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Topology Projection Tool Error

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I have a Topology issue using ‘Projection’ that I haven’t been able to solve :frowning:

I have a model that is built out of separate pieces but then merged together to form one Editable poly mesh in max. I import this model into Zbrush and do my detail sculpting then precede to re-topologize. I thought I was relatively familiar with the re-topology process however with an object being originally built out of separate pieces I can not get the projection modifier to work correctly without numerous errors.

I have been trying to figure out what exactly causes some of the areas of the mesh to work and others to not. I have attached a few images that will hopefully depict the issue a little better. Any suggestions for solutions would be greatly appreciated. (I have generated numerous test cases but it seems that the issue is almost random to a degree.)

Thanks in advance,

-Piggyson

#2

I’m looking into this for you.

#3

One suggestion that has been made to me would be to try turning on PMulti. I don’t know if this will work or not, but it’s worth giving a shot. :slight_smile:

#4

I’ll try that right now, thx

#5

Here are some other thoughts:


  • Instead of using “Project” in the Projection menu, try using “Project All” in the SubTool menu.
This is a different algorithm, and can give better results in certain circumstances. Then, depending on the results, you can use the morph brush to return something to its original shape to be manually tweaked, or use the ZProject brush (with the other object as a subtool of it) and fine tune areas.

There are no magic bullets here. :slight_smile: Projection has a lot going on behind the scenes to make it work. For example: There’s an inner surface and an outer surface. There’s the distance between two objects. There’s the number of samples that projection must make for a clean transfer. And of course, there’s the question of whether the surface is in front of or behind what it’s being projected to. Put it all together, and you can see why there are no easy answers or single-shot solutions.

Incidentally, some things may not even need projection. For example, that band across the middle of the boot. Does it have to be included in the projection? Why not wait until the end of the process, then hide all but the tongue of the boot and then use Projection Master to add the band across it?

#6

So :slight_smile:

First I tried turning ‘Projection’ on and ‘Pmulti’ on. It didn’t work all that well and actually made more of a mess.


So then after that I read you suggestion on using ‘ProjectAll’ instead. So I first attempted this and the mesh turned out identical to the original ‘projection’ on, ‘pmulti’ off version. (I was thinking this doesn’t look like a different algorithm at all :wink: )

Then I generated the adaptive mesh again but this time I applied ‘inflat’ until the entire adaptive mesh covered the original model. I hit ‘ProjectAll’ and POW! it was perfect =)

Here are some quick images of the process.

And the final process from start to finish:

Yay! Anyhow thanks a bunch for the suggestions I would have been pondering over this one for a while. (Before I posted here I actually did end up breaking the model into peices and then using Projection Master for the details like you suggested. Now that the above works thou I won’t have to do that anymore.)

Thanks again for the help, I greatly appreciate it.

#7

:wink: Piggyson, you are the man.:wink:

#8

Aurick i make heavy use of the project all feature and morph targets, is there anyway to control the samples as you say of project all? it would be great to have a slider attached to this button.