ZBrushCentral

New Script - Mapit

Shared ZScripts & Macros
#1

Mapit-splash.jpg

Mapit is a script that lets you play with textures and ZBrush mapping options.

Download (MAPIT.ZIP) into the ZScripts directory and unzip it. This will create a folder called Mapit containing all the necessary files.

Add Mapit.zsc to ZLauncher if you use it… or load it into ZBrush using the ZScript menu to run it.

What does Mapit do?:

It enhances several texture buttons and sliders and puts them into one script to make it easy to experiment with textures and mapping options. It also lets you re-orient your model along 90 degree axes. The other thing it does is let you create TILED textures and alphas which some might find useful.

My advice is install it, experiment to become familiar with the buttons, then keep it handy for testing out mapping options or making useful repeat patterns.

Some things to NOTE:

  1. The settings for the REPEAT sliders dictate the row/column count when creating the tiled textures… and, while you do not have the option of reflecting rows and columns of tiles on the object, you may choose to do so when generating the tiled textures and alphas. Remember to save any textures you generate.

  2. When you slide the texture over the surface or apply alternate mappings, ZBrush exhibits some kind of problem where the edges of maps join together, side-to-side and top-to-bottom. I don’t quite understand the nature of the problem and was unable to find a work around.

Please, let me know of any problems or suggested enhancements!

Sven

NOTICE: I have uploaded a modified version that now turns ZScript:show actions off. On my ZBrush, I turn that off automatically at startup, so didn’t do so in the first version posted. Apologies…! Just re-download and unzip it and replace the first Mapit folder.

[Edit - nov. 26: Mapping reorientation example that shows assigned Uvc, mapped to the six primary axes…]

#2

:+1: This looks great! Thanks Sven, I can’t wait to try it.

Cheers,
Marcus

#3

Wicked! This should come in handy with the ‘wired’ technique.
Thanks Svengali.

#4

:+1: :+1: :+1:

Very good!!!

I’ll test it this night.

Thanks for share.

cameyo

#5

The first version I uploaded neglects to turn off ZScript:Show actions. If you don’t usually have Show actions off, you get to watch the menus pop open - a pain - until you turn it off by hand.

A new version (1.01) is now posted. Just download and install over the previous Mapit directory.

Also, thanks for the nice responses everyone!

I know it’s a basic script, but it makes it simple to remap your model and play with textures and tiling. This could help people understand and explore what ZBrush’s alternate mapping projections are all about. And yes, it just might be useful for creating maps for “Meats wire-technique” too. :smiley:

Sven

#6

…terrific :cool:
Have fun scripting!
Pilou

#7

Thanks Sven!!

Another great script! Have had alot of fun with this one!!

Hopefully pixologic will fix that cyl mapping.

Thanks again!

#8

Hey, I like those cool signatures folks! Very handy. :cool:

Marcus

#9

I d/l your Mapit script, followed the directions to upzip. In windows explorer I can see where the new folder was placed in my scripts folder, and could see all the photoshop icons for the buttons, I didn’t see the file for the script itself, hence when I started Z-Brush and tried to load the script, the folder did not appear in my options to open and run it. Can you help me, I would like to learn from your script. Thanking you in advance.

#10

Hi SpriteD,

Unlike some of my other scripts that become button(s) in the ZPlugs menu, Mapit is a script that must be loaded to run.

First press the ZScript menu, then press load. That should open the Load Zscript dialog window showing contents of the ZScripts folder… in there you find and open the Mapit subfolder where you’ll find the Mapit.zsc file. Click that and it will load the Mapit interface below the canvas.

Sven

p.s. By the way, if you leave and re-enter Mapit during a ZBrush session, the sliders remember their settings. You can use the left arrow and right arrow keys to toggle back and forth between Mapit and other scripts you have loaded.

#11

hahaha thanks Sven,

I noticed it saved the settings, but in one of my playings i must have hit one of the arrow keys while in another script cuz all of a sudden I was back in mapit…which actually was fortunate cuz I wanted to go it next hahahaha but didn’t know how I managed to do that and never could figure it out.:smiley:

#12

I read your answer, and I did as you said, but when I press load there is no folder named MapIt. I close Z-Brush and go to Windows Explorer, look in Pixologic open Z-Scripts and the folder is there alright, open the folder and the contents are there, but I see no file named MapIt.zcs which I understand to be the initiation file. Ok, so the folder is there in Windows Explorer, but when I re-load Z-brush and go to scripts, load, and open that folder there is NO folder for MapIt. Have I missed an additional folder that I should have d/l? Sorry for all this trouble.:frowning:

#13

Hi SpriteD,

Well, I gotta say I’m stumped. (one thing is, the file you are looking for has an extension .ZSC not .ZCS as you stated in the previous post.)

You might check under the Preferences menu, under Misc Group, to make sure “Use Zfolders” is pressed. This guarantees that the default folders are opened.

Uh, you didn’t accidently put it in the 1.55b installation, did you?

Other than that, I’d say try downloading and installing the .ZIP file again, but peek into the ZIP file itself, first, and make sure that the Mapit folder actually has the mapit.zsc file in it before you unzip it.

BTW, when I look into the posted download file in this thread, I see it’s in there.

Let me know when you get the mystery solved.

Sven

#14

I followed your directions, no I didn’t install in 1.55B. lol I did find that I had the execution file. In Windows Explorer there IS the complete file, in the Z-Brush in Pixologic 2.0 in the Scripts in the folder which came with the script. Opened Z-Brush, scripts and NO the MapIt folder was NOT there, but I went one step further, I went to my main drive, found Pixologic, opened Z-scripts there, and low and behold there was the MapIt folder, opened it from there and it worked in Z-Brush. Strange how I have to get to it, but can get to it and thats all that matters. Now to learn how to use it. Thanks for all your help. :slight_smile:

#15

Hey, nice one Sven :slight_smile:
Many thanks…will play around with ‘mapit’ tomorrow a bit (or probably a lot!)

Atwooki

#16

Thanks Sven:+1: and aminuts for linking to it:sunglasses:

#17

Cheers Sven, this is very useful. Finally got around to testing it and I must say it is smooth and polished. Does what it says on the package and without any interference to the workflow.

Nice work:+1:

#18

Mapit tyest2.jpg
A Z2 default textured tiled with Mapit and used for masking
Thanks Sven:)

#19

SpriteD, explorer has a zip file viewer built into it, so you think you are viewing a directory, but you are just viewing the file. You need to extract the file out of the zip and then you can see it. Use Winzip or something similar. Otherwise, do a copy/paste of it from that to another directory. Good luck.

#20

hi,

this is to whoever emailed me with a question…I had a little crash before I could answer you and when I got back the message was gone…so please resend it so I can help ya out.