Zif Click 2.0 Beta

[juandel]

squared. i just wanted to let you know that its smooth runnings for zifclckbeta on the mac-osx + Z2, except the odd occurance here and there - nothing as severe like switching into demo-mode as it has happened frequently back with zbrush 1.55 and pre-X-os, mind you. thats what happens nowadays: the script is peacefully quitting, usually when files get huge only. some dialogue is asking for the .txt-version. no prob to save the tool and start reworking in an overall new session, though. plus: i couldnt manage to succesfully make the script one of the startup-plugins. i assume its a zipping issue, like the one that occured for some users with the ZTimeLapse-script for mac, which was resolved by uploading a .sit instead of a .zip-file containing the script and folder.

so, zifclicking for me is muchissimo fun, even more so as its more comfortable than ever. nevertheless, after all those zifclickless months, i had to start from nihil, so first results arent elaborate at all (more accid- than experim-ents ):



and as it happens a silly tree with too fat roots instead of branches:



more coming asap

- juju

[pajonate]

I am not sure am I making something wrong but I cant rotate to "branches". First, I have a brunch to rotate, than I point to one of the zspheres and press "d", and after that I will click on Rot button or Brot button and no metter which of the directional buttons I press nothing happens. Same is happening if I change the value in rot field -nothing. Where am I making a mistake?
I have 2d on and dlineon in the settings. I have tried different settings but with no success. Some help please.
For the rest of the scriop I might say it's amazing. It has a lot of potential.

Pajonate

[juandel]

hi pajonate

have you inserted the rotation values in the rot-window on the front UI? if so, i think thats the reason for things going wrong.

instead try inserting a rotation value in the "settings" dialogue box (its located at the very bottom of the "settings" submenu). the branch you want to rotate has to be selected. then use "brot" and one of the iolrud buttons to indicate which direction it should rotate. works like a charm over here.

hope this helps!

- juandel

[Digits]

Hansl, even after being zifclickless for so long it looks like you still made it down the "Rabbit Hole", really crazy whirlings. Thank you for the feedback. Here is a new version of the beta. I have made some improvements and hopefully made it more stable for you. Check out the new "Mesh" and "Misc" buttons. Also it will select a branch much quicker now than it did before.

Unzip the Zip file into your Zbrush2\ZStartup\ZPlugs directory and ZifClick will be available when you start up Zbrush. Hopefully that is the way it is done on the Mac.

Look forward to more zifclickins.

Pajonate, Juandel should have helped your problem. It sounds like the Rotation Value is set to zero. Let me know if you are still having problems.

[Polaris30]

Cool deal!

Thanks Digits! gotta get me a fresh copy for my new Zbrush install

[juandel]

ha! revamped and add-ons - bravissimo, Floyd! i havent had time to give the new functions a try yet (hey, i havent even doodled with more than 10% of the last versions capabilities yet), but installation as a plugin worked fine with the new version and my mac!

muchas gracias, mi amigo!

- hansl

[Svengali]

Hey Floyd,

Something weird is happening for me with the plug-in... not sure if it's me or the script. Here's what I get after launching ZifClick using the Zplugs button: a second, shorter button appears in the Zplugs menu.

As for ZifClick2, it's looking mighty good! Your ZScript wysiwyg editor is doing a great job!

Sven

[Bas Mazur]

Grrrrrr
Ok, working on a Mac G5. Made a ZSphere-branche, selected a ball, pushed copy, selected a sphere where I want the copy, pushed paste...... nothing hapens
Again, then the script get in a loop and I have to restart ZBrush.
Do I make a mistake? How this copying works? Can anyone tell me howto?
Thanks!

[Digits]

Hi Sven, ah! The second button is made by the script, I will have to fix that, thanks for the heads up.

Bas, let me know if this works

1. Set your drawsize to 1
2. Hover your mouse over a node you want to select and press "d" . This should select that node and all child nodes attached to it.
3. Press the "Clipboard" button and select "Copy" from the PopUp menu
4. Select the node you wish to paste the copied Nodes to by hovering the mouse over it and pressing "d"
5. Press the "Clipboard" button again and press "Paste". This should paste the copied nodes to your selected node.

Here are some examples of copy and paste from various peoples models. Thanks Polaris and MTB.

[andreseloy]

I have trouble to make the spiral, can you help?
Thx
Andreseloy

[Digits]

Hola Andre

I have attached a easy method of doing a flat spiral, by clicking new nodes in an every enlarging box.

Use this method with ZTaper set on and the script will increase or decrease the Z value automatically giving you more of a Cone type spiral. Play with different values of the ZIncr setting in the "Settings" Menu to increase or decrease the effect.

