newbie frustrations

[LindaB]

Hi, I'm using the demo version of ZBrush. I'm really excited about this program and I think it would be fantastic to use... if I ever learn how to use it. It's so frustrating. The interactive and online tutorials help, but I'm still tearing my hair out. How can I get rid of that floating palette? I move it - and it pops right back in the middle of the screen. There are times when all I have to do is click on the darn thing and it causes ZBrush to crash! It would be handy thing to have if it worked right. I'd just like to make it disappear forever. Please tell me there is hope of learning this app - I really want to be able to use it. OK enough whining. Thanks,
LindaB

[Ron Harris]

make sure yer cap locks are not on...and faar as the palette...use the tab key to toggle it on and off of yer screen...hope this helps ya :) :)

[drkwarrior]

Do not fret lindab,zbrush seems like a complicated program from the get go but,as you progress and expand your knowledge it gets easier and easier.Don't give up.When ever you have a problem pertaining to a perticular aspect of zbrush just ask a question on this forum and I or one of the other zbrush users would be happy to help.

Mark

[ed_the_atom]

On my computer I find I have to use a painting tool once it is selected to then have a functioning tab key to remove or re-instate the floating menu.

You can get rid of the floating menu....check Quicklinks on this site.

You are lucky you have the scripts to follow....we early ones all helped each other, and discovered things on our own. Although there was help from Pixologic.

You will learn the program as we all have.......best of luck.

[Stonecutter]

You can also turn it off in Preferences-> Interface-> Floating Menu... :)

[LindaB]

Thanks for the info on the tab key! That clears up alot of frustration. I'm amazed that many of you managed to learn Zbrush without tutorials! I have another question - I know how to rotate objects and move something around the screen using the transform palette, but how do you move something forward and back - like it's coming toward me or moving away from me?
Linda B :)

[Ron Harris]

Are you talking about the just zooming in or moving objects around....coz at the top of the screen there is the magnifier that will let you zoom in...and on the floating menu I believe you can use the boxes that are next to the cross hairs pointer icon to scale and rotate the image....I think the scaling moving it along its axis....and you get the gyroscope ball and drag that around....I still get confused....good luck :o :o :o :o

[Stonecutter]

You can move layers in and out using the ALT + ~ KEYS together, and moving your cursor up and down in the screen... ;)

[ZBC Moderator]

Hi LindaB, welcome to ZBrushCentral :)

To move the object perpendicular to the screen, that is, on the screen in-out axis - click and drag outside the Gyro in a vertical direction. Dragging upward moves the object away from you, and downward moves it toward you.

-ZuZu :)

[LindaB]

I was able to move things perpendicular to the screen using Zuzu's suggestion. Because things don't shrink or grow larger as you move them forward or back, you can't tell the object is moving until it goes behind something else. I wasn't able to move layers back and forth using the alt and ~ keys, maybe I don't have the right palette open or something. Everything depends on something else to enable it, part of the confusion... thanks for all the help!
Linda B

[juandel]

hi Lindab! :D

if you keep the transformation/info window open while in w(move/gyro-mode) you can read the values of z-axis. - are closer to you, the more + they are the more farther away they are. so, open that window, check the z-value of a certain object you want to place something in front or behind of by moving the cursor over it, then create the object you want to place in front or behind, hit w to get the gyro and type the value of your choice (or drag vertically as zuzu suggested). another neato way is to create that second object right on the location of the first object (like that they have similar z-values right from the start) and rotate/move it into place with a few drags only. hope this is not too confusing and helps! :D

- juandel