Layers

[sinsation]

If I have 2 layers, how can I keep layer 1 visible yet work in layer 2? and so on for a higher range of layers..
After hitting new layer, layer 1 blacks out and I can no longer see it yet it's still there, just hidden.

[aurick]

All active layers should be visible at all times, unless they have been moved in depth so that their contents fall behind the "clipping layer" -- that deepest point that ZBrush can display.

Check out your Layer palette. If a layer icon has a grey background, then the layer has been turned off and will be visible only when it's selected. If it has a teal background, then it should be visible at all times, regardless of what layer you are on.

I've created a sample image for you. It has three layers -- one with red spheres, one with blue spheres, and one with a single green sphere.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1005816629toa.jpg

The third layer with the green sphere shows an orange box around it in the layer palette. This is the current layer. It has a grey background, so is turned off, but it is still visible because it's the current layer.

The first layer with the red spheres has a teal background, meaning that it's turned on. As a result, the spheres are visible on the canvas.

The middle layer with the blue spheres has a grey background, meaning that it's turned off. Since it is not the current layer, its spheres are invisible.

If you are having a situation where the layer's contents disappear even when the layer is still turned on, then it is most likely a case of the layer having been given a high Z value in the Layer>Modifiers. Try moving the layer forward by entering a Z value of around -1000.

If that STILL doesn't solve the problem, could you record a script and upload it here? That would let us see what's happening to you.

Hope it helps!

[sinsation]

Ok, Ive tried it with more than 2 layers and discovered only 2 layers are visable at a time. I'm fairly new to Zbrush so I'm not that good with this yet, if I'm missing something or doing something wrong, I don't know. When mouseovered, all layers say Depth=32. Those images that turned flat on the layer window, are actually spheres. I have no clue why they look flattened.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1005820189gjo.jpg

[sinsation]

Ok I'm sorry, I didnt realize you had to multiple click within the little layer window to change whether its visable/non visable.

I got it now. =]
Thanks for the help.

[aurick]

Good deal.

Yeah, in the example that you showed, the blue sphere (I refuse to say "blue ball" ;)) layer was turned off.

As for the flattening that you see in the layer thumbnail, it's because that's just a reference. It doesn't show a rendered version of the canvas, probably because it would just be too processor intensive. So it pretty much just shows unshaded color -- not even materials.