ZBrushCentral

How do I make my active SubTool transparent?

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I am trying to make my active subtool transparent. I went to Texture>Image Plane>Reference Views>Model Opacity and moved the slider to the left, even all the way to 0. For some reason, it doesn’t make my active subtool transparent only darker. The slider is literally functioning like a brightness slider. Does anyone know why opacity wouldn’t be working for me or have any other way to make the active subtool transparent, so that I can see my background reference images? I honestly don’t get the workflow of having Image Plane reference images when the subtool is blocking them.

Thanks for your help,
Bryson
brysonjack.com

#2

The Model Opacity slider will only work if you’ve used Image Plane to load an image behind the model, otherwise the model will look darker. Also, some materials are better than others, although they all should appear transparent.

If that doesn’t help please post a screenshot of your ZBrush interface so I can see what’s happening.

Thanks,

#3

You didn’t say how you set up your reference image. That might be where the problem is. If you are using Image Plane plugin, see here on how to set up your reference image. A better alternative, and a more modern one, is to use the Grid function for your reference images.

#4

Thanks for being willing to help me. Here is a brief video that I just shot of these steps:

  1. Open ZBrush and Draw a SubTool.
  2. Go to Edit Mode and then enable the Floor Plane.
  3. Go to Draw Palette and set up front and side view images.
  4. Go to Texture Palette>Image Plane>Reference Views and turn down Model Opacity.
  5. Observe how the SubTool is darker but not transparent.

I am actually trying to use the Grid method, but I am using the model opacity slider because that is the only solution that I have seen offered on getting the subtool to be transparent. Needless to say, I am a bit confused by how Transparency on the active SubTool is supposed to work.

#5

Yes, you’re mixing things up. When using the Floor Grids for reference images you need to:

  1. Set the Fill Mode slider to 3 (in the Draw palette, just to the right of the Floor button).
  2. Adjust the E Enhance Factor and E Enhance Opacity sliders to get the effect you want. (These sliders are a little lower down in the Draw palette.)

Further info see here:
http://docs.pixologic.com/user-guide/3d-modeling/reference-images/grids/

#7

Thank you so much. That was what I was missing.

Bryson