Help Creating a Sign

[buzzwizard]

Hey everybody:

I really need some help... My dad wants me to make this sign for him, and he bought this program for me so that i could do it. However, i'm having some problems. Here is the picture, then i'll tell you what i've tried so far.
http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1002679399lzr.jpg

All I was trying to do was create the basic shape (a square with an arch cut in it), but nothign seemed to work. I need it to be all one peice, of course, but i thought that shouldn't be too hard with the Multimarker tool.

In reality, everything i tried (Zcut, black textures for transparency, etc.) didn't work, so i'm hoping ya'll have some more ideas.

[juandel]

now this is gonna be interesting, buzzwizard! thank you for bringing this up! can’t wait for insights of z-architects! i’m sorry i can’t be of any help: i remember an unfinished project where i wanted to build an aquaeduct (like the romans used for the transportations of water to their cities) where i had the same problem... i forgot about it due to some other inspirations - but then i did not have a "customer" to keep satisfied :D

- juandel

[Kruzr]

'Evening Buzzwizard . . . :)

The object your looking to create wouldn't be that difficult to do. The only problem I can see is, "I need it to be all one piece". Do you mean that you want the whole structure as one object, or do you mean just the basic square & arch part as one object??? :confused:

Right now what I'm thinking of is using an Alpha for a Mask, then using "Hide Points" to eliminate the center of the arch area. But in needing it as one object, means you'd want it as a "PolyMesh" object & you can't have "Hide Points" in a "PolyMesh" object. :(

Let me play with this for a while, & maybe I can come up with something??? ;)

Have a good one . . . :cool: Mark.

[drjjwow]

hey buz i dont really think that this would be hard at all. just figure out the shapes and sizes and you got it... ive done a mock up of what your asking i think this is what you want take in mind that it was done really fast and the rough edges can be taken care of with a little extra time... hope this helps http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1002701930pgu.jpg
the main tools i used where cube, plane 3d, circle 3d... and as far as the triangle shape all you have to do is change the sides to 3 in your cube settings... if you need more help than ill make a script on how you can do this picture ok... good luck

[buzzwizard]

Thanx for the post already :) Kruzr, i just need the basic shape as one piece... I'd LOVE to have it as a polymesh, but I didn't think that'd be possible. Thanks for the suggestion, but could you possibly run a short Zscript? I'm not exactly sure how to Mask with sharp edges.

Thanks, Buzz

[Kaz]

Looks like the main problem is creating the Arch. I think I would create separate pieces as the good dr. has pointed out. Just a big Multi-Marker project.

You can use a 3dcube for most parts, just scale, mark and snapshot as needed.

One way to create the arch would be:

3dring
Coverage 180
Set inner radius as desired
Deform>Scale z-100
Deform>Inflate z+100
Deform>Scale z+100...

If you mark and snapshot all the 3d cubes, it's pretty easy to keep all pieces the same thickness. Here is a zscript:
arch (http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_file-1002733136lnr.txt)

[Kruzr]

Hi Buzzwizard . . . :)

I see that the Doc & Kaz have already jumped in there with excellent replies. I also see that Kaz has posted a ZScript for you, so I won't bother going into any further details or explainations. It seems that you should now be able to build your object without any problems. In the image (below), you can see that it is indeed possible to create your object in one piece. The procedure I used for my "PolyMesh" object, was very similar to Kaz's. ;)

Good luck with your project & have a good one . . . :cool: Mark.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1002739375pkd.jpg

[buzzwizard]

Thanks so much for all your help!!! I can't believe how awesome this forum is!! Thanks again, everybody... I'll post my finished work for all to see :) Thanx Kaz for the script, and everybody who showed me (and my dad) that it CAN be done...

seeya, buzzwizard

[juandel]

so simple, yet so beautiful! the aquaeduct is taking shape (mentally, at least) again, thanks to you, Doc, Kruzr and Kaz! :D hmmm, though i am not sure how to bend a polymesh like in the top and bottom fotos (http://www.bda.at/bda/pressereferat/semmeringbahn.htm)

- juandel

[Kaz]

Just like building with blocks, I would think. Once you have the individual sections, you just place and rotate as needed. It only appears to bend, right?

[Kruzr]

'Morning Juandel . . . :)

Kaz is correct in his explanation.

Juandel, the arch part of the object is one object by itself, created easily with Kaz's ZScript, using a Ring3D, drawn on canvas then scaled & positioned & place a Marker. The rest of the object is only one Cube3D - scaled & positioned - place a Marker - use "Snapshot Object" & positioned again - place a Marker - then for the top portion, rotated - scaled & positioned again, etc. - the use of a Cylinder 3D was used for the base. ;)

The complete object in my illustration has 11 separate objects with Markers & took about 15 minutes to create from start to finish. ;)

There is no limit to your brilliant creativity in ZBrush, Juandel. I expect to see your "aqueduct" image posted by this weekend! :D Hehehe. Have a good one my friend . . . :cool: Mark.

[juandel]

:tu: :tu: :tu: yup, that could work, thank you, Kaz (you remind me of my :tu: big brother who was always way far ahead of my building-with-blocks-, lego- or whatever-skills :D). maybe this foto (http://www.ifm.ethz.ch/~vohla/0MzB/0FotosCOL/MzB-B-1-gr.gif) gives an better idea of what i am after - and as i want to even exaggerate the shown bending and view from above (and the hollowing-out via alpha-selection-hide-points does not seem to work) i thought i should better create the bridge as one tool (lots of cubes and half-rings, which hopefully does not result in too many polygons) and afterwards try to forge it, than placing porte-block by porte-block which probably would result in some spaces between them or unwanted distortions. as far as i know, the tool/modifiers incl. s-bend are not fully functional with a polymesh so i will try to push it the edit/move way but am afraid it might loose it’s shape.

hmmm, as i think about it: there might be a way using Digit’s Interpolate Widgets to make the porte-blocks melt into each other and even get perspective distortion automatically. Digits, if you read this: is there a way to make the interpolated objects place markers while they are being snapshot, so one could activate the multi-marker tool afterwards and create a saveable polymesh to be used in future projects?

- juandel (too much theory and wishboning instead of finally giving it a try :D)

:b4: edit: good morning, Mark! :D took me so long to type my reply to Kaz, i missed the fact that you are around, too, amigo! :D thank you (so many big brothers/sisters in this z-family :D)

[Kaz]

I see your issue now. With some work, you could create separate "blocks" to be used for the curve by bending the individual pieces. As I think about it, that seems rather difficult. It would be easier to do as you say and bend the whole thing at once. I will think about that some more...

[Kruzr]

Hi Juandel & Kaz . . . :)

Juandel, I gave it a quick try using the method = create an arch / use the arch with a Cube3D & piece together on the canvas / then convert to PolyMesh. At that point everything went fine, but as soon as I tried to Smooth Bend, things got a little weird. As you stated Juandel, "as far as I know, the tool/modifiers incl. s-bend are not fully functional with a PolyMesh". ( Image below ). :rolleyes:

I'll play around some more later on this evening . . . :cool: Mark.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1002833588bvb.jpg