ZBrushCentral

Need help to create a 3D chains weapon?

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi fellas,

I’m fairly new to Zbrush. Can anybody post a tutorial on how to create 3d chains. I attached a picture for ref. I tried using a plane or cube, but I can’t get the corners to round off. Also, using extract hollows the inside. If anybody has or can post a tutorial that would be most helpful, cause it would answer alot of questions I have. Such as grouping, rounding corners, merging or grouping subtools, extracting without leaving hollow shapes, etc.

Thanks guys,

knightstrikes

Attachments

3D Chains.jpg

#2

Well, the best (and pretty much the only) way would be to create a torus primitive, change the width,radius,size to your liking… stretch it a bit and duplicate it multiple times rotating it roughly 90 degrees rach time.

Thats all easily possible in ZB but way be less of a hassle in max or maya as you create a path for the duplicated torus to be placed on, making the creation of the shape easier.

#3

Can you give me a little more info. Thanks :slight_smile:

#4

here i made a zscript for you, its a bit messy, meaning i made a few mistakes etc. but i’m half asleep right now :wink:
eventually instead of copying every link you will clone 3 links together, then you’ll have 6 and then clone that etc.
oh and when you want to pose it either use transpose or do a zsphere rig.
please check the wiki if necessary:
http://www.zbrush.info/docs/index.php/Main_Page

#5

Say I wanted to pose my chain links in a smooth and flowing manner like a letter S, how do I do that?

I tried masking a portion of it, but obviously it treats what I have as one piece and not individual links… do you have to have each link as a seperate tool and use transpose each one? I hope not as that sounds like a real pain, no chance of me using chains if that is the case?

#6

Hi fellas, (2nd post) < no luck on 1st. I think I was misunderstood

I’m fairly new to Zbrush. Can anybody post a tutorial on how to create 3d chains from start to finish; shape and flow movement like “S” maybe. A simple tutorial would be most helpful, cause it would answer alot of questions I have. Such as grouping, rounding corners, merging or grouping subtools, extracting without leaving hollow shapes, etc.

Thanks guys,

knightstrikes

#7

The only thing I can think of is ZSpheres. Please look that up and other ZBrush functions on www.zbrush.info (it’s basically your manual) and www.pixologic.com/zclassroom for video tutorials on various zbrush functions like ZSpheres.

#8

To make the ring subtool:
Draw a 2D chain ring, turn it into an alpha, and use Make3D.

See the wiki, or watch this free video:

http://gnomonology.com/tutorial/251

The Make3D button is covered at just short of the halfway point in the video.

#9

Creating Long Chains is a lot of work…i think it’s easier to do in other 3D programs…in ZBrush i would do as follows : deform a ZTool torus in one axis to get one chain, turn that tool into a polyMesh, and then load in each polymesh chain-as a subtool-position it bring in another, and another…etc till you get the form of the chain you want. then merge all the subtools of the chain in one subtool…as a said a lot of work !

jantim

#10

All your suggestions are very helpful. I will look into each one.
Just one question though, what is a “Ztool Torus” mean? Is it a
subtool?

Thanks again,

Knightstrikes

#11

a torus is just another name for the 3dring tool, other 3d programs call it the torus.
never fear to google or wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torus

oh and btw the only real way you’re going to get good flow when bending that chain is zsphere rigging, especially if transpose isn’t working for you.

#12

I have to disagree with myself on this issue…so i made a small tut. this was the first time i used this method so i hope it makes sense :wink:

chains-01.jpg

jantim

Attachments

chains-02.jpg

chains-03.jpg

#13

Real nice tut Jantim, posts like this remind me of the “old” days :lol:
I for one miss your material postings around here, you really pushed the zmedium there.

#14

Dude,

You just blew my mind. Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks
a bunch man. This is great for everyone man. I cant thank you
enough. One minor question, did you use zproject for the texture
or an alpha? Nice rust! lol

Thanks so much,

Knightstrikes

#15

Jantim, thanks for taking the time to put this together! Awesome!!!

#16

spaceboy412 : Yes ZBcentral seems to be hijacket by pro’s from the 3D industry
less time for the “old” amateur:lol: …but it great to see ZBrush booming !

dougt : glad you found it usefull

Knightstrikes : Well i learned too making this tut…untill that point i only had an idea how to do it…now i know it works in practice too :slight_smile:

And the material effects are part of…the material… i did not paint on the model
its all Materialchannel work and no i’m not making a tutorial about that :lol: half of the time making materials i don’t know what i’m doing…its a bit like cooking !

But i made a screengrab(s) of this material :

Material.jpg

…i’m sure there is an easier way, but i like to show off

jantim

#17

I know, this is a very old thread; but in case you still find this interesting, you might want to consider also this method that I illustrated here:

http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=61811
http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=61864

There is also a youtube video. When you understand how this method works, you will be truly creating chains of any shape and pose in less than 5 minutes.

Hope this helps.
Bye.