ZBrushCentral

Issue with Snapshot 3D in Spotlight

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hey everybody,

I’ve been long sessions of Zbrush tutorials during this crazy lockdown. I’ve arrived now at using Spotlight, but I really can’t get it off the ground.

I tried working with spotlight and snapshot 3D. But when I press the snapshot button, nothing happens. I found another topic on this on the forum and did exactly what wat mentioned there but nothing is happening.

  • I load Dynamesh_Sphere_128.zpr
  • I select Alpha 28
  • Alpha -> Add to spotlight
  • Shift + Z to activate spotlight
  • Z to show spotlight tool
  • Snapshot3D, nothing.
  • I tried the other key combinations (like CTRL + Click), no result either.

I’m really lost what I’m doing here because I just try following along the Zclassroom tutorials and doing exactly what he’s doing… or at least I thought so.
Needless to say, I could use some help with this.

Running ZBrush 2020.1.3 on Windows 10.

#2

Hello @MarkyMark

The alpha must be selected and active when the Spotlight wheel is active and when snapshot3d is pressed. The alpha will have an orange bounding box when selected. Moving the alpha by dragging outside of the bounding box will deselect the alpha, requiring you to click on it again to reselect it. Also, the active subtool must be a polymesh 3d mesh. It will not work with a parametric primitive active.

If this doesn’t solve your issue, could you please direct me to the exact tutorial you’re following? Thanks!

#3

Hey Spyndel,

Thank your for your fast and clear reply.
You helped me solve my issue.
I am pretty sure that the alpha wasn’t selected when during my first attempt.

In case somebody ever Googles this, let me explain my mistake here:

  • Do all of the above in my previous post.
  • Drag the Spotlight wheel around
  • Drag the wheel on top of my alpha
  • Pres the snapshot3D button and think somethings wrong.
    ^This doesn’t work because draggin the tool onto an Alpha doesn’t select it.

Instead:

  • Do the above post.
  • Click ON the Alpha
  • Adjust the postion of the wheel if needed.
  • Make some Funky snapshots