Tutorial - EZ Zsphere Hand - Good Topography

[TomLong74]

I spent the last few days learning how to make hands with ZSpheres. Which have to have decent topography for animation. I couldn't find a good/easy hand tutorial so I invested the time to learn on my own. This is what I learned...



Zspheres have built in snap-to connection point system, based on its XYZRes
The X, Y & Zres must be set before you create the Zsphere
The X, Y & Zres settings are found under [Transfrom] when in Edit mode and using Zspheres.
press Shift +slide Xres, Yres or Zres to change one Res at a time.
If you Move a Zsphere into another Zsphere it makes a dimple.
BUT if the Zsphere is a 1/1/1 Res and you Move it into another Zsphere, it doesn't dimple and allows for Fingers & Toes be modeled with good topography, found by complete accident

except when using the ZScript XYZAdjust2, It allows you to alter the Res after its created. - Props go to TVeyes! for this great tool.

Here are the steps to how I made a hand with Zsphere.

(A) in image #001
Start with a defualt Zsphere
Click Edit [T], rotate your view straight on (rotate +Shift)
Hold Shift and click on the Zsphere 2 or 3 times
This make a Zsphere attached to the original with the same size

(B) in image #001
Next go to [Transform] and change the Xres to 3, notice that the Y&Z update to 3 also. Hold SHIFT and change Zres to 2.

rotate your view straight on (rotate +Shift)
Click Draw[Q] and attach a Zsphere.

(C) in image #001
Next go to [Transform] and change the Xres to 1, notice that the Y&Z update to 1 also.

rotate your view straight on (rotate +Shift)
Click Draw[Q] and attach a Zsphere.

Move[W] the Zsphere into the parent ZSphere just to the point that it changes appearence as if concave.

(D) in image #001
Next go to [Transform] and change the Xres to 0, notice that the Y&Z update to 1 also.

rotate your view straight on (rotate +Shift)
Click Draw[Q], THEN hold SHIFT and attach a Zsphere (to what appears to be a concave Zsphere). Attach (with SHIFT) 2 more times

REPEAT C & D,D,D onto B for each finger the Thumb can be just C & D,D

Scale[E] Move[W] & Rotate[R] each ZSphere until happy with results.

==========================

I'll attach a script I made to give you a starting point. You will still need to
tweak the Zspheres to make your perfect hand. Enjoy!

[abxy]

this is beautiful...I love you!

i can't wait to get home and try this out!

thanks a mil' for sharing mate.

[Ctrl-Z]

That pretty well rocks.

[bongob]

well done tom,

i was wondering how to do that aswell

[TomLong74]

Thanks for the kind words, guys. I'm glad to see that people are getting something from my pain It just might be the encouragment I need to do other tutorials from my pain

-TL74

[TVeyes]

Looks like an excellent setup especially with your clever use of a 1,1,1 res zsphere at the beginning of the finger. Thanks for the info

[froyd]

how could i miss this thread? great hand setup! thanks for sharing!

greets
froyd

[bisenberger]

Thanks for this. It is greatly appreciated.

[MalcolmT]

Thanks from me too, as a newbie (to ZB), its good to know that there are ways to make a well structured SDS cage with ZSpheres, the hand is a good example. Now I will have to try inserting loops for the top of finger joints and pads!

[pix0l_d00d]

You saved me hours of swearing thank you.

[jotajota]

[Sav]

excellent, I've just been trying to suss hands for the last few days with no success. Thank you
Sav

[Sav]

I liked it so much I just did a quick printer friendly version for myself in PDF form. if anyone is interested its here:

TLONG_HAND_PDF

Cheers
Sav

[Anatom]

Hi.
Do I take it right, that now, using marvelous TXT files of the lessons scripts,
we can presently send very small files to avoid large files of the ready mesh?

Anatom.

[Moochie]

Thank you! Your pain, our gain.