ZBrushCentral

Export Help Please

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hello all, I just started using Zbrush about a day or so ago. Everythings been great but when i record a movie/video and than export it. It is exported as a ZMV file. Ive looked all around on the internet and couldnt find any mention or info on these file types of what plays them. Can some one please help me out with exporting as something different? Mabey a pluggin or something im not doing or setting up? If it helps im running ZBrush 2, on Mac Os X. And to be more specific i any file type that i can export these vids that i can also be imported into Flash. Any and all help is so much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

J :slight_smile:

#2

The ZMV format is for ZBrush only. However, if you have Quicktime installed on your computer you will be able to export as the MOV format instead. Quicktime is a free download.

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/

#3

The ZMV format is for ZBrush only. However, if you have Quicktime installed on your computer you will be able to export as the MOV format instead. Quicktime is a free download.
Thankyou for the advice. Unfortunetly it doesnt do me much good. I have Quicktime PRO installed on my computer. When i go to export movie, the only option/extension output is ZMV. Ive tried to open this file in Quicktime as well as VCL Player with no luck. Ive tried renaming the extension with no such luck. There must be a way that you can export a recorded movie in Zbrush through other means besides ZMV File type. My guess would be a pluggin? Mabey an update? Script? Whatever the reason at the moment i cannot export any Zbrush movie as anything other than a ZMV File(Which as far as i can tell is useless outside of Zbrush). Can someone PLEASE PLEASE help me to get an export from this program. I have an up coming deadline and ANYTHING that can be played by quicktime or VCL PLayer would be most greatly appreciated.

#4

My apologies, the Quicktime option is available for ZBrush 3.1 only. I’m afraid I missed that you are using ZBrush 2.

What does your movie consist of? The best option for ZBrush 2 is to export an image sequence. This can be done thru scripting.

For exporting the ZMV as an image sequence use the Mexport button.

#5

My apologies, the Quicktime option is available for ZBrush 3.1 only. I’m afraid I missed that you are using ZBrush 2.

What does your movie consist of? The best option for ZBrush 2 is to export an image sequence. This can be done thru scripting.
Thanks again. I would like to export just a simple rotating animation to begin. A 3D Logo. Nothing that i would think should be so difficult to execute. Please forgive me if i find the use of the “save as” option, as a little pointless. I would try to hit the animation in Maya, but it has not arrived yet. And i cant wait for my deadline. Again its just something i would think ZBrush itself should be able to execute especially considering the animation is actually recorded/playing.
You mentioned scripting? How would i go about doing this? The primitive sequencing of 100+ images was something I really didnt want to have to resort to. But i am still quite new and any info on the “scripting” of this would be most appreciated. Thank you again

#6

ZBrush is not an animation program and the movie feature in version 2.0 has its limitations - it was mainly intended to enhance zscript tutorials run from within ZBrush. ZBrush 3.1, which should be released for Mac before long, has more features (including export as .mov) but it is still very basic when compared to Maya (or any other animation program).

For ZBrush 2.0, there’s no alternative to exporting an image sequence if you want any kind of animation that can be viewed externally. Here is an example zscript that will output a simple turnatable. There are options for selecting the axis, number of frames in a complete rotation and number of turns. You can play with the code if you get interested.

Load the file from the ZScript:Load button. The buttons will appear at the bottom of the UI - press ‘H’ on the keyboard or drag up the handles to show them if necessary. Your model must be in Edit/Transform mode.

HTH,

#7

Many thanks bro. Not too sure how you did it but it DOES work. Just as you wrote it. Im still a bit shocked that ZBrush is not capable of rendered movie exports but this is just as good. Might even be better since i have more hands on, but ill know once i import to Flash. I hate like hell to be a petulent nooby but i really needed an efficient way of exporting an animation(or means to) Did you write the script for this yourself? Many thanks again dude, i cant tell you how much this will benefit productivity.:+1:

#8

I’m glad it was useful. Yes, I wrote it myself. I’ve written one or two scripts. :wink:

#9

Just wanted to thank you for that script it was a simple an easy fix to a problem that shouldn’t exist in post-beta software. Hopefully the update that arrive will be free. .mov export is sort of standard option you would expect from even the simplest of software. (still really freakin cool software though)