ZBrushCentral

Can't create normalmap

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi, I have a model wit 4 Mio points and I want to create a normalmap for the lowpoly model I created with ZRemesher for this. I deleted all subdivs for the highpoly model, so I have only 1 subdiv level. I UV-Unrapped the lowpoly model and when I hit “Create Normalmap” the message appears:

“Map cannot be created while highest subdiv level is acitve, switch to lower subdiv level”

But I only have one subdiv level, cause I deleted the lower ones, how can I solve this?

Kind regards

Jay NM

#2

You’ll need to copy your mesh and generate a lower topology version of it. Unwrap it. Subdivide it up to around the same tricount as your other mesh and then use project all to get your details back, clean up any errors in your projection, and then generate your normals.

#3

Basically zbrush can’t bake a map between two different meshes, which is why the sculpt has to have the correct topology and UVs on it’s lowest subdivision level with all the sculpted information on the higher levels. A common (and imo, better) alternative is to export your high and low models as OBJs and bake the maps in xnormal, maya, etc.

#4

perhaps if “reconstruct subdivision” is available, clicking on that might help. then you can switch to the lower and bake.

#5

Yes I did this now and the result is really good. This is what I do right now:

  1. Copy high poly object.
  2. Use ZRemehser to creatw low poly from the copy
  3. Define polygroups, then Use UV-Master to unwrap it.
  4. Project all from high to low poly to get the diffuse map
  5. Export high poly obj and low poly obj
  6. Use XNormal to get the normal map

In Blender I imported low poly obj, define material and then decimate to about 50% and receive a really good looking 4000 polys model.

#6

As a side note, xnormal can also bake polypaint information between the objs, which means you don’t have to project anything inside of zbrush.

#7

O really, this means:

  • Polypainting the highres model
  • Create low-res model and uv-maps (unrwap)
  • Imort high- and low res to xNormal and create diffuse and normal map?

Kind regards

Jay