ZBrushCentral

Preferred modeler for exporting to ZBRush?

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

After some less than stellar results importing converted .OBJs from Rhinoceros3D for detailed base tool creation, I wonder if anyone has a preferred program for modeling objects to be dyna-meshed together to make really cool assets ala the method shown in ZClassroom where the author builds a radio?

I’m learning Blender so I can start building in there and will try and send the objects into ZBrush for dyna-meshing and further detail scultping. Then there is 3DS Max, Maya, Modo, and Cinema 4D (did I miss a good one?). Anybody have any suggestions for whether they like one over the others? Or are they all pretty much the same. My biggest problem with Rhino, (which I love because it’s always been real easy for me to just start building stuff in it), is that there is a NURBS > Mesh conversion before it even exports an .OBJ file.

This seems to be making my imports into ZBrush kind of mushy even with clay polishing, or remeshing.

Thanks for any advice!

#2

Learn the new tools in ZB 4R7 :wink:

#3

Well, there is that, but if that is the “solution,” why is there a ZClassroom video where it instructs you on importing base shapes to create faceplates with hex nuts, screw columns, and so on?

Can’t I do both?

Thanks for the reply.

PS basically I’d like to know the best way to do the stuff in other programs so I don’t waste time fiddling in ZBrush reinventing the wheel to make accurate pieces to import for sculpting.

#4

PS basically I’d like to know the best way to do the stuff in other programs so I don’t waste time fiddling in ZBrush reinventing the wheel to make accurate pieces to import for sculpting.

Different software applications all have their strengths and weaknesses. You need to know what is possible in any of them you run. Some stuff is lightning fast in ZBrush now with the advent of the ZModeler brush. Some stuff may be faster in another package. You will have to decide what’s right for your needs on the project at hand.

#5

I’m mainly interested in how clean the mesh is that gets exported out as an .OBJ. I see your point but the speed isn’t that big a deal. Mainly how clean the mesh is that it makes. The main sculpting will be done in ZBrush, I just want to start off with a clean object with good detail that won’t melt down excessively when I do subtracts/adds in ZBrush.

Thanks.

#6

You can get clean meshes simply and easily out of Maya and C4D. The GoZ works well with Maya and C4D. I suspect you can with Modo, 3DSMax and Blender as well but I haven’t used them. Some things are still much easier to model outside of ZB, though with ZBR7 the list certainly got smaller.

#7

Roger that, thanks. Going to try Maya along with Blender and see how they stack up side by side with the same imports.

#8

Max also export unmolested meshes.

#9

Ok Dk… somehow I am now going to do side by side mesh imports from Rhino3D, Max, Cinema 4D, Blender, and Maya… and Modo… ye gods, this might get expensive… good thing I know some people locally who have access to various packages… except maybe Modo… do they have a Trial?