ZBrushCentral

Questions & Troubleshooting for ZBrush 2018

This thread is the place to post your questions concerning ZBrush 2018.

Before posting your question, please read the FAQ as we will be continuously updating it with the most common topics.

When you do ask a question not already covered by the FAQ, we will post our answer (when we have one) as an edit to your post. That way the question and answer will stay together – both for your own benefit and for that of anyone else who reads the question.

Thank you!

Please help yourself by making use of the Knowledgebase before submitting a ticket!

Knowledgebase about ZBrush 2018
Knowledgebase about the Pixologic ID
Knowledgebase about My Licenses

FAQ
Q: Am I eligible to upgrade?
A: Anyone who has ever purchased a ZBrush license from Pixologic or from an authorized retailer is eligible for a free upgrade to ZBrush 2018.

Q: How do I upgrade?
A: Choose the option that applies to you, based on which version of ZBrush you have:

  • If you already have a serial number for ZBrush 4 (any version), use [My Licenses](https://pixologic.com/zbrush/trial/) to upgrade.
  • If you stopped at ZBrush 3.5 or earlier, submit a [Support ticket](https://support.pixologic.com) to upgrade.
  • If you work for a company with floating licenses, the upgrade will be available through a Support ticket on or around April 11.
  • ZBrushCore users can also upgrade through [My Licenses](https://pixologic.com/zbrush/trial/). Doing so provides a $100 discount off the ZBrush purchase price. This means that if you upgrade before the price change on April 19, you will save another $100 compared to upgrading at a later time.

Q: Do I need to uninstall or deactivate my old version?
A: No. This is a new installation, new activation system and new serial number. While ZBrush 4R8 or earlier are no longer supported, you don’t need to uninstall your old version. You also don’t need to deactivate it.

Q: I upgraded but didn’t get a download email.
A: First, did you upgrade right when it was scheduled to go live (or a bit before)? Anyone who tried to upgrade before we announced that it was live has created a situation that can only be resolved via a Support ticket. If you got your ZBrush 2018 serial number but did not receive a delivery email with your download link, check your junk mail folder, spam filter and places like Gmail’s Promotions tab. If you can’t find anything, please submit a Support ticket and we will resend the delivery email.

Q: How do I activate ZBrush 2018?
A: The activation system for ZBrush 2018 uses your Pixologic ID. When you first run ZBrush 2018 it will ask you to activate. You will then use your Pixologic ID to bring up a list of your available serial numbers. Choose the serial number that you wish to activate with. Simply follow the on-screen instructions. You will then be brought back to ZBrush to automatically complete the activation.

If your computer doesn’t have internet access, you will instead be able to create an activation Request File. Copy this file to a USB stick or other portable media and take to a computer that does have internet access. There, go to https://register.pixologic.com/activate to use your Request File and create an Activation File. Take this Activation File back to your ZBrush computer to complete the activation.

Q: Why do I need a Pixologic ID?
A: Pixologic understands that trying to keep track of and manage serial numbers often becomes frustrating – especially when it’s many years since your initial purchase. The new Pixologic ID system puts a number of ZBrush related tasks under a single login: License Management, Upgrading, Downloading, our online Store and also Support. This will make your life much easier!

Since the Pixologic ID system is relatively new, many of our existing users do not already have an ID registered. If you have never used My Licenses before, you probably do not yet have a Pixologic ID. To create one, go to My Licenses page and click the “Forgot Password?” link. Be sure to then enter the same email address that your license was purchased under. If you have a Pixologic ID, you will be given the option to reset your password. If you do not have a Pixologic ID, click the Register button at the upper right corner of the page. When creating your Pixologic ID, please use the same email address that is associated with your licenses.

Q: I have logged in at My Licenses, but it doesn’t show any ZBrush licenses. What’s wrong?
A: My Licenses can only display the serial numbers associated with the email address that you used to log in. If no licenses display then your licenses are under a different email address. Please log in under the correct email address in order to be able to proceed.

Q: What if my email address has changed?
A: You can still upgrade, install and activate under your old email address. All of the systems give you the necessary information in your web browser or via ZBrush itself. However, we do recommend that you update your email address with Pixologic at your earliest convenience. In order to protect your account security, we require that all email address changes by made through a Support ticket.

