of the thread of knoots :)

bism

09-26-05, 10:24 PM

Digits,
Thanks for the reply. I know it must be a pain in the a$$ to get all these quesions, and then have to repeat your answers. Sorry about that. Great tool!

Digits

09-27-05, 07:34 AM

I know it must be a pain in the a$ to get all these quesions, and then have to repeat your answers.
Not at all bism, if nobody asks any questions then it is most probable that nobody has found the script to be useful enough to ask them. A question helps everyone else that reads the thread. Thanks for your feedback and interest, I appreciate it.

What is the limitation of creation of an ordinary curve of Zspheres in your script ?
Children ? Symmetry x,y,z ? Numbers of noddles ?
Well, as we have found out there is a problem making a string of Zspheres with too many nodes. I suggest not making the resolution (in the Settings Menu) greater than 180. Also, if you have BestFit On (Default) this feature will adjust the number of nodes in your curve so that no node overlaps another, so even thou you might set a resolution of 100 the actual number of nodes created might be less than that. Unless you are going for a particuliar effect you really don't need alot of nodes to create a curve shape, thus the default resolution of the script is 25 nodes. If you combine curves into a mesh, each as a child branch of the root or other nodes then the number of nodes can be huge. I think Baz's tree had over 2000 nodes.

Hope this answers your question.

bism

09-27-05, 02:32 PM

Please forgive if this is an error on my part but I was doing some more tests today and got the error posted below. I was doing a rotation/snapshot on an object that I had built using the record function.

Also, I would like to humbly present some ideas for this script if I may.

-An iterations slider along side the nav panel for use with the snap feature and the record feature. For example: say I set rotation to 20 and want to go all the way around, an iteration of 18 would be a nice thing to have.

-Sometimes when I snapshot manually (shift s) the script goes away and I have to shake the script window to get it back, it also de-selects all my settings.

-While record is on I cannot change the angle/scale/space or better said, I can change the setting but it wont have any effect.

-When I hit a button in the nav panel the cursor will change requiring the mouse to move before the button can be hit again. Not really a problem I guess...

Please don't take these the wrong way, just little observations made while playing around.

Thanks again for the great script!

Frenchy Pilou

09-27-05, 04:05 PM

...Variables of Morphs don't refresh !
After creating a building curves object with a default curve
When I take this object for morphing :
--> the variable Index is out of range ???
( building with 15 default curves)

There is no window for see numbers of Nods somewhere? :)
A funny error is don't press the button texture "before and after" + press the "A" key :rolleyes:

kurv.jpg

Digits

09-27-05, 05:51 PM

Hi guys, great feedback

Please forgive if this is an error on my part but I was doing some more tests today and got the error posted below. I was doing a rotation/snapshot on an object that I had built using the record function.
I was unable to duplicate this problem on my system. The routine DelDupes is only called when you press the Build button and it deletes any nodes that are occupying the same space, like at the origin. It should not be called whan you are rotating an object.

Sometimes when I snapshot manually (shift s) the script goes away and I have to shake the script window to get it back, it also de-selects all my settings.
The Zbrush interface is a little funny with ShortCut keys. If you do a SHIFT + "S" you have to completely release both the shift and the S key before you can do it again. You just can't hold the shift key down and keep pressing the S key. This might have something to do with that problem, I don't know I wasn't able to duplicate it. I have always had a suspicion that Zscript code doesn't run the same on all machines.

While record is on I cannot change the angle/scale/space or better said, I can change the setting but it wont have any effect.
I have always had a suspicion that Zscript code doesn't run the same on all machines. Had to say that again. Is this a problem you can duplicate over and over? On my machine it works fine even with Record active.

When I hit a button in the nav panel the cursor will change requiring the mouse to move before the button can be hit again. Not really a problem I guess...
Again, on my machine I can hit the buttons anytime. Do you use a Mac?

Please don't take these the wrong way, just little observations made while playing around.

Hell no! If I don't get any feedback I just assume everything is workin ok.

When I take this object for morphing :
--> the variable Index is out of range ???
( building with 15 default curve)

Guess I should state that currently the morph feature can morph a Zsphere object up to 341 zspheres, your 15 object curve probably exceeded that. I will bump up the number of nodes you can have with the next update.

