New ZScript: C U T

[Muvlo]

C U T- Comitted to bringing you even more wierd and useless effects than ever before!

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1032105056qjk.jpg

As you can see in the picture above, C U T carves "steps" into anything on your canvas. It looks something like an elevation map.

Options included allow you to:

:b3: Control how far back the effect starts and how far forward
:b3: What the resolution of the cutting is
:b3: And the rotation of the cutting plane.

Download C U T here: C U T.txt (http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_file-1032108305udv.txt)

As always, I'm interested in any suggestions or other comments you may have! :)

[Digits]

Sounds Kewl! where can I get it?

[Muvlo]

An animated gif of how this looks, first modeled, then with materials, and finaly with lights and rendered. :)

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1032108196sxh.gif

[Muvlo]

Oh no! :D Digits, do you believe I've inserted two pictures, and forgot the script!? :rolleyes: :p

OK, it's in the first post now.

[Digits]

heheh, I've done that! Checking it out now

[Belleski]

Thanks Muvlo! This looks like a really cool effect! Like wood or something...I'm sure it will come in handy. :D :tu:

[WingedOne]

That's pretty cool! :tu: I'm sure I'll be able to find some uses for this.

Reminds me a little of the long-lost Zebra render mode. :)

[wenna]

Thanks for the script Muvlo! I love trying new things and this looks like it would be really fun to create with.

[Muvlo]

Thanks for your comments everyone! :)

(I was thinking the same as you, WingedOne, about the Zebra render... how about that? Subconsious ZScripting! :D)

[juandel]

i have had no luck until now using it with default settings - but have tried twice only. in fact i esc. both times as zbrush was creating/dupl/merging layers as if on speed and the cubetool (? i tried with terrain and sphere) was pumping in the tools palette - maybe i should fiddle with the axis and increase stepvalue? any pointer as to what i could be doing wrong would be most appreciated as this looks too cool!

TIA

- juandel

[Ron Harris]

thnx Muvlo....this may have been asked....I was thinking of like terrain as in using this with the alpha century script....how would we do that....that would make for a kewl plateau image for rice fields, or pyramids, grand canyon, or even for use making a topographic representation of the ground as seen from above with the contour lines as you have hinted at. Thanx again for the script...I will run it later for sure. :tu: :tu: :tu:

[Muvlo]

Hard to say precisely what the problem is, so I'll just go over basic steps:

First, of course, is to put whatever you want cut on the canvas. I forgot to say before, but it needs to be in layer one. (I think, though I haven't tested it, that it should be fine to have other layers after your first one.)

Two: The axis sliders, at their default angle of 0,0,0 should be fine for any situation. More extreme values, such as 180,180,180 might yeild strange results, depending on what is on the canvas.

Three: The most important setting is the Start Depth. This works just like setting fog depth, that is, it is usually the farthest point in the scene. Using the Pick button is probably the easiest way to set Start Depth.

Four: The step value sets how many pixols of depth are cut at a time. A too-large value might entirely skip over everything on the canvas, if it does not have much depth.
Ex. - A small sphere drawn on the canvas and cut with a Step value of one will have lots of circular lines over it. Increasing the Step Size to ten or so will result in large concentric circles.

And finaly, the total cuts value sets how many times the cutting occurs. It does not set how far forward the cutting extends, because a different Step Size will change this.

One last thing: It's probably a good idea to Reload the script between uses.

Let me know if this helps Juandel. :)

Ron, let me see if I can come up with some examples of this... I'll post them here as soon as possible. :)

[Muvlo]

OK Ron, here we go:

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1032215202hkh.jpg

I'm afraid I got a bit carried away with the rendering and lighting, but you should hopefully be able to see the regular "steps" cut into the ground, and maybe the regular spikes as well. This would have a much more regular look if I'd increased the step size, I may do an image like that if I can. :)

In this image the part labeled 1 is the original object I put on the canvas. I just used the SimpleBrush, with a DragRect stroke.
The part labeled two shows what it looked like after it was Cut. After it was Cut I used the usual AlphaCentury technique; MRGBZGrabbed it, used it to mask a plane, and Offset it.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1032215260isq.jpg

Please let me know if you want to know anything else!

[Stonecutter]

Now THAT is cool!!! :tu:

I couldn't see where this would apply to my methodology or subject, but when you posted the landscape example, (Thanks for the request F/S! :D ), I felt a 'sonic boom' of understanding...
Wonderful script, and terrific imagination, Mr. M!!!

:cool: :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :cool:

[Flycatcher]

Thanks for this, Muvlo - this is what the Contours filter in PSP should have been! :tu: :D :tu:

Like SC, I'm grateful for the landscape example - nicely points up its relevance to my most frequent subject matter.

[juandel]

thanks, Muvlo! :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: on my third try and being reassured by your info i let it run until the end and i think it worked as wanted - though the first about 40 steps seem to have been taking place somewhere unseen. i picked depth from what i thought to be far-awayst point. 4th try will be done with max. zdepth - thanksalot for a fantastico script!!!!

- juandel

[Muvlo]

I'm glad my example "turned on the light" for you, Stonecutter and Flycatcher. :)

And Juandel, glad you got it working! :)

[DeeVee]

Well done M, thanks for sharing this image. I reminds me of a time long ago when I molded wood. :) :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: