different newbie save as question

[illusory]

Just purchased Zbrush 1.55b, and I'm trying to get some basics down. I have been going through the newbies tuts, but I am puzzled by the following:
When I modify a tool, say a plane, scale it, color it, etc, then I save it as a tool, yes I can then edit it later as a 3D object, but it loads in later in the form it was before I modified it - it doesn't preserve the scaling and color, looks like the default tool.

Now, in the manual it says if you want to save a modified tool, go to Tool/inventory/save as. Problem is, on my Tool/inventory/, there is NO SAVE AS. There's a 'save as' directly on the tool palette, and an 'export' (to .obj) on the Inventory palette.

So, how do I save a modified tool in .ztl format, and get my modifications along with it?

Thanks for any help,
NJ

[Mahlikus The Black]

Modifications to the tool while in edit mode can be saved. Modifications with the gyro cant (save only by markes but then you would need to save the doc as well).

[illusory]

Thanks, but sorry I can't understand what you said in the parentheses...

I've experimented with the options here, and this is what I found: if I make a cube with the 'tools', and rescale it into a flatter rectangular shape, and then sculpt it, when I reload it, the rectangle has assumed its original cubical shape, with the sculptings on it! This is also the case when I export it to a .obj, in 'tools' or 'inventory ! This is quite a serious limitation!

Does this really mean that you can't begin to create a model with any of the 'tools' unless you want to keep the proportions as they are? Say it isn't so...please! If it is, what's the point of even having the scaling function, if it's limited to the current session? What am I missing here?!

thanks,
NJ

[illusory]

Phew! I found the "real" scaling controls in the 'initialize' palette. (i was scared there for a bit...) The changes remain when I reload the object. But this erases any sculpting I did before I set the variables there. Still don't know how you would, say, resize along one dimension, while you were in the middle of sculpting the object. Anyone?

thanks, NJ

[aurick]

The Initialize settings are meant to give you a "clean slate" of whatever settings you desire.

To change scaling in the middle of sculpting, use the Deformation menu instead. There are Size XYZ options there, along with a whole lot more!

To save the color that you have applied to the model, press Color>Fill Object. This allows you to work on the model with vertex shading, which is saved as a part of the Tool. However, vertex shading is limited by the polygons. To get better color that is not polygon-dependent, use a texture instead. You can use TextureMaster to paint your own. If you save the model with a texture wrapped onto it, ZBrush will ask if you would like to save the texture with the model. Saying yes is usually a good idea, since it's one less thing to load later. In addition, this is also the only way to save any material information that has been embedded in the texture.

Hope that helps!

[illusory]

Helps a lot -- texture master is a great help, I found that out right away. Zbrush's strange ways do take some getting used to. I find that this is the wierdest coolest program I've ever dealt with. I keep finding new delightfully unexpected things in it. And it's doing things not possible elsewhere, so it's extremely useful. I'm a Lightwave user (love it), and I'm looking forward to trying to get Zbrush and Lightwave to work together....

thanks!
NJ