I could use a little help on this one....

[Mentat7]

Hi everyone! This is just a working test model that I use for experimentation. I am trying to come to terms with using alpha brushes etc. but I am having some difficulty. I am using the TextureMaster. My problem is I want to paint different alpha brushes on the model in different colors to "mottle" the skin but I can't seem to get it to work without causing the bump-map effect: where the alpha is causing texture hight. I just want flat color with no Z-depth. I have the draw set to RGB only but it doesn't seem to have any effect. Naturally when I change to a lighter color I get elevated bumps and when I change to a darker color I get recessed bumps. What am I doing wrong? Any insights would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1012154907aet.jpg

[aurick]

If you're getting color bump, then it's because you're using a material with color bump for your base object. Any color painted onto a material that has color bump set will cause the effect that you're seeing.

Disabling it as as simple as opening up the Material:Modifiers for the material that makes up the head, and changing the color bump setting to 0.

[Mentat7]

I think I understand what you are saying. If my base material that I used on the tool has the bump enabled then all applications of color, regardless if I switch to another material, will apply the same bump? I switch to a flat texture when painting the mottled colors but still I get the bump effect. I assume then I have to start with a "flat" material and add bump height after I am finished painting?

[el_pix]

almost, mentat. it doesnt have to be flat color, any material with *color bump* set to zero will do. if you have a material *with* bump applied and want to keep that, you might as well clone it, turn bump off for the clone and paint with that. (credits to southern for that hint)

i'm usually painting in rgb only with basic bumpless materials and apply the fancy stuff later, but that's not very effective for the more complex effects.

really nice head, btw.

[drjjwow]

looks like you got some great help ... great modeling though... cant wait to see another ..

[Mentat7]

Thanks Guys! I think I got it working. here is an updated pic. One more thing: I am trying to increase the specularity of the lips to make them appear wet. I have tried multiple materials and painting both with M and MRBG but I keep getting a hard edge despite the fact that I only adjust the settings slightly in the material. How can I paint a higher specular value onto the model without getting those hard lines between the materials???
http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1012164895dys.jpg

[s o u t h e r n]

Take the same material that you have applied to the whole head and save it as Material1.

Select any other material slot other thatn the original one. Load your Material1 into that slot. Change the Specularity and diffuse seetings slightly. Paint on your lips with M on (material only)in the DRAW panel.
If you want more gloss, change the setting in your new material slightly.

DONT!!!....Change Colour bump, noise or nosie radius. When two materials have very different settings in these there is a clash.

Hope to see the finished thing soon. Shout me when you want eyes if you haven`t already sorted that out (Which I think you will have as you seen pretty switched on).

Very very advanced for a new user.

Kudos,

Glen

[Muvlo]

That is great modeling Mentat! And the texturing looks very detailed. :tu: :tu:

[Stonecutter]

Nice work, Mentat! :cool: :tu: :tu: :tu:

[el_pix]

[slaps forehead repeatedly with a coffee mug]

aaw sure, you can't clone a material, silly me, sorry if that was misleading.

[el_pix]

a_n_d: the new texture looks great, has much more detail than i have the patience for ...

[AxE]

Thats some good stuff :tu:

[Mentat7]

Thanks to everyone for their help! I think I have a better handle on it now. Southern, I tried what you mentioned but it was still buggerin' me so I tried a different method. I will have to explore that avenue more. This is the third pic I have posted and man have I learned a lot!! One thing I learned...I need to learn a lot more!!! lol! Seems like I follow the tips along just fine but somewhere in the execution I either click the wrong button or do something else silly. ZBrush=massive learning curve. But hey! I taught myself Photoshop so I figure I can learn this. Just one question to all you good folks out there: Why is it that when I save a file as a .psd or as a .jpg the pic seems washed out compared to the screen? This happens even if I screen-capture the image and paste it into a new photoshop document. I have noticed this with Bryce too. I usually go in and adjust the levels in Photoshop but sometimes when there are large saturated areas of dark color adjacent to lighter areas it becomes highly contrasted. There's probably a simple answer to this that I have overlooked...anyone care to take a shot at it?

Thank you all for your help. Without any further ado here is the final pic (#3). Please give me a 1-2-1 on this! Thanks again!!
http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1012183257hvu.jpg

[Zoid]

Wow Mentat, You have done an amazing job mastering ZBrush so quickly. Pretty soon you will be teaching us stuff! I used to use levels in photoshop also to take the haze out of my images until Stargo pointed out the "adjust" panel in render>modifiers. Check it out, it works just like curves in Photoshop. Good work! :tu:

[Mentat7]

Thanks Zoid!! I just tried that and it seems to work! I knew there had to be a simpler method!

[AxE]

The final image looks very good. Hope to see more posts :)

[DeeVee]

Great progress. It really has been transformed !!

[drjjwow]

looks like you had southerns help on this one... great image .. and you did a excellent job on the texturing and the eyes...

[Mentat7]

Thanks Dr. J! Southern's tips and insights did indeed help as did everyone else's input. Thank you all. Looking at it now I think there are a few things I would change: 1) redo the eyes- they are too big, 2) shade the lips differently, 3) change the expression a little- looks like he is a little too "happy", 4) add just a little more color variation in the skin. What do you all think? lol! Sometimes I can be my own worst enemy!

[WingedOne]

Really nice first start. :tu:

The only thing I can think of is maybe adding some shoulders to go with that head and maybe some clothing or armor or something.

The skin and lighting are well done.

Try using a jellybean material for the irises of the eyes (try experimenting with the settings of the jellybean material to get a more lens-like [cornea] look to the irises. Some people like using the gel shader as well for the irises, but I'm partial to jellybean.