Thanks guys, I will continue to try to see if I can recreate these problems on my machine to see what is causing the problems

Frenchy Pilou

09-27-05, 05:54 PM

That's works fine with 9 default Zcurves :)

Ps A little problem : can you put the Z plan to the max faraway ?
Else when you rotate some big object they disapear a little :)

Another thing :rolleyes:
Can we have also the morphing only with the Zspheres without the "A" ?
So morphing of "separate balls" (of Zspheres) will be possible :)
(not the image attached :)

aminuts

09-27-05, 11:47 PM

hi digits

I too get the disappearing plugin/script thing occasionally but I get it in Zifworm more. I have only experienced it once in zcurve. a click in the bottom panel brings it right back so it's nothing more than a convenience but I bring it up as I am sure they have some similar coding.

some day when ya have nuttin to do....i'd love to see a combined zifwormcurve plugin hahaha. or at least the morph stuff......there are some features of both that combined would be awesome....like being able to rotate at will x y or z. etc. just some thoughts since they are similar and rather than try keeping two scripts going with similar stuff perhaps combining them would save you time and give us a kick ass toy.....please include the hotline for addiction help number tho!:D

Digits

09-28-05, 09:28 AM

I am working on an update with some of these good suggestions, thanks guys

Ps A little problem : can you put the Z plan to the max faraway ?
Else when you rotate some big object they disapear a little :)

You are in control where you want to place your objects on the Z axis, just move with the gyro or the navigation panel your object out from the backplane far enough so that it has enough room to rotate.

Can we have also the morphing only with the Zspheres without the "A" ?
So morphing of "separate balls" (of Zspheres) will be possible :)

in the next version Morph will check whether or not the Preview is on, so when you press morph the objects will either be skinned or unskinned depending on how the object was when the button was pressed.

bism

09-28-05, 12:32 PM

Digits,

I will keep trying to produce that error along with some of the other things I mentioned so I can provide more details. (PC btw)

Also, I know you don’t want to hear about the interface but I thought one thing to think about was to have the “Control point” controls laid out horizontally. (one above the other) rather than in a square. Its just that when switching one control point off and another on you have to cross a lot of real-estate to make it happen. It is also easy to miss the fact that you left one activated on the far side of the control panel.

Also, if the center button (center position on screen) was in the center of the nav panel arrows rather than in the separate menu it might be easier to access.

That covers the major ones. There are a few others but I know updating gui’s is a pain.

Thanks again.

Digits

09-28-05, 06:02 PM

UPDATE - ZCURVE 4.4 - 9/28/05

Here is an update that includes some of you guys improvements, thanks

1. Center button of navigation panel now acts as a Center Function - Thanks bism!

2. Morph will check whether or not the Preview is on, so when you press morph the objects will either be skinned or unskinned depending on how the object was when the button was pressed. Thanks Frenchy!

3. I increased the number of nodes that can be in a Morph target to 900, if the object has more than that the script will trim it down until it is less than 900. This should eliminate those errors.

4. Instead of using the Scale parameter for the Morph iterations I added another parameter to the * list called Iter. The default is 20. Do not make this value greater than 100.

aminuts, that is a good idea for Zif Worm, I shall put a morphing function in it as well.

bism, I like your idea for the interface. Initially I have it set up like it is now because it sort of relects the position of the 4 control points of the default curve. I am going to make another version laid out like you say and see what it is like.

For this update all you really have to do is replace your ZCurve4.zsc file with the one in the zip.

Digits

09-28-05, 06:31 PM

I updated ZCurve with a new interface as per bism's suggestion. Which interface seems better?

You can extract the zip to your ZPlugs directory or just run the zsc from your scripts directory for testing purposes.

bism

09-28-05, 06:53 PM

WOW version 5. Thats my vote anyway. I think it looks much cleaner. Taking for a test drive right now.....

bism

09-28-05, 07:18 PM

Digits,

Works great so far. I thought while I was on the interface layout I would give it another try.

On the nav panel:

Due to the symmetrical layout of the buttons on the left and right of the nav panel I always think the “button function logic” would be laid out symmetrically as well. For example: The button “left” button would be “right” on the other side. Or, the “top” button would be “bottom” on the other side. Then I thought perhaps it might be faster for the user not to have to cross the great divide of the navigation arrow section and have all that business on one side. For example: often when I hit the + (size bigger) button I frequently want to hit the – button right after and to do so I have to travel all the way across. Same with all those other buttons as well.

Perhaps the swap buttons could be grouped, the point related buttons could be grouped and then a symmetrical layout of the other (ortho views if you can call it that) buttons.

I think the iter button is much better than the scale for the morph, fingers still crossed for a “rot iter” to go with it.

