Hello, first post 
Am modelling thors hammer in 3ds max, then hope to put it into zbrush, to do the pattern.
Anyway how do i do this pattern in zbrush, efficiently,
http://blog.zoolert.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/zL-Hasbro-Thor-Lightning-Hammer-Toy-17.jpg
I would probably draw the pattern with masking then extract it. You’ll get a hard edge to it and could edit it by dragging it around for where one pattern overlaps the other. When it’s positioned correctly I’d use dynamesh and merge the two together and then reproject back the detail onto a zremeshed version of the hammer. If you’re going to use it in a game you’ll get a good normal map from this method. You might also want to add additional detail on the reprojected model, pinch the edges for more sharpness, add scratches or other minor details.
Drawing threw masking was my initial idea to begin with, this method seemed a bit long winded to me,
I had hopes of a more quicker and easier way to do it in zbrush,
Your method with my workflow speed could take me a couple hours to do,
Do you have any other more modular-like or clean cut ways I could take a spin at it?
Sure its a unique pattern, zbrush is powerful programme there must be an easier more efficient way.
Edit: yes this model aim is to be “game ready”
As usual ZBrush gives many options to get the job done. I would probably draw two Alphas (so I could lap them in ZBrush) of the pattern easily in Photoshop. In ZBrush, put them onto a new piece of geometry (FI a thick plane) and make them into two groups. Then extract them (I would first run the Smooth Groups brush over them for a clean edges extract) and sit one on top of the other. Then use the Move Topo brush to do the over and underlaps. With that done, move them onto the main geometry.
I found the alpha of the pattern on the therpf forums,http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb351/JustinBranfuhr/Thor/THOR%20HAMMER_zpsozo5v2ak.jpg
Both dillster and Djordr methods sound solid, I’ll give them a try when I finish off the hammer, thank you for the solid advice.
What did you mean by move topo,did you mean move the topology or is there a move brush called move topo?