Q: Is Sculptris Pro coming to Sculptris?
A: This will not be possible. While Sculptris Pro tesselates models in a way that is inspired by Sculptris (hence the name) it is completely new code from the ground up. This is how it can also include the combined decimation feature (called tessimation) that is the highlight of Sculptris Pro. Because Sculptris Pro uses entirely original code, it will not be possible to add its features into the stand-alone Sculptris application.

Q: Is this a free upgrade for ZBrushCore?
A: No. ZBrushCore is not ZBrush, which is why ZBrushCore costs much less than ZBrush. While ZBrushCore users can upgrade to ZBrush, this is not a free upgrade. Upgrading gives a $100 discount off the ZBrush price. During the first three weeks following the release of ZBrush 2018, this upgrade price will be $695 USD. When the price of ZBrush 2018 changes, the price of the ZBrushCore upgrade will change as well… going to $795 USD.

Q: What does it mean that ZBrush 2018 is dual platform?
A: All ZBrush 2018 serial numbers can work on both Windows and macOS. You no longer need separate serial numbers for each platform. Single-User licenses are still allowed the “Home Use” activation – in other words, ZBrush can be activated on any two systems provided that both copies aren’t actually run at the same time. However, those two activations can now be both Windows, both macOS, or one of each. Volume license serial numbers also now allow activation on any combination of both Windows and macOS systems, with the serial number allowing a number of concurrent activations equal to the total number of seats purchased.

Q: My company has separate volume licenses for both Windows and macOS. How should we upgrade?
A: Upgrade both serial numbers, but use only one of them. For the other, submit a Support ticket telling us which serial number you are using and which you would like to discontinue. We will then merge the licenses accordingly.

Q: I previously purchased a cross-platform for ZBrush. How does this affect ZBrush 2018?
A: The cross-platform purchase was an add-on for your original ZBrush license. It was not a stand-alone license (which is why it received a 50% discount) and as such is not eligible for upgrade. Your original license will be the only one that is upgraded and will now work for both operating systems. If you wish to have two separate licenses (which would both be dual platform), you may upgrade the cross-platform add-on to a full commercial license. The price of doing this will be 50% of the ZBrush 2018 price. ($397.50 before the price change and $447.50 after.)

Q: Is ZBrushCore now going to be dual platform?
A: This will require an upgrade similar to the one that ZBrush just received. We will be switching to the new system at that time but have no information regarding when this might happen. Until then, see this Knowledgebase article.

Q: Is the ZBrush to KeyShot Bridge now going to be dual platform?
A: The change to dual platform cannot happen until the ZBrush to KeyShot Bridge undergoes an upgrade of some kind. This will undoubtedly happen eventually, but we have no information at this time as to when. If you wish to use the Bridge on both platforms before that change happens, you can purchase a cross-platform add-on at half the ZBrush to KeyShot Bridge price. ($74.50 USD) Whenever the Bridge does change to being dual-platform, this will then be handled the same way that the ZBrush licenses are being done now.

Q: Online activation gives an error about “Invalid Request Parameters.”
A: There are two workarounds for this:

  • Just change your Pixologic ID password to something that has no special characters. English letters and numbers, only.
  • Do Offline activation. Because your computer is connected to the internet it will take you just a couple of minutes and you won't have to change your password.
Either way, this is temporary. An update will be released soon that fixes this and other known issues.

Awesome New Features. Cant wait to try it.

Quick Question on the Release Notes on the Feature Page

OBJ Import will not accept Color Vertex information. It didnt support it before, did you actually mean it will read it now.

You’re right. Good catch. It should say “now” rather than “not.”

Will I able to keep my custom UI on ZB 2018?

You can try bringing in your 4R8 UI but it is highly recommend to rebuild it from scratch for this particular upgrade.

Will I be able to continue to use 4R8 after I upgrade? I am working with companies that will not be able to upgrade for a while.

Yes. ZBrush 2018 is a new serial number and will also be a separate installation on your computer. The two versions will be unaware of each other and your ZBrush 4.x license will not be disabled.

Bear in mind that while ZBrush 2018 will be able to open native-format files created by 4R8, version 4R8 will not be able to open such files created by ZBrush 2018.

It seems like more and more time passes by that Zbrush is becoming more appealing.
I just wonder is Sculptris Pro a separate program or is it just part of Zbrush altogether now?
I am a pretty decent with Sculptris and I often yearn to buy Zbrush if it wasn’t so expensive (I know AutoCAD, Sketchup Pro, Blender 3d and Sculptris).