Hope this helps!

[andreseloy]

The interface is beutiful....

so excuse but i am loose "I have attached a easy method of doing a flat spiral, by clicking new nodes in an every enlarging box", i dont now how to star and where i make the "every enlarging box".
Excuse me for take your time¡
Andreseloy

[Digits]

Hi Andreseloy

I will try to do a step by step, you will catch on quick

1. Start off, press "NEW" to create a root sphere on the canvas
2. hover the mouse close to where your sphere is and press "Shift d" to create a new child node on the canvas where your mouse is at.

By Default and unless you change the settings Zif Click has a Snap to Grid feature that will make every new node align itself with the nearest Grid intersection. The default value is 10 pixels. This will help you create straight rows.

3. Keep "Shift d" ing new spheres going around and around your start sphere. If you need to adjust or fine tune the placement of the nodes you can select the "Move" setting and use the Arrow buttons to adjust them.

Here are some of the Short cut keys that might be useful

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS:
'd' – Shortcut – Select Node currently under the mouse cursor. This is how you select a node and associated child nodes called a “BRANCH” for further manipulation.
NOTE: Any time you select a node by using the 'd' keypress the script maps and displays all child nodes for that Parent in colors.
• Green – Selected Node's Parent Zspheres
• Yellow – Nodes that have more than 1 Child
• Orange – Nodes that only have 1 Child
• Blue - Nodes that have no Child
Thus when you select a node you are selecting a BRANCH of your Zsphere tree.
Functions such as DEL below and COPY/PASTE work with this Selected
BRANCH. Select your whole model tree by selecting the root sphere.

'SHIFT d' – Shortcut – Place a new node on the Selected Node with the mouse.

Pressing 'SHIFT d' will activate the mouse cursor. Place the mouse cursor over the spot on the canvas in vicinity of the node that you have selected and click. The new node will be attached to the Selected node. The new node then becomes the Selected node and the user can continue adding nodes by pressing “SHIFT d” and moving the mouse around.

CTRL 'd' – Shortcut – will move the currently selected node to the spot that you have selected with the mouse.

So the workflow goes like this: 'd' to select a node, SHIFT 'd' to place a new node or CTRL 'd' to move the selected node.

'f' – Shortcut – Move Selection forward thru selected branch nodes.

'b' – Shortcut – Move Selection backwards thru selected branch nodes.

CTRL 'b' – Shortcut – Select Parent of currently selected node. This is useful to break out of the current Branch. Example: To reach a node that is hidden behind other nodes select the node that you can see. This will select that branch. To reach the hidden node press CTRL 'b', the hidden node will become the active node.

SHIFT 'b' – Shortcut – Manually select the Branch associated with the currently selected node. In the example above, after selecting the hidden node press SHIFT 'b' to select the whole branch.

ALT 'b' – Shortcut – Use the Fwd/Back shortcuts to move the selected node with in the branch. Press Alt 'b' to select all nodes in the branch up to that position. Any function that acts on this branch will only effect those nodes.

Hopes this helps. once you figure out how to add nodes it should be easy for you.

[SpaceMan]

Digits

On your tips for making spirals can you do this kind of celtic spirals as a one image (or one zsphere)

[pajonate]

Hi Andre,
take a look at this screenshot.



SnapON value let you put the zspheres aligned one with the others, ZtaperON with value for Zincr together will bring every zsphere closer to you if the value is negative and vice versa. For flat spiral set the value to 0. TaperOn with Tincr will reduce next zsphere you'll draw for the percentage entered (-5=5% smaller). I was confused when I tried to create your request for a 3d spiral, because I was not using 2DON setting, having in mind that I need a 3d spiral and activating that button as it says on the screen shoot will restrict all the zsperes to be created on XY plane. But, what can I say, for some reason it works the other way, when you have it on, than together with ZtaperOn you can get 3d spiral.

Anyway, start the script, press "New", press "Init", set the settings dialog as shown, place zspheres by pressing Shift+D before each placing od a zsphere (when a spiral is in question, kind of boring task), and if you at some point lose the redness on your last zspere you can't continue adding new ones until you go with the mouse over the last one a press "d" while over it.

It is a great script, but it needs some refinement. Also, try the manuals to
get more familiar with it.

Spaceman, the next image was created with this script. I have created the first part (1/3 of the design) then copied it and pasted it. It took me few minutes to finish it so far (it was flatten with tool>deformation>flatten>z axis). I didn't have time to make it more closer to your designe, but I am sure it is possible. Now it's 2:30 am and I have to get some sleep, if I don't want to fell down on my tomorrow's meeting.



Pajonate