QuickSave Update Plugin Button Set for ZB3 (replaces QuickSave)

[Svengali]

QuickSave Update plugin for ZBrush3 replaces the first QuickSave plugin which replaced the old PSnap button set.

Unzip and install new QuickSave.zsc in the ZStartup\ZPlugs folder. Next time you startup ZBrush3 you will find NINE buttons in the ZPlugins menu under the Svengali subgroup.

Image and I+ buttons

First, the Image button lets you save the canvas image as a .psd or .bmp file.

After that, the I+ button will save new versions of canvas image incrementing the original filename. Tree002.psd, Tree003.psd and so on.

Model and M+ buttons

First, the Model button lets you save the current model (tool) in the directory of your choosing. Models are automatically saved at the lowest SubD level. If more than one SubTool is present, the top SubTool is selected and given the file's name, after which the original SubTool is reselected.

Any subsequent saves with the M+ button will increment the root filename, assigning that new filename to the top SubTool.

Docum and D+ buttons

Here, you save the current Document (.zbr) to the directory of your choosing. Note that if a model is active, it WILL NOT appear in the document file, but will be restored afterwards, same location and size, in edit mode.

The D+ button will incrementally save subsequent document files.

NEW: Video and V+ buttons

Nothing fancy here, just two new buttons which work pretty much like the others in QuickSave.

Video button

If you Press Video button when no Movie is in progress., you get a warning popup message that tells you so... and aborts.

If Movie IS in progress, the Pause button is automatically pressed and the Save As Movie dialog box opens up - you enter a new name, press Enter, and the Movie (from beginning to its current pause point) is saved in the directory you choose, a momentary popup confirmation message is displayed, then the Movie resumes recording.

If you have already saved a movie before, all you need do when the Save As Movie dialog box opens up, is to press Enter, and the Movie (again, from beginning to its current pause point) is saved OVER the previous save using the same filename and path. A momentary popup confirmation message is displayed, then the Movie resumes recording.

Note for the Video button to work you must have already MANUALLY STARTED the Movie (after setting your custom parameters). The Video button merely automates saving to the current point then, continuing the capture. When done, you must also MANUALLY STOP it.

V+ button

If you Press Video button when no Movie is in progress., you get a warning popup message that tells you so... and aborts.

If Movie IS in progress, the Pause button is automatically pressed and a NEW COPY WITH INCREMENTED NAME is automatically created (from beginning to its current pause point) and saved in the same directory as the original, a momentary popup confirmation message is displayed, disappears, then recording of the Movie resumes recording.

One warning about using V+

If you press the V+ Button after beginning a Movie, but without having already saved it with a UNIQUE NAME for that RECORDING session, you will save a NEW COPY OF THE MOVIE IN PROGRESS WITH INCREMENTED NAME using the Movie Name assigned from a previous session. This may or may not be what you want, but QuickSave can't know.

The ninth button, QS-Help?, elaborates on this info about each button and how it works.

To use QuickSave, I drag all buttons (except for QS-Help?) to my User Interface (as shown).

*** A CAUTION! ***
I strongly recommend that you TEST THESE BUTTON-SAVE OPERATIONS WITH NON-CRITICAL FILES UNTIL YOU ARE CONFIDENT THEY WORK AS EXPECTED. And please, if you find any problems report them here.

Finally, at the suggestion of Marcus_Civis, I’ve added some code that keeps better track of previously used folders. Thanks to Marcus and to Aminuts for extensive testing and various feedback... and to Scott for suggesting the Video addition. appreciate it guys!


Sven