Sculptris remains unchanged. Sculptris Pro is a dedicated sculpting mode within ZBrush 2018. (It is not a separate module/plugin and so there is no additional cost for it.) While it has the same tesselation that you’re used to from Sculptris, it also automatically decimates when using the Smooth brush or can both tesselate AND decimate as required wtih any supported brush. This helps it keep your mesh at manageable polygon counts.

And of course, when your polygon counts do climb too high you can use Decimation Master (including the new presets) to optimize your mesh back down to a count that will allow you to continue sculpting. In other words, the road blocks dead-ends that were inherent with Sculptris are easily overcome by Sculptris Pro.

Hi,
Will the official 4R8 plugins work with ZBrush2018 or will they need to be updated? If it’s the latter - do you have an eta on when they will be available?
(the presentation version seemed to be lacking most plugins)

Can’t wait to try out the new features btw, everything looks so awesome! (as usual) :slight_smile:

With perhaps one or two exceptions, the official plugins have been updated and are included.

Just wondering how Sculptis Pro will handle/maintain UV’s…

UV’s depend upon the model’s point order. Since Sculptris Pro by definition changes the point order with every brush stroke, I think you can guess what happens to UV’s. :wink:

It supports PolyPaint but you will have to wait until you’re done with Sculptris Pro mode to UV the mesh.

Thank you yet again Pixologic, another free update.

Not sure if this is the right place for questions, but I have only two.

1: Does the sculptris features have any benefit for production models as in retaining UVs, and producing maps?
2: Now that Zbrush is called Zbrush 2018, is Zbrush 5 no longer on the cards?

Thanks, Dan

For question 1, see the post above this one.
For question 2, the naming convention has been changed. There will not be a ZBrush 5. Instead, all future versions will be named after the year in which they come out. If two releases take place in the same year there will be a point number such as ZBrush 2018.1

People were just too confused by the old numbering system. You wouldn’t believe how many support calls started with, “I have ZBrush 4R” or “I have ZBrush 8.”

@Tez: nice questions, but I’m pretty sure you’ll find soon :wink:

@Pixologic guys: just because a new version is coming, why not…

  1. fix the sculptris pro page in docs as, at the moment, it's a "page not found"?
  2. change size to that biiiiiig banner in doc section? It's so annoying having to scroll down again and again to read the documentation
  3. have better doc section? Like the left menu of arguments not loading every time and scrolling with the page or having fixed in a different area, so when you click, it changes only the right part where is the documentation.
  4. change size to that biiiiiig banner in doc section?
  1. FIXED! Thank you

I just read these limitation about Sculptris Pro in doc:

  • VDM brushes are not supported.
  • Any brushes that generate content will not work, such as IMM/Insert brushes, Curve brushes, etc.
Will they be available one day? Because with local tesselation, for example, you could put screws over a panel, having high details for screws and a low detail/less polys for the panel.

Thank you a lot and thank you a lot for hard work with ZBrush.

Thanks once again, you beautiful people!

question1 : I understand that ZBrisuh 4.8 can stay installed, but I assume this is a safety net for people working on certain projects but it is not a must. Is this correct so I may uninstall it?

Yes. ZBrush 2018 is a stand-alone installation with an all-new serial number and activation system. You do not need any earlier version.

question 2 (related to 1) : in my Win7 Program Files x86 folder I still have a pixologiv ZBrush 4.7. I assume this may also be uninstalled?

Correct

thanks again!

So the last sentence mentions “a new way to remesh any model” but there was/is no mention on the stream or features page about any changes to Zremesher or new remesh solutions. Is there a new algorithm in place for this now that Sculptris Pro has been implemented???

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Upgraded my license but how do I upgrade ZBRUSH :smiley:

I did the same, but no download link appeared and no email yet.

From the upgrading instructions: "From this page (as well as in the email), you will find a link to download your ZBrush 2018 installer. "

hello. have used licenses previously and have the latest version of zbrush 4r8. when i click to upgrade to 2018 on my licenses page it says no licenses found. i’ve only ever used one e-mail for zbrush. help :{

Submit a Support ticket.

Okay cool so I’m not alone…
Well I guess we are WAY TOO EARLY

Okay mine just arrived by email…
I love you guys!!!

Im unable to upgrade my licence. I dont see any checkbox, which should be there according to page 2. Any help?
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Your email will arrive shortly with the installers…

Mine was a 20 minute delay

Thanks. Will wait patiently then :slight_smile:

I am having the same issue as Indik, lets hope the support will quickly resolve this…