ZBrushCentral

saving file problems

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I’m very new to ZBrush (had it 2 days), so I admit I may be doing something wrong, but I am getting very frustrated about saving documents.

I will be working on a document in edit mode when it suddenly creates a new instance of my tool on the canvas. When I then ask my file to revert to the last saved version it does so, but the instance is now no longer editable, movable, scalable, etc. I save my document as a .zbr file to ensure that everything is captured, at the moment, so I don’t accidentally choose a save format that won’t allow me to use what I’ve done so far (all the save options will take getting used to). I’ve also tried saving the tools separately, since that is what I’m working on at the moment.

Now here’s the really frustrating part: I then find that the tools and documents I’ve saved from that session, be they tools or documents, can no longer be opened in ZBrush and I have to start from scratch again. I’m beginning to despair of ever getting beyond the beginning of a project, though I now have putting hair on a figure down pat, as I’ve done it at least 10 or 12 times.

Can someone offer some advice, please? :cry:

#2

The Document >> Save As (ZBR format) saves pixols, only. It’s a 2.5D image. It does not contain any polygon data.

Models should be saved using Tool >> Save As so that you can use the ZTL format. This is a 3D format that contains the polygon information.

If you are working with a scene where you want to keep specific lighting settings or other info not included in the ZTL format, use File >> Save As to save as a ZPR (project) file.

#3

Thank you for your reply aurick, but those aren’t the issues I’m struggling with. It’s the fact that my instance will suddenly clone on the canvas when I am in edit. Also that the files I have saved often cannot be reopened whether they are tools or documents. I have found a workaround by then opening the ZBrush files saved by the programme as I work, but I need to understand the cloning and corruption issues and what I’m doing wrong. Any ideas?

#4

My guess is you keep hitting shift+S

shift+S = snap shot. This will clone your model and paste it as pixols on the canvas. If you’re still in edit mode you can just hit ctrl+n for a new document which will clean out your canvas leaving only your tool.

If you leave edit mode and clean your canvas you simply need to select your tool in the tool palette and then drag it on the canvas again and then go back into edit mode (t).

I highly recommend going to the zclassroom and watching the getting started tutorials as they cover the different save types as well as which one to use when and how to access them again.

I believe Aurick has a link to them in his signature.

I hope this helps.

#5

Thank you, beta-channel. I’m not touching the keyboard when this happens, but it sounds as if somehow I am doing as you suggested in some other way. Certainly the way you describe it sounds like the same thing. That is good to know.

I watched all the videos and read the getting started and have been working my way through the user manual. I’m finding it a bit difficult to visualise the principles behind the different states in ZBrush. I’ve been a Flash designer and developer and I had assumed that, like Flash, ZBrush creates an instance on the canvas and the original is not modified. I quickly realised this is not the case and any manipulations to the instance alter the original. I guess it’s getting my head around the idea that you can create new documents and still have the work you have done before remain in your tool set.

Do you know of any tutorials that explain the thinking behind ZBrush? How it is structured, etc.? There seem to be loads of lovely tutorials on how to use brushes, make things, etc., but I haven’t found any that explain the structure in depth.

Many thanks for your help :slight_smile:

#6

You didn’t tell us your OS or version of ZBrush. This is an old, old thread. It’s been shot and is dying but still may help explain ZBrush to you in a humorous way. Happy ZBrushing. http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?9095-NEWBIE-LESSON-ONE-The-Interface

#7

Sorry, I should have done that. I’m on Mac OS 10.6.8 and running the latest version of ZBrush (only downloaded it 3 days ago). The tutorial is right — the interface is completely different from any I’ve seen, though far better than Blender, which I downloaded and found to be too focussed on keyboard commands for my comfort. In many ways, ZBrush is very intuitive. The fact that an instance becomes immutable after a new instance is created is difficult, because you want to swing things around so you can see how they are related to one another. Thanks for your help and advice :slight_smile:

#8

I believe Ryan Kingslin (I think I spelled that right) has quite a few videos talking about the thinking behind Zbrush (I believe he used to work at Pixologic back in the day as well)

#9

See also http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?161588-quot-Axis-quot-Plugin-for-ZBrush-4r2. Easy to install and works a treat.

#10

That looks really useful, Doug. Thank you!