ZBrushCentral

Copy and Pasting QModels not quite right with masking

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I was having some weird things happening when copying and pasting QModels and was able to recreate it:

If you have three separate polygroups in one subtool and you want to copy one of them and paste somewhere else, I thought that if I masked the other two and performed the copy/paste (under the Geometry palette) then this would work since masking is supposed to negate ANY actions within ZB, right? But, no, when copying one unmasked and two masked polygroups they are then ALL pasted. And when you paste them into the same subtool this creates one helluva mess since they are now all perfectly occupying the same space and you can’t see this (except with some slightly thicker/blacker lines on the QModels).

Seems to me that we should be able to copy ONLY unmasked polygroups shouldn’t we?

#2

The copy thing is more of a “duplicate subtool” function than a “copy geometry” function. I think it replaces a “clone” function from the previous version.

That said you can use it as such with a couple extra steps. Duplicate your subtool, then in the duplicate subtool hide and delete all but the polygroup you want to copy. Then use the copy and paste function.

If you just want to copy some polygroup faces within a single subtool, try using the Polygon > Extrude> No Sides Polys Zmod action. If you want to duplicate an entire contiguous object within a subtool, use the transpose duplicate function.

#3

Thanks Spyndel, my own workaround was to select the part by Polygroup, thus Hiding all other polygroups, Copy the part, Unhide all Polygroups, Mask ALL Polygroups, and then Paste…

Your method might be a touch faster and less prone to user error. I would suggest Moving the part to be copied before pasting into the same subtool, though; the reason I mask all Polygroups is that if you paste your copy over the original UNmasked part you then have no way of selecting either one of them since they are all the same polygroup colour and exactly the same size occupying the same space! … unless in your method the Duplicating of the subtool changes the polygroup colour? …

I am aware of the Transpose Duplicate function and have used it. Can’t remember why I didn’t here. Is it because I thought the Transpose method wouldn’t work on a part made up of several polygroups? Oh, I think my head is spinning :smiley:

Don’t worry about trying to figure out what I’m saying - no response expected.

I will be uploading my first 4R7 model sometime soon where this bugged the c**p out of me because I did so much copying and pasting of different elements. Got it down to a fine art in the end, though.

#4

No, Duplicate subtool, then in the duplicate subtool, delete all polygroups but the one you want to copy. This can be done either with Polygon >Delete> Polygroup all, or by hiding the unwanted polygroups and using the Tool > Geometry > Modify topology> Delete Hidden. Then you can copy and paste as desired.

Transpose duplicates only works on whole, unmaksed objects. If you only mask part of an object, it will extrude instead.

To simply duplicate some selected polyfaces of a model in the same subtool, just use Polygon > Extrude> (target)> No Faces