ZBrushCentral

Topology "Nuked"

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I’m attaching three images:

  1. The first shows a model of a cartoon bull. I’m using topology (appended zsphere method) to try to create a jacket for the character. The image shows the topology lines I’m drawing.
  2. The second shows a wireframe of the same topology.
  3. The third shows a preview of the adaptive skin. Obviously, the adaptive skin looks nothing like the topology on the model or the wireframe. Basically, the topology exploded.

As I constructed the topology, I checked the adaptive skin frequently to make sure it followed the lines. Everything seemed fine.

To create the lower edge of the jacket, I needed to pull the topology lines off the character’s body. I found I could move the vertices along the right edge of the jacket but not along the bottom edge or, for that matter, anywhere other than that right edge. (I was careful to make sure I was, in fact, in Move mode, with a red circle centered on the vertex I was trying to move.)

As a stab in the dark, I added one quad to the lower edge of the jacket. Suddenly, I could move all the vertices as I would expect. Unfortunately, at that point, when I checked the adaptive skin, I got the exploded version represented in image 3 (attached). Deleting the extra quad had no effect: (1) to the good – I’m able to move the vertices, (2) to the bad – the adaptive skin remains exploded.

Is this a total loss, or is there a way to fix this? Any help would be much appreciated.

Attachments

1_Model.JPG

2_WireFrame.JPG

3_Exploded.JPG

#2

Are you projecting?

#3

Not projecting. At this point, I’m just trying to get the adaptive skin to follow the lines I see on the model or wireframe. If I could get that, my next move would be to “make adapative skin,” use that skin as a subtool, and sculpt it.

I don’t understand why there is a difference between the topology lines I lay down (at least, in so far as they are visible on the model and as a wireframe) and the adaptive skin, which should follow those lines but obviously doesn’t.

#4

Let me just follow-up:

The model is intended for illustration. The back of the figure will never be seen. The topology is designed to create only that part of the jack that would be seen, i.e., the left and right sides. The back is left blank.

I’ve seen in various tutorials where, e.g., the shoulder pads on the Demo Soldier can be defined as a single subtool. So, a subtool apparently does not have to occupy a contiguous or connected space. I’m assuming the subtool I’m trying to create also can be created as two separate, unconnected segments of a jacket: a left side and a right side.

#5

You have obviously screwed up your retopo somehow. What are all the broken lines and spaces on your wireframe?

I don’t think it’s because you have two seperate parts with space in between. I have done that before without any problems.

#6

I decided to try to redo the process in an attempt to find where the “screw up” occurred. Referring to the image attached: I first layed down one line (right) then another (left), and I connected them. I checked the adaptive skin. It follows the topology lines as it should.

Then, switching from Draw to Move, I tried to move the verts. I can move all the vertices in the second line. I can’t move any of the vertices in the first line. Just looking at that limited piece of the puzzle, does it make any sense? Is it that the first line becomes “locked” once a second line is started?

Again, my impression is that I should be able to construct a complete set and move vertices at any point in that set, regardless of how many topology lines have been drawn. Is that incorrect?

Attachments

ZB_2ndAttempt.JPG

#7

Well, I just tried it like you described. Layed down 1 line then layed down another line beside it, then connected the 2 lines at each point. I then selected Move and was able to move any of the points without any problems. None were locked. So I don’t know what could be happening with your retopo.

#8

I very much appreciate your taking the time to test that. It seems like such a simple operation, that it’s hard to figure what could be causing the problem. I’ll just have to find a way to work it out. Thanks again!

#9

I always thought masked areas on the model were visible. Although there was no visible mask, when I went to the Mask subpalette and cleared masking, I was able to move the points again. Unfortunately, I ran into another problem.

I saved the model as a project (.zpr). I opened the project to do some additional work. The topology appears “active” in the sense that I get a red circle when I move the cursor over a vert. However, having again cleared any masks, I can not move any vert. Moreover, if I try to draw additional topology, I get the same “active signals,” indicating progress from one point to another, but no topology line appears. That’s true whether I look at the model or the wireframe. I am in Edit/Draw mode, with my zsphere selected and my model visible. Everything appears as before, but I can’t draw topology lines on the model.

Any ideas?

#10

I found this response to a similar question at http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=44876. I’m posting it again in the hope it might help someone else.

Q. Is there a way to save a topology rig in progress?
A. Just Deactivate the Edit Topology Button, and then save the active ZTool, after reloading the ZTool, just activate the Edit Topology Button again, and work further. /i
[i]A. You can save a retopo rig WIP and come back to it. You turn of Edit Topology and save the Tool. I tested this by saving the tool, quiting and reopening ZB3 and loading the Tool. Worked like a charm. I just hit Edit Topology again and ther was my repo rig. /i

I didn’t know to deactivate the Edit Topology button before saving. I guess that caused my problem. However, deactivating and then reactivating the Edit Topology button after I reloaded the model did solve the problem. I am again able to edit the topology.