ZBrushCentral

How to retain IMM curves between sessions?

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Normally I simply save tools. If I save a project with the curve applied on a subtool, it retains the curve. However, when I click on the curve with another IMM curve to replace what was currently there, it actually adds my IMM mesh, while masking the old one.

The following are images illustrating this behaviour.

This is how the .ZPR was saved and opened:

zbrush1.jpg

Upon clicking with a new IMM brush, the old Zipper curve does not go away:

zbrush2.jpg

So, the true question is, how can I retain curves between sessions, and be able to truly replace the IMM brushes?

#2

This is normal. If you save a tool with the IMM mesh active, then it becomes part of the geometry of your saved mesh, and any IMMs inserted on that curve after loading will be in addition to that mesh.

You can:

  1. Simply delete the unwanted geometry (Shift+ctrl click the unwanted mesh parts --they should be a separate polygroup–to hide them, and then use Tool > Geometry> Modify Topology > Delete Hidden). Then you will have a naked curve that you can drop a new IMM on.

  2. Do #1 prior to saving, so that you will have a blank curve upon reload.

  3. Enable saving undo history (first in Preferences > Undo History> Enable Saving, and then also in the File> Save As menu with “undo history” checked. This is the most convenient, as you will be able to then load your tool, and simply Ctrl-Z the last mesh added, however saving undo history can drastically increase file size for files with multiple subtools, leading to potential performance problems with large files. I really don’t recommend doing it casually, unless you specifically require it, which you may in this case.

#3

[FONT=Verdana]@Spyndel

[FONT=Verdana]Thank you for replying so fast and in-detail Scott. So the geometry becomes part of the saved mesh when saving huh? I did not know that. Thanks for suggesting multiple solutions to my problem; I did not know about 3).

[FONT=Verdana]If I may ask a bit off-topic to save me the trouble of creating a new thread, my real question is how to be the most efficient in keeping this link live for a fast replication of multiple meshes.

[FONT=Verdana]Changing the subject from curves to instantiated meshes for example - would you know the best/most efficient way to have a model with multiple meshes duplicated all over the place, like say, bolts on a tank, and then be able to replace the instantiated mesh for another one in another session? I can definitely see myself needing to do that often - coming back to an old model for example, wishing I could quickly replace the bolt type, or whatever I’m doing.

The only way I can think of doing this is by using Array Mesh & converting the mesh to Nano Mesh. Duplicate it to all the places I want (I don’t even know if it’s possible to flip some of these instanced copies), save the preset, then load it up with another asset in the same position as the original one. However this isn’t as fast as I wish it could be - I have to append a new subtool and try the preset on it, and if I’m simply looking to try out different models, this could become a tedious and lengthy operation.