Sorry I keep carrying on, please feel free to tell me to move on…

Thanks again for the great script

aminuts

09-29-05, 12:14 AM

sometimes cool results can be had from things going wrong!:D

here is a pic that will show you what I mean about it looks like the curve had some masking applied when rotated. Same thing happens sometimes in zifworm but haven't narrowed down circumstances leading to the behavior.

Moochie

09-29-05, 01:11 AM

No time to play at the moment, but just wanted to say a big 'Thanks' to Digits for this remarkable bit of kit. I'll wait until the dust has settled then grab the latest copy. :D

Frenchy Pilou

09-29-05, 05:38 AM

What a speedy feed back :tu:
Don't think to implement the 4 movments and the 2 rotations + Center Object on the Numeric key board (like arrow keys movment) ?
It's will be confortable :)
Nicy toy :cool:
Pilou
Ps personnaly I prefere the V 4 Interface :) (more compact)

Pss Not very good understood "Lay" curves on the canvas ?
What is the difference with the "Snap" ?

Digits

09-29-05, 07:06 AM

Hi Guys

here is a pic that will show you what I mean about it looks like the curve had some masking applied when rotated. Same thing happens sometimes in zifworm but haven't narrowed down circumstances leading to the behavior.

The link isn't working correctly, but I think I know what you are talking about. There is a bug using zspheres built using zscript, I have found a workaround using code and then they are stable on my machine. Evidently there are circumstances on your machine where the fix doesn't work. I only hope they fix this problem when the new version comes out.

Don't think to implement the 4 movments and the 2 rotations + Center Object on the Numeric key board (like arrow keys movment) ?
I hesitate putting alot of shortcut keys in a script because they might interfere with other people's plugins, now and in the future. Let me think about this one.

Pss Not very good understood "Lay" curves on the canvas
When you select "LAY" any curve that you create, rotate, move, flip etc... will take it's Z information from the canvas. Create a 3D sphere on the canvas and create a few ZCurves on it with LAY selected. You will notice that the curves will conform to the sphere. You must be careful that your Curve does not go over the edge and drop down to the backplane of your canvas, that will cause some strange results.

I am going to keep playing with the "New" interface, implementing some of these suggestions and see which one I like better. Thanks again guys

Frenchy Pilou

09-29-05, 09:22 AM

Have good scripting :)
Pilou
Ps For the numeric key maybe you right and the latop have'nt not :D
But for The cameyo Zplace that was :tu:

aminuts

09-29-05, 09:49 AM

dang don't know what I did but seem to be upload challenged here lately. Anyway black and white one is screen grab and color one is my little multipass experiment to make something out of it.

knots2u040b.jpg (javascript:zb_insimg('18897','knots2u040b.jpg',1,0))

Frenchy Pilou

09-29-05, 10:16 AM

...with the geometry :cool:
(and the Digits's Zcurves of course) :D
Pilou

Suzana

09-29-05, 01:01 PM

Great work French Pilou and aminuts. Although I work on hyperrealistic art, my truth passion stayed with abstract art. I really believe abstract art is the best and most direct way to express emotions.
Very beautiful work.
:D;):lol::tu::)
:b3::b3::b3:
:D
:b4:

Svengali

09-29-05, 03:38 PM

Excellent thread mr. D. Looks like a great 'art machine" you got going there!

Nuts: Very nice!

Sven

Digits

09-29-05, 07:00 PM

aminuts, I haven't seen that before. The error I was thinking it was causes the mesh to become all exploded and if you touch the zspheres with the mouse they disappear, so this is new. Actually it is pretty cool looking, it is too bad I can't figure out how it happens.

Here is an update to the Interface. I got rid of the XYZ sliders for Control Point 1 & 2. I have never used them since version 1.0. It makes for a bit more room. Also re-arranged some of the controls, especially the +- buttons as suggested. Bism I tried changing the Navigation Panel so the buttons were together, I just couldn't get used to it, sorry bout dat.

Let me know what you think, I still have the old interface on disk.

This version you have to replace your whole ZCurve_5 folder as there is a new image in it.

ZCurve5menu.JPG (javascript:zb_insimg('18945','ZCurve5menu.JPG',1,0))

Thanks again

bism

09-29-05, 09:58 PM

Digits,
Looks great, cleaner with each try. I thing the way the nav panel is laid out now works fine. Groupings are much easier to understand. I did find it useful to have the xyz sliders on cp1/2 especially when weaving a curve through others. It was also nice to have as a reference just to see where eveything was. Regardless you can still reset the cp's back to zero (on Z anyway) if you get lost so its not that big of a deal.

