NewGeoExtrude v2 - a new plugin, updated

[EddyLoonstijn]

NewGeoExtrude – new plugin dec 2007, version 2

NewGeoExtrude provides a way to extrude an area of interest while creating new geometry on the ‘flanks of the extrude’; unlike Transpose:Move that only stretches the existing geometry to bridge the gap.

This second version is much easier and quicker to use then the first one.



NewGeo_Original.jpg
'Original mesh'

NewGeo_Prepared.jpg
if necessary: better 'Oriented'

NewGeo_Extruded.jpg
'Extruded'


The plugin will also make a copy of the original mesh which has a polycount that is equal to that of the new extruded version. This is useful when creating different meshforms used as keyframe-states for animation.

The user can state that he wants to be guided through the process (good for the first copple of tries).


INSTALLATION



The zip contains:
NewGeoExtrude_v2.zsc - the plugin file
NewGeoExtrudeTemp – a folder which the plugin needs to function properly.

as a seperate file:
ReadMe_NewGeoExtrude.txt - the readme file

And, helas, not with this upload:
NewGeoExtrude_Cube.ZMV- example movie of extruded cube
NewGeoExtrude_Sphere.ZMV- example movie of extruded sphere
I'm sorry to confess that I could not get the movies cover the whole screen, so you could see the menu-actions. Also I could not get the movie into the age of spoken movie. So it's Charly Chaplin again. (not bad either;) )
And, sorry #2, the moviefiles seem to be too big for upload, even as zip-files.
I will find a way to get replacements sometime later.




(Delete the older version of the plugin)
Unzip the zip file and place the NewGeoExtrudeTemp and
NewGeoExtrude_v2.zsc in your ZBrush 3 ...ZStartup\ZPlugs folder.

Feel free to suggest new/other functionalities
And happy modeling and sculpting!

Greetings, Eddy Loonstijn

[kogen]

Seems to be interesting. I wonder if the new mesh is linked to the old geometry or does it become a whole new (separated) mesh?

Cheers "ko'gen".

[Lil'sister]

Oh my! I will try that for sure! :tu: :tu: :tu:

[WailingMonkey]

this looks to be quite handy...thanks for sharing your work, EddyLoonstijn! :tu:

WailingMonkey

[jesusguijarro]

Very interesting pluging, tanks

Just one thing there no readme.txt file

[Francis Bezooyen]

Can we get a tutorial please. Some of the explanations in your guide are not really clear. For example - It instructs the user to look "Straight at" the part to be extruded. Well, no matter what angle you look at it from you'd be looking "Straight" at it (that's pretty well the only way to look at something via a computer, so long as it's in the center of your viewport). The involvement of the preview window is also a mystery, especially when you include instructions regarding it that allow the use of transpose, which I'm pretty sure can't be used in the preview window (meanwhile, all I can do is rotate the thing in there so it's not like I can change this enigmatic "area of focus" in the preview window anyway. I'm also not very familiar with the preview window though). Meanwhile - I can't find the extrude sliders.

Nevermind, found the sliders. Nicely hidden. I'd swear I clicked on "extrude" already. A tutorial and clearer explanations would still be appreciated though.

[EddyLoonstijn]

Hi Kogen,

The new mesh is part of the new whole. The basics of the innerworking of the plugin is a combination of Tool:Deformation:Offset,z and Tool:Geometry:Edge Loop. ZB creates automatically additional geometry to bridge the gap between the unhidden part of the mesh and the hidden part. This plugin guides this process and does it many times (i.e. the number of Extrudeparts)

BTW. I'm working right now on a more streamlined version so that the user can do an extrude with a very limited amount of dialogs.
When I have finished this version I will bring this update with a tutorial and helpfile. So give me a small week and for those who do need more info the sun will shine brightly again!
Greetings, EddyL

[Jaidek]

This looks like it could be a very useful plugin! Unfortunately I can't get it to work on my Vista (64bit) machine. Here is the error that I am getting:

Unable To Open File
C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\3D\PIXOLOGIC\ZBRUSH3\ZStartup\Zplugs\NewGeoExtrudeTemp\prepared

Error
Error encountered while importing a file

Unable To Open File
C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\3D\PIXOLOGIC\ZBRUSH3\ZStartup\Zplugs\NewGeoExtrudeTemp\extrudealpha


Error
Error encountered while importing a file

Thanks!

