ZBrushCentral

Can you re-use a zsphere base for rigging later?

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I’m creating a character using zspheres and I’m wondering, since I heard about rigging with zspheres, if you can re-use the same zspheres you’re using to build the character later for rigging the character, or if you have to create a new zspheres rig.

I hope the question makes sense. Basically:

Is it possible to save those zspheres before converting the zsphere base to a mesh and bring it in later to have posing functionality? (Since that base would already be more accurate than creating a new one).

Thanks in advance

#2

Yes you can do that. However, bear in mind that the original ZSphere model may not make the best rig. This is because in general there will be many more ZSpheres than are necessary for a good rig and this will affect the areas of influence when posing. That doesn’t stop you using your ZSphere model as the basis for a rig, and you can add or delete ZSpheres as necessary.

A basic workflow would be:

  1. Save your ZSphere model as a ZTL file using the Tool>Save As button.
  2. Create an Adaptive Skin of your model. You might want to set the Adaptive Skin>Dynamesh Resolution to 0 before you do this because too dense a mesh (at the lowest subdivision level) can lead to ripples if you use ZSphere rigging.
  3. When you are ready to rig, load in the ZTL you saved at (1), unless you’ve still got it in your project, in which case select it. Make sure the Preview mode is off.
  4. Press Tool>Rigging>Select Mesh to select the mesh created at (2), and bind the mesh for posing.

You can read more about rigging here:
http://docs.pixologic.com/user-guide/3d-modeling/posing-your-model/rigging/

HTH,

#3

Fantastic, thank you so much for the info Marcus! It is really very much appreciated. I’ll give that a go then!