ZBrushCentral

My file is too big to handle... I think

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I’m new to ZBrush and I’m going through this tutorial to try and jump in head first and learn as I go. However, I’m running into a problem when trying to delete masks in video #10.

I think I’ve just simply made my file too large through my lack of general knowledge of ZBrush. Can someone please help me optimize the file so I can successfully delete masks and just plain use this model?

Here’s a link to my file: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-PB0o1TAOuoaWxEWU13MWd5d00/view?usp=sharing

My computer specs:
OS - Win 8.1
ZBrush - 4R6
RAM - 16GB
CPU - Intel i5 3570k
HD - 1.5TB free

Thanks for your help!

#2

Try to load it without the undo history…

#3

Thanks for the tip. I got rid of the undo history and still go the same issue. When I try deleting the mask from the subtools my ZBrush seizes up.

#4

Do you have ZB4R6 P2? I have seen other people on here with the same problem before, you can try searching.

#5

I searched prior to the post and couldn’t find anything about deleting masks on subtools causing the issue. Again, I’m not too versed on ZBrush to know exactly what to look for or how to correlate issue A to my issue B. What are some general optimization techniques I could do that would make it so ZBrush isn’t straining so hard?

#6

ZPlugins:AutoUpdate

#7

I downloaded your file. It varies by system of course, but I regularly work with files in ZB many times that size. I doubt that’s the issue with your specs. I also didn’t have any trouble clearing any masks I could find.

So yeah, make sure you have the most up to date program version. There’s nothing in this file that should make zbrush “strain” even on a modest system.

If the issue persists after updating, give us more specific information about what exactly you are doing when trying to “delete masks” from subtools.

#8

154 MB is not a large file when it comes to Project files (File > Save As).

You should have uploaded the Tool (Tool > Save As) instead of the project file. It would be a much quicker download for anybody that was going to look at it.

Try this…

  1. Save the Tool (Tool > Save As).
  2. Restart ZBrush
  3. Load the tool you saved in step 1 (Tool > Load Tool).
  4. Clear the mask (Tool > Masking > Clear).
  5. Save the project (File > Save As).

Unless you have a specific lighting setup or render setup, there is no need to save it as a Project file all the time. If you are just starting an object, it is better to save the Tool (Tool > Save As). Saving the Tool is a much more reliable option.

#9

Everything’s up to date and saved through previous instructions and I’m still having an issue. Here’s exactly what I’m doing (please tell me what I’m doing wrong):

These were my steps in the meshing process, not the entire modelling process.

Step 1: I clicked onto my sphere subtool that I had used for the eyeball(s).
Step 2: I subdivided said sphere until it had 4 subdivisions (this was so it would be smoother). I set it to subdivision 3 to work with it.
Step 3: I lowered my draw size to 13 and then used the mask pen to “draw” the lower lid of the eye.
Step 4: I went to extract in the subtools panel and set the “S Smt” to 0 and the “Thick” to .0013. I hit “Extract” and then hit accept to accept the extracted shape.
Step 5: I cleared the mask on both the sphere subtool and the new lowerlid extraction subtool. This worked perfectly.
Step 6: I used the smooth tool to smooth the rough edges of the extracted section.
Step 7: I repeated steps 3-4 for the upper lid. Then when I tried to clear the mask like before it stops responding and then crashes.

P.S: I had symmetry on so it would be the same over the axis. If that’s important

#10

I haven’t been able to reproduce this, but I did notice that your “eye” tools look like they are from the ZB sphere primitives with the poles on the end. Geometry derived from the parametric objects can be problematic in a number of operations, especially if the operations overlap those poles, resulting in unexpected behavior.

Convert your eye objects to fully welded polymesh geometry first, with dynamesh. Then run it through zremesher if you need cleaner topology. Subdivide as needed. Perform your extracts from the remeshed spheres.

In a situation where you absolutely require the precise topology those primitives give you, you must first “prepare” the sphere by running it through tool>geometry>Modify topology>Weld Identical points, and then Tool>Geometry>Mesh Integrity>Fix Mesh. Easier/more reliable to just remesh them.

Perform the extract on a single eye (the left one), and mirror and weld (tool> Geometry> modify topology>mirror and weld) it to the other side. If it’s mirroring the wrong side, use the Tool>Deformation>Mirror command to flip it to the other side first, then M&W. This will be less error prone than having symmetry on during the operation.

Finally, I’m assuming by “clearing the mask” you mean you’re using the Tool>Masking >Clear Mask function, or Ctrl-dragging a mask marquee in empty canvas space to clear. If otherwise, please specify.

#11

I downloaded and played with the file and have no issues with it. I agree with Spyndel about the spheres for the eyes. Dynameshing or ZRemeshing first to get rid of the poles is always a good idea as it can avoid corrupt mesh problems later.

For now I suggest making new eye spheres and hiding or deleting the old ones, and take it from there.

#12

Hmmm, Step 3.)…What?
Eyelids are normally attached to face rather than eyeball.
Re-evaluation of workflow/technique may be necessary.