Perhaps swap the angle/scale/size/iter menu with the morph section so it is closer to the move/flip/rotate/etc buttons? It is kinda over there on its own with no clear reference to what it does. That slider looks like it might fit right under "lay".

Looks great! Thanks again.

Frenchy Pilou

09-29-05, 11:12 PM

...to adapt your start Zcurves concept at any 3D objects (who are not in Zspheres) ?
Pilou

aminuts

09-29-05, 11:39 PM

hi,

no worries Digits....am beginning to think my zbrush is a bit corrupted or I have something running I don't know about. I just tried looking for a zscript in the help menu to help point someone to something. I ran it with notes etc off and the result of the zsphere tool was all messed up. So I don't know what the heck is going on. Thank God for Sven's Psnap plugin or I would lose alot of crap. Am probably gonna have to start using marcus's autosave one to be safe!:rolleyes::mad:

besides...sometimes funky stuff can be made into cool results so all is not lost. I will continue to try to narrow things down.

anyway.....only thing I would change on that set up is to move the "off/on 0" thing up between the two S's move everything below it up and move the morph stuff over. I would make it MS, ME then Morph tho since it's a natural progression and my brain and hands will follow as I read left to right and that would be the order of use as well. Also slide the create button over and make the tex button a little bigger and the 'or *...(not sure what it is cuz my old eyes can't see that small) a tad bigger.

i love this script.

Digits

09-30-05, 08:46 AM

...to adapt your start Zcurves concept at any 3D objects (who are not in Zspheres) ?
Pilou
Actually you can use the Rotate, Flip and Move controls with any object, the script can determine whether or not it is operating on a Curve, Morph object or something else. But no, it won't create a curve, record or morph anything that isn't Zsphere.

Some more good suggestions, I am tinkering some more and hopefully will get the final version out soon. After thinking about it, it is sometimes useful to manually set the Control Points when you want to make a perfectly symmetrical curve so I am thinking of a way to do that and still save some interface space.

Thanks again, your help is mucho appreciated.

Digits

09-30-05, 06:11 PM

Here is the latest version. I have added XYZ buttons to Control Point 1 & 2 so that you can read and change them manually. Which is sometimes useful. Also moved some buttons around. Seems to me to be pretty good at this point.

Again, you have to replace the whole ZCurve_5 folder

ZCurve5menu.JPG (javascript:zb_insimg('19012','ZCurve5menu.JPG',1,0))

aminuts

09-30-05, 11:13 PM

ahhh looking good Digits....now to go play:D

bism

10-01-05, 10:44 AM

Very cool, well refined, much easier to understand, and very usefull. Great script, thanks again.:tu:

Curious to see what people come up with when we can start using zspheres for deformers...:eek:

marcus_civis

10-01-05, 02:40 PM

Really great update - thanks for all the hard work on this! :tu:

aminuts

10-02-05, 11:20 AM

after play some yesterday I have to say I like this layout, Digits. everything is there makes it more intuitive to use I think as well. I am one of those dorks that reads the manual after you're done and have pieces left over so I find it easier to figure things out with this layout and perhaps others will as well.

Thank you for all the time you spent working it out and taking in suggestions like a champ!

am hoping to have some pics to post up a bit later.

aminuts

10-03-05, 11:36 AM

well this one's got some curves and some exploding curves for fun. about 4 layers and baked various layers by themselves before a final render with a white shadow mat.
took about an hour for the final to render out.

funcurve04.jpg (javascript:zb_insimg('19181','funcurve04.jpg',1,0))

Frenchy Pilou

10-03-05, 11:41 AM

Pilou
PS Soon I re make some trying :)

vlad74

10-03-05, 11:52 AM

Aminuts this is really beautiful. Good example of using the script.

Blaine91555

10-03-05, 12:53 PM

Aminuts - Great image :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu:
Digits - Looks like a great script. Thank you.

Digits

10-03-05, 01:15 PM

:tu: :tu: :tu:

ZCurve is just a tool, what the human mind can do with a tool is what is interesting. Great eye candy aminuts!

aminuts

10-03-05, 01:23 PM

Thanks guys!

Digits without the tool this human mind wouldn't be capable of this fun stuff! Too damn addictive....man I can't wait til 0ct 6th( or when it comes out...no pressure Aurick honest;))....zapplink + zcurve + zifworm = bye bye nuts:D

marcus_civis

10-03-05, 02:49 PM

Great work nuts! I really like the lily-curves. Beautiful. :tu:

Frenchy Pilou

10-03-05, 05:29 PM

...speedy doodling :D
Funny as a simple curve can make :rolleyes: Bravo Digits :tu:

dd.jpg

Pilou
Ps Only Zcurves except the frame ;)
Ink Material by Fouad + Aurick
Pss Digits : A another idea of Script
Just a Selection Tool !
Just to can select one Color on the canvas and make the Invverse selection as a texture transparent on a plan 3D :rolleyes:
Difficult ?

aminuts

10-03-05, 11:12 PM

Cool Frenchy!

