Zskiff-a-licious!

[Mahlikus The Black]

There sure is. Thank you.

[Gary Komar]

cool job on the helmet ! some clean lines tho ZB is capable i too struggle with renders

[Blaine91555]

Just wanted to thank you once more. Your time is valuable and this is appreciated very much. It certainly helps me a lot. No need to reply as your generosity says it all and I'm sure your sick of saying your welcome by now. I'm going to concentrate on moving my base modeling out of Silo to ZBrush and this will truly help.

[Mahlikus The Black]

Cool job on the helmet! Some clean lines. Though ZBrush is capable, I too struggle with renders.

Thank you, I'm glad that it is turning out okay.

I have spent the last 48 hours trying to understand the render settings. More to the point, BPR Shadows and AO. It's been a weird balance. I love what I have found out about the shadows. Really am proud of the result and more to the point, finally understanding BPR shadow parameters. Sad news, I hate what I have found out about AO dynamics. I can get some okay results but I have found that I will never get the AO results that I truly desire. *sigh*

Regardless, I am working on talking points for a few video tutorials. One which covers ZBrush BRP Shadows and AO settings. Not just showing simple setting but actually explaining (and Showing) what each sub-palette setting does and, ultimately means to the overall image. Here is a quick teaser tip. Something that, until recently, I never though about... use powers of eight!... Kinda...

We all can thank Mr. Kurt Papstein for what I have found. His key words for me were, "less is more." I didn't know it then but after 3 hours of 'tweaks then renders' ping pong in Z, I hit a eureka moment. Should be informative...I hope.

Do this:

- Open ZBrush.
- Load this ZScript using the Load button in the ZScript menu ( Render test.zsc ).
- Once loaded.. nothing happens. Locate the 'Tutorial View' divider at the lower middle region of the ZBrush interface and click on it to open it.
- Don't turn off LightBox. The ZScript will do that.
- Click the 'Play' button
- When the ZScript Dialog pops up, click "Initialize and Continue."
- Once the ZScript is done, note the render settings in the BPR Shadows Sub-Palette.
- Enjoy!

My Quad core laptop renders these setting in under 7 seconds.

This is just a small taste of what I have in store...

Stay tuned for more. =)

Just wanted to thank you once more. Your time is valuable and this is appreciated very much. It certainly helps me a lot. No need to reply as your generosity says it all and I'm sure you're sick of saying you're welcome by now. I'm going to concentrate on moving my base modeling out of Silo to ZBrush and this will truly help.

It will always be a pleasure to say thank you and you're welcome. So far, Silo is still tied for #1 with Wings3D. I personally feel that ZB needs more low poly functions but, considering my tenure, Z is on a wonderful track! I can never wait for what they have in store for us.

____


On a side note. Here is a sample image of my discovery.

I love what I am seeing in the edges of the green circle but am confused by the aliased edges I see in the red circle. The softZ and Anit-aliaed settings in the Render Palette only work with best render and not with BPR. I would like to understand this situation more if anyone can help...Thank you!


Stay tuned, enjoy, and as always, thank you!

~MAH~

PS - AAhalf ( hotkey CTL+0 ) removes this but, if I have a large image....well...time is money.

[Mahlikus The Black]

I'm so happy I spent this time playing with BPR Shadow and AO settings.

[stone3d]

Very nice results. I´m looking forward to see your BRP Shadows and AO tutorial. There is a good one from digitaltutors for BPR shadows http://www.digitaltutors.com/11/trai...257&autoplay=1
but I do not have no clue of AO settings.

[Mahlikus The Black]

Very nice results. I´m looking forward to see your BRP Shadows and AO tutorial. There is a good one from digitaltutors for BPR shadows http://www.digitaltutors.com/11/trai...257&autoplay=1
but I do not have no clue of AO settings.

Wow, thank you!

Never saw that before.

Good news is, after teaching High School VFX students for 3 years, I would like to hope to think that I can show you a different perspective on the BPR shadow data
that will hopefully aid in a better understanding of these parameters....I hope..lol. We'll see soon enough.

Cheers and thank you for sharing!

~MAH~

[Gary Komar]

less is more MTB how many time you mess with settings so bad and say wow that sucks and have too hit initilize zb to get to something half normal back !!
there could be a very thick book on zb rendering to take the rocket science out and ao - sss i cant even pronounce them !! so i will be watchin !

[Mahlikus The Black]

See, that's the rub. Though complicated, said book shouldn't have to be so. The key ideal is this; the diversity of knowledge provided is not so much in it's dynamics of what is disclosed but, in the consumption of the provided data. How each user comprehends what is provided is what makes the education of this information the most important issue. It might only seem so based on our (the user's) misunderstanding of what had been defined by the creators and their technical stand point of such development. There is a large line between the artist's brain and the mechanical brain and it's this void and calculative nature that separates our understanding...or lack there of. Therefore, our mastery as a user is governed by how we process and store educational data which may be provided by said developers and its translation among such to all user. The problem I have found is the separation of the technical user's understanding and the artist's realization of their explanation. I will try my best, as of late, to not seem more able but to showcase how my position could help both sides (of the many) to best understand what is being done within ZBrush. I know that it might take me a little bit longer to make these videos but, the time is worth it. See, I'm not just sharing what I know but sharing how my particular artist brain translates what I might think is the best way for users to interrupt what I say to their own knowledge. If I could be any more confusing, please reply. ~MAH~

[Mahlikus The Black]

Still testing. Found an AO that I like but actually, its not with the AO setting.
Also checking out the BPR Filters. Should have this thing finished by the weekend.

Cheers,

~MAH~

[EZRA52]

I'm anxiously awaiting these tutorials about the rendering in Z. Thanks for this MAH.

Ezra

[Blaine91555]

I'm not just sharing what I know but sharing how my particular artist brain translates what I might think is the best way for users to interrupt what I say to their own knowledge. If I could be any more confusing, please reply. ~MAH~

Got it. I'd say that confuses me adequately. No need to explain any further.

[Mahlikus The Black]

Soon...

[Freewaldo]

Thanks super cool information here

[Mahlikus The Black]

Thanks super cool information here

You are very welcome. Thank you back at you!