Maya and ZBrush

[Jake]

Greetings All,

I'm new to the list, so if this is a tired subject I apologize. I'm wondering if anyone out there is using ZBrush in conjunction with Maya 4.0? I haven't bought the full copy yet, just the demo. Unfortunately with the demo I cannot import objects. Could anyone give me some feedback on this before I purchase it?

Thanks,
Jake

[Kathy]

If you are just discussing object/mesh files, ZBrush handles DXF and OBJ files very elegantly.

As far as bump maps, texture maps, specular mapping etc, those are handled in a different way. But you can successfully workflow it.

This may help:
http://www.pixolator.com/zbc-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=002943

[Jake]

Thanks Kathy. I'm guessing that if I can export the .obj without any mesh changes, and export the texture and bump maps as flat images, then I can re-assign them in Maya.

Only bad part is that I'll have to buy the program in order to see if it works well.

Thanks again,
Jake

[Ken B]

For whatever it's worth, I've imported and exported meshes without any changes, and the 2D texture maps into Lightwave, through .obj format. No problems.

[Jake]

Good to hear Ken. Do you find yourself using ZBrush to texture most of your objects in LW now, or do you still use the native texturing method in LW?

Thanks,
Jake

[levius]

Good idea is to model something in Maya and then refine it in ZBrush, for example clothes.. Then you need to go (in Maya) to
window/ settings/preferences /plugin manager and check obj.Export both auto load and loaded. Then just export your mesh in Obj. file and import it to ZBrush..

If you are going to paint textures on your object its much easier to do it in ZBrush, and I think that for fototexturing I will be using ZBrush too. If you got more questions about using ZBrush with Maya just write me to : 3D@3D.sk
:D

[Jake]

Thanks kindly Peter. How funny, I downloaded a picture of your robot (with the gun arm and blade hand) off the interenet awhile ago and used it for my desktop background image. Great style.

Again, thanks for the info. Good to hear that ZBrush will work well with Maya. One other question: Will ZBrush only import poly models, or can I use NURBS and Sub-D's?

Jake

[Ken B]

No NURBS or SUBD in ZB.
This is an edit of an earlier post for clarification in which I stated that I do texture set up and painting in paint packages other than ZB. What I mean by that is when I build a model in other 3D modeling software (such as Lightwave) to be used in that software, I usually paint the texture maps for those models in programs such as Photoshop or Painter. I have, however, had success painting texture maps for exportation on models within ZB and will continue to expolore it more as well.


When I create a ZB still rendering, it is created within ZB with little or no "outside" help. I didn't mean to confuse the two.

[drjjwow]

hi jake im not sure what to tell you about importing into maya however i do know that there giving away a free full version coming soon.. its a education version and all the pictures are watermarked so that you cant use them for professional purposes.. enjoy..