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Newbie question on Poser Morph Targets

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi All,

Before you all groan, I’ve searched the forums, and although there’s quite a few references to how ZBrush works with Poser, none of the answers seem to be newer than a couple years old, and I’m not sure if those answers still apply, now that both Poser and ZBrush have moved up several levels.

I’m primarily a 2D artist, meaning that the final result of my work is usually a 2D image. I often use 3D software to get some of the effects I need. ZBrush looks great, the work produced by people using it is simply phenomenal, and I’m looking forward to learning it properly and finding my way around.

However, for now, I just want to create some custom morph targets for DAZ’s Gorilla. I followed a couple of tutorials, managed to import the whole gorilla into ZBrush, and make my morphs. Exported out again, but when I try to load it as a morph target in Poser, I get the error message that it has the “wrong number of vertices”. I’m assuming that “the wrong number” means it has too many, but you never know (when, oh when, will somebody, somewhere write an error message, whatever the program, that is actually specific, tells you exactly what the problem is, and how to fix it? Doesn’t seem like much to ask, does it?)

I thought I’d be able to go back into my ZBrush object, and smooth out or otherwise reduce the number of vertices, but I can’t find anything, tool or tutorial that helps me do this.

So, is there a RECENT tutorial or walkthrough for creating Morph Targets for Poser anywhere? Any advice or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

I’m using ZB3.12, on a Mac Pro 2 x 3.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon with 10GB RAM, in OS X 10.5.7, and I’m also using Poser 7.0.2.132

Many thanks.

#2

In ZBrush, simply make sure not to divide the model while you’re making your morph targets. Basically, you have to import, sculpt, and export again. No other changes.

If you continue to have difficulties, then the problem would lie in an import or export setting. For example, if I remember right Poser has multiple export options, including one meant specifically for creating morph targets.

Also keep in mind that your morph targets apply to specific groups within the model. For example, the chest. That is the only part of the model that you should export from Poser. If you export the whole model, you’ll run into trouble.

Alternatively, you can export all the model’s parts as individual OBJ’s and then use SubTool master to load them all into ZBrush and reassemble them as SubTools. You’ll then be able to sculpt each SubTool while still seeing how it relates to the rest of the model.

It’s a long time since I’ve used Poser, but hopefully this will get you on the right track.

#3

Thanks for that, Aurick.
I think where I possibly went wrong is that I imported the whole model from Poser (I read an old tutorial somewhere that said this was the right thing to do: as I said in my OP, most of the tutorials I could find pertained to older versions of both programs), not in parts. I will have another play around and see what happens.

Pity, coz I was really pleased with my sculpting. I’m well impressed with the ease of ZBrush in that respect. Shame I’ll have to redo it:)

Appreciate the advice.

#4

Actually, you won’t have to redo much. You can append what you’ve already sculpted to the new version. Then select each part’s SubTool in the new version and use Tool>SubTool>Project All to copy the details you’ve already sculpted.

#5

OK, after a few more days of playing around, i’ve realised where I went wrong: I smoothed, thus adding more vertices to the model. What I was ultimately aiming for was a 2D image of a gorilla looking the way I wanted to look. To that end, I was planning to create some morphs for the DAZ gorilla and use it in Poser, which has been my previous workflow up to now. However, after more playing with ZBrush, I think, even though it’s probably going to take longer, that I would be better off doing the whole thing in ZB: the results are far superior.

Back to the manual!:slight_smile: