ZBrushCentral

Older member lament

Community
#1

As you get older, attitudes change, perspectives are rearranged, priorities are different.
Have few pieces of really good software,most have been accumulated and updated overtime. Photoshop and Maya are two examples.
It sometime seems that Maya comes out with a new version every year. Luckily the interface stays mostly the same and the changes are either something to learn or something to disregard on the basis of not needing.

Zbrush was purchased on the basis of being fun( version 1.5, was the first for me, I think)
Could open the program up, doodle, let mind wander, close, come back tomorrow.
Members of forum were friends, you hung out, made stuff,talked a bit and improved.
Few argruments, Aurick intervened politely and settled all ( he worked alone then)
Then the newer and better versions started arriving, lo and behold you could actually do something productive with the thing. Cost was nothing, generous updates.
Problem was learning the program.
So Books and Dvd’s were purchased devoured, time was spent in practice.
Certain level of knowledge attained.
More and better were created.
Somewhere around version three, I bought a then newly released dvd about Zbrush’s newest version (Meats Meir)and it’s new features, spent a marathon few days learning and applying the new techniques andfeatures.

Within a matter of days, the program changed its interface, features, etc.
The newly acquired dvd had lost a large percentage of it’s value.
So suck it up, scour the site for new information, new books,new dvds.

Now we are at today, kind of.
New version comes out with new interface,it isdownloaded, installed.
Newer version comes out, superseeding older version by hours.Newest version promised soon.
Keep old version, learn intermediate version, unstall intermediate version, wait for new version???

Posts to forum are by new talented people,who’s basic interest is pimping their work and talents.
Don’t blame them, competitive industry, no time for beginners, got to get the demo real up.Questions from struggling people? Sorry not today, maybe later.
Got to post the work over at CG, maybe “they” will see it.

Newest version of Zbrush basically crashed third time I used it. Not bitching
don’t really care.
What was fun, is not anymore.
Sent support ticket. Tagged it low priority.

Very low.

#2

As you get older your eyesight tends to get worse as well. I must be getting on a bit as I can hardly read what you’ve written. Maybe its having the black text on a dark grey background?

Richard

#3

Richard, thank you, adjusted.
( you are correct about the eyesight ):smiley:

#4

Rick Baker AKA Monstermaker is certainly not youngest person known to that forum ;). Yet - He has no problems whatsoever with keeping up and making wonderfull things (you see top row now? Count Dracula?) so why you or anybody else should be any different?
Getting older is natural process - but is up to you if you want to look for excuses or just take a grip on new features and keep rollin. I am not so young myself and I still have some gnomon dvds for Z2. Sure - interface changed, but sculpting did not. You can apply MANY of old techniques in new version. Whats more - new versions are becoming more and more user friendly - take a GoZ for example.
I guess where the problem is - I had it back in time - when you are concentrated on tools, menus, options, GUI and technical aspects of program, trying to know them all before making anything. It was sooooo wrong. You just have to sit down and try to create - concentrate on the vision, goal, on art you want to make. When you get to the point you dont know how to do something - then look for it, learn new option and apply BUT do not break concentration on work you are doing. That is what really matters. Tools you are naturally remembered with time. Automaticly - you dont have to read a book, go point to point and start to remember it all. It becomes some torture instead of beeing fun :D. Now stop that middle-age-crysis laments and go get some fun dude. Go to see some interviews with Rick Baker who seems to really love Zbrush, cheer up and stop crying :wink: Good luck, buddy.

#5

hey bic, i agree with much of what you are saying, what can you do though right?
i think it is still fun and easy to just open and doodle now, even in 3.5r2, the default sphere is getting lots of sculpting on my part as a warmup, sadly though right when i really want to start doing something it crashes, sigh.
so back to 3.1, for me the only real reason right now to use 3.5 is better performance, lightbox is lobotomized, i don’t know why they gave us a partial version, transparency is messed up in wait for Spotlight, which once again doesn’t make sense, they removed many little things that were still usefull, but still left things that havent’ worked since 3.0 came out, like multimarkers, who uses 3dcopy anymore?
actually due to much of this i find it more of a plaything now and i’m finding it more difficult to build up inspriation and interest to jump into something just to lose it due to instability.
you know though the interface has changed a lot, i was looking at some old glen southern tuts from 1.23 and barely recongnized it, even by z2 it was different. i think though the basic stuff is still easily accessible enough to play with.

the white text is bad for my eyes, lol. i prefer the grey.

#6

I remember when it was fun…

#7

Me to. (I’m working on that…look tomorrow in the challenge forum):wink:

#8

Funny, I think every version is getting more and more fun. I struggled like hell with the old versions of ZB and I hated it’s interface back then. I actually had more fun creating “Blind” displacement maps for NURBS, if you can believe that.

Right now I am doing the exact same thing as you used to; sculpt a little, feel it, stare, turn the ZTool, come back to it tomorrow… etc. It hasn’t changed.

We have. But have we evolved?

ZB is the truest evolution of a piece of software that has ever been created.

#9

Whilst I can sympathise with the op, the fact that the new and talented ones didn’t post way back in the day is perhaps because the software didn’t excite enough, and or just wasn’t good enough to further what talents they had.

Or maybe they did, but zb was naturally a lot less mature than it is now, or certainly will be when the plugins are updated, and didn’t have the whumphh.

At V2 I bought my copy, I am glad of the evolution, and impressed with it too.

look at the silo forum to see what happens when a small and friendly forum, supporting a small and friendly app, when that small and friendly app is judged by the developers that it’s mature enough to need little or no further development.

just bitchin’

like those who bitch here when the free wonderful update is a tad late.

maybe we could do with another zb forum, not one connected directly with pixo, not necessarily so up beat and fashionable, and more fun?

oh, and I’ve been around for a few decades as well :slight_smile:

#10

Somebody should tell the evil Pixologic corporation that gives all their new program versions away for free, that their fiendish plan to leech all the fun out of Zbrush has failed, because I am still able to use any previous version that meets my needs and that I have a comfort level with, on my computer. I have ZB 2, ZB 3.1 , and ZB3.5 installed. How will their evil plan succeed, when using the new versions with new features that require more learning …are completely voluntary?

Also, even though I recognize that some professional users may have considerations beyond simple “fun and doodling”, I totally support the banning of all the new, talented people, posting work of ever increasing quality, with the software that is becoming ever more powerful. Because…you know. That’s rational.

I and other people on the forums spend a significant amount of time every week answering questions to the best of our ability for new users and people with problems in the Q&T forum and elsewhere. I don’t recall seeing you there any time recently, and surely as an “older member” you would have much to offer. Maybe you should get off your little manic depressive high horse in this area.

#11

Mr. Jackson: much, if not all of what you wrote is correct.
In the section we are now in there is a Haloween thread, where
the author posts links to much older threads.
Was reading them and looking at the artists who no longer post here.
Was remembering fun had not so long ago
Looked at the brand new version of Zbrush that does not run, despite
ticket having been sent four days ago. ( not bitching, doesn’t matter)
Much hype on new version, yet does not run any of the plugins that
I use.
You are correct that the older version is still there and can be used
without resorting to any more extra purchases or education.

Last, but certainly, not least, you are correct, you have helped and contributed enormously to posts by artists here, your name is constantly in threads where advice or help is sought as are others.
You are even more correct that the name Bicc39 is missing from these
threads.
The name Bicc 39 is missing.
All of this is correct, as is my opionion of most of the new posts by some
of the newer artists.
It should be pointed out also that the time I was referring to Zbrush Central had less than 10000 signed in members ( probably 9000 with members having
more than one sign in)
All of this correct.
As I mentioned by the title it was a lament, but your points are all correct and valid

#12

heyas Bic…some of the old timers are around still…I have been in lurk mode for a bit. Awaiting trying to get my 3.5r2 to recognize me as its master on my machine…lol…sorry to hear you so down. I get that way myself alot but ya know what…I fixed most of it with selexa and ambien and 14 other friends of theirs. muhahahahhaa…took away my creativity and has left me without motivation…but I do stay more focused these days…yeah I agree, the decades pass quickly. Stay healthy my old friend, mind and body.

Ron

#13

Glad to hear from you Mr. Harris.
Not down, just disappointed. Like they took my sandbox away.:smiley:
Suck it up, keep going, no sweat
Best to you and your family.

#14

Hey Ron! Long time buddy! I’m going to post a Halloween Challenge tonight, come on over and carve a pumpkin later…(all are invited) Give me about an hour to finalize everything first. :wink:

#15

I feel like I’m reading Rorscharch’s Journal. =D

#16

Rorscharch’s Journal?

Is he waiting for Zbrush to fix his program?:smiley:

How did he commit suicide?
(would not involve Autodesk would it?)

just looked at your hand, now know what it is grasping.

#17

Hey guys!! Good to see ya still around! Ron! Bicca69! wow, it’s like home week and christmas too!

I too am lurking mostly. I had R2D2 version working and had a little fun… about 2 mins…LOL I decided to fix that…I’ll show them… I’m uping my 1 gig mem to 4 gigs! LOL

Miss seeing your posts! Come back to us!

wenna

#18

wenna, I am now completely blind from your text selection!

Just kidding wenna! I tried to find that post from soooooo long ago.:smiley:

Nice to hear from you, welcome home!:wink:

edit:

BTW come on over here…http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=76466&page=2 and carve a ZB pumpkin with us! Help keep the tradition alive!:wink:

#19

Worth writing the maudlin s_ _ t just to see the names
of the posters again…

Incidentally apologies, just had operation to remove my left
foot from my ass.
Thank you all.

#20

… well -“good old times” mostly good because they’re gone?

I sometimes do think so.
On the other hand - when I started with this neverending puzzle (other name, different person for sure) at roughly the same time like you, bicc39, I had been lucky enough to “win” third place in the Holloween contest at that time.
I mean: third with Southern second - that meant a lot to me (not boasting).

What followed is better described by bicc - same thing here.
What to do with this new toy that only leaves cuts on your fingers if you touch it forgetting about the right rituals?
Ignore it, having it clutter up your drive (so you can claim ownership - how cool is that)?
Give it away to someone who can make better use of it?

EDIT:
deleted the last sentence - it is to be found in another corner of the forum now. Sorry, would not want to use this thread for my own needs.