Reminds me of some posters that came out years ago packaged with magic markers or crayons that you could color up any way your heart desired.

having said that......I think you have a new idea to create a "blank" for another relaxing challenge? which gives me an idea for a kids version of zb that would include some things like that they could fill screen with and play with brushes to learn how they work...hmmmmmmmm.

ok back to zcurvin!

Digits

10-04-05, 06:46 AM

Looks like crazy ancient flying machines coming to Las Vegas! :tu::tu::tu:

Just a Selection Tool !
Just to can select one Color on the canvas and make the Invverse selection as a texture transparent on a plan 3D :rolleyes:
Difficult ?
I am not sure that I understand what you mean. It is easy enough to get Color from the canvas. I am not sure how or what would be the inverse of a certain color. I may be wrong but I don't think there is anyway to change the Transparency color which is RGB 0,0,0.

Can you give me a better idea of your idea :)

Frenchy Pilou

10-04-05, 07:37 AM

In Zbrush the only procedure for simulate a selection wished is used
the Stencil but alas some figure's case are not resolved!
else paint something on a Background 0,0,0

But when you have a Canvas colored on another color it is impossible to select quickly something :(

So a tool selection will be very confortable, (to ovoid to go in a 2D prog for make the selection and go back to Zbrush :)

It's just to simulate the Selection Tool of Toshop for exemple :)
(And more the Magic Tool selection :)
Ps
It's my avatar on the other Forum made only with Zbrush many years ago :rolleyes:
(you can see the use of the rainbow texture and a Sphere 3D 3/4 used:D

Digits

10-04-05, 07:50 AM

Ah, I get you Frenchy. Although this feature could be theoretically done with zscript it would not be pretty and it would take forever to scan/change each pixol on the canvas that it would be useless. However, when Pixologic releases thier new Plugin, I forget what it is called, you will be able to interact with your whole canvas in Photoshop and this kind of operation will become very easy.

Also, when/if Pixologic releases more information about expanding Zscripts by the use of external DLL's then we will see alot of other useful plugins.

Frenchy Pilou

10-04-05, 08:26 AM

you will be able to interact with your whole canvas in Photoshop and this kind of operation will become very easy
When you have Toshop ! :D

aminuts

10-04-05, 09:12 AM

Frenchy.....any program that can use .psd's!!

"use ZAppLink to send the canvas (not the texture) to Photoshop (or your PSD-capable image editor"

Frenchy Pilou

10-04-05, 10:04 AM

...I doubt that works with the Demo ;) (Export yes but import :rolleyes:
Wait & See :)
Pilou

aminuts

10-07-05, 12:47 PM

some more curve and mat bake fun.

zcurve001.jpg (javascript:zb_insimg('19445','zcurve001.jpg',1,0))

vlad74

10-07-05, 01:01 PM

wowowwow Aminuts. This is really beautiful. I really like it. Both renderings are just amasing. :tu::tu::tu::tu::tu:

vlad74

10-07-05, 01:03 PM

It is me again. I just really like them. The second one is fabilous. Did you do any PS touch ups?

love them

Svengali

10-07-05, 01:04 PM

Nuts!

Some of your best work to date... ZCurve is your kinda script.

Please! More! :tu:

Sven

Moochie

10-07-05, 01:47 PM

Hot stuff, aminuts! Colours, shapes, movement, complexity all work together wonderfully. :tu:

Digits

10-07-05, 05:34 PM

I'm have to give it a Neatobandito :tu::tu::tu: I am especially in favor of the second one. Whatever magic you are doing with the rendering is really eye pleasing.

More please

aminuts

10-07-05, 11:01 PM

Thanks Guys!!

am gonna try and get a page set up so I can just upload the full size stuff...they kinda don't look as nice when ya gotta crunch em down.

vlad...the first one is pure zb...been experimenting with baking materials and/or their attributes on single layers then turning em all on and use a diffuse white shadow mat to make em pop out.

the second one I did the same but tweaked the back ground in ps because I couldn't quite get the look I wanted for that and I think I might have tweaked the levels just a touch to bring the curve out a bit.

when zapplink comes out....look out!! I'll be lost forever with my ziftriumverate and zapplink.:D