ZBrushCentral

Duplicate/Move Distortion

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi.

I modeled a simple claw and used shift-control-D to duplicate it and used the transpose tool to relocate and rotate it into a new place four times to complete a paw. No prob. When I duplicate this same claw from the paw and move it to a foot there is also no problem. But, when I duplicate from this new foot claw, the model distorts the farther away it gets from the source. Why the distortion? I also notice the transpose tool does not move with the duplicate. Doesn’t matter if ‘Local’ or ‘L.Sym’ are on or off or whether x-symmetry is on or off. And it worked fine on the paws. What am I missing now?

Thanks!

~S.~

Attachments

MoveDistort.jpg

MoveDistort2.jpg

#2

You could convert your claw into an insert mesh, I’ve done that before and it worked well. Or you could just extrude your claws from the spots where needed…
I created a script which might be helpful… Leave out the

 and

when you copy it :wink:
Smileys crept in. replace that with a colon and a D


//ZBRUSH MACRO - Recorded in ZBrush version 4.6
[IButton,???,"This will Duplicate then Mirror and then merge down into one. Great for eyes/horns etc.",
[IShowActions,0]
[IConfig,4.6]

[IPress,Tool:SubTool:Duplicate]
[IPress,Tool:Deformation:Mirror]
[IPress,Tool:SubTool:MergeDown]
[IKeyPress,13]//Enter key
]
#3

Hi, Doug,

Thanks for the look. Will the extractions be separate subtools? I plan to rig and animate in Maya and would like the claws to be their own things, separate from the ‘flesh’.

I like the insert mesh idea. Will try that.

~S.~

#4

You could split them off after creation. You might want each individually(to better grap), rather than several claws as one :wink:

#5

Geometric distortion during transpose operations is usually the result of inadvertent masking. A few stray vertices may have become masked or partially masked somehow or another.

Clear all masking (tool > masking> clear mask), mask the desired component (claw duplicate) by completely enclosing it in a rectangular masking marquee, invert the masking by Ctrl-clicking somewhere in empty canvas space so everything but the claw duplicate is now masked, then attempt to move it again, and see if it moves without deforming.

The transpose action line does not move with the mesh. This is normal.

#6

Thanks.

I found a work-around by re-appending the claw and transposing from there. No problems with any transforms.

I just want to add how great you ZBrush gurus are at just being available to help course-correct. You, Doug, Aurick, Pixolator, Monstermaker, Nick, Jason and all the others are such open sources for those of us who will never be more than hobbyists but still break our heads on each new version trying to understand more of it. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way.

Anyway, thanks, and … Bring on 4r7 and Happy New Year!

~S.~

#7

I wouldn’t call it a work around, more like learning how things work :wink:

#8

Coolness. ~S.~