[EddyLoonstijn]

Hai Jaidek,

I don't know anything of the underlying specialties of Vista, but maybe you forgot to put the folder NewGeoExtrudeTemp in the ZPlugin folder?

Greetings, EddyL

see my post about the coming update; will be mutch more easy and quick to use.
greetings, EddyL

[ancomic]

Thank you!

NewGeoExtrude (No Error) Mini Tutorial ;)

NewGeoExtrude_No_Error.jpg

[Roland Kaiser]

A really cool plug in. many thanks for that,Ancomic.


Cheers

Roland

[cannedmushrooms]

very cool plugin
very powerful
And after the 30 mins of trying to build a "thing" from it I felt that I could actually land the space shuttle blindfolded rather that build a "Thing" but I will get the hang of it.
One thing that might be a little easyier, can you code it to say
Step 1 mask off the area
Step 2 user aligns it using the shift button and mouse click
step 3 hit extrude
step 4 msg pops up asking to extrude right left up and down
thats it

The count would be me just repeating step 3

Looks like its running off masked alphas?

i could not even express how powerful a normal freeken extrude tool in zbrush would be. Instead of the "Insert edge loop hope for the best, mask and move" thing we have to do now.
Just makes my head hurt just thinking about it;)

Looks like your onto a good thing keep it up

[Seavannah]

thank you thank you and again thank you. I have had a hard time with the edge loop and all that. This is the best xmas present ever of course besides zb lol. thanks again.

[EddyLoonstijn]

Hi CannedMushroom,
THanks for your comment. However the waiting for the much simpler workflow with this plugin is nearly coming to an end. I'm in the last phases of debugging and waiting for a little advice from our lord Marcus ;) then I will be ready to make a clear 'filmed' tutorial with clear examples on how this plugin can do its tricks.
Greetings, EddyL

[Lil'sister]

Great news!!! thanks

[sclptr]

This looks great, but where is the download link to your file?

[EddyLoonstijn]

Sorry, Sclptr, look again; I made some upload-mistakes.:confused:

Happy sclptng
Greetings, EddyL

[sclptr]

It's not working with Windows Vista 64.

Thanks anyway.

[Lusankya]

Any update on the video file and debugging?

Maybe I'm missing something...

I installed the plugin.. opened zbrush.. made a 3d sphere. went to the menu.. and nothing but "Help" and "reset" as options..

I've tried it with a basic sphere tool and with the same sphere made polymesh.. I dont get a "prepare" button.

The help isn't really that helpful as all it does is basicly ask "Do you want subtitles or not"

Please hurry with the video.. this will be a wonderful plugin when it works correctly.

[SNARK]

Hey, Eddy.

Cool plugin. Did you ever do your streamlined version or video tutorial?

Thanks!

~S.~

[EddyLoonstijn]

For all interested,

I'm working on a upgrade of the whole system. Something like a ModelingSuite, with not only Extrude, but also Taper, Curve, Bend, Flatten/Splice, MeshA plus MeshB and MeshA minus meshB.

ModelingSuite_Interface.jpg

But I want to publish it with as few as possible bugs and as practical as possible. So stay tuned and you will be rewarded. :lol:

Greetings, EddyL

[Autarkis]

Eddie, The new suite looks amazing, i cant wait until you release it!!

[sclptr]

This looks fantastic!

I would love to use this in Vista 64, because I could not find any buttons for it in my plugins list before.

[Displaced]

If this plug-in turns out to be as cool as it looks like, you should be allowed to call it ZBrush 3.2...

:tu:

[brettSinclair]

Man I've been wishing zbrush had more modelling functionality. This looks awesome. Imagine being able to build a mesh through extrude faces or edges. *sigh*

[EddyLoonstijn]

BrettSinclair and Displaced,

I suggest you to take a look at ModelingSuite, my more recent plugin, inwhich this Extrude-plugin is just one of many modeling-tools.

Greetings, EddyL