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Variable creasing

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

HI,

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I am relatively new to zbrush and I’ve just started getting a little deeper into dynamic subdivision.
As I understand, creasing is somewhat universal. The edges you have selected to crease with zmodeler will do it with the settings you define from dynamic subdivision.
I was wondering how I can make an edge (or edge loop) have a variable creasing (e.g. in the image I would like the red line to start from 100% and end at 0% creasing.

I suppose this cannot be done dynamically but I would like to know how experienced users would go about it.

Thanks!

#2

Hello Aris,

The settings you define in the Dynamic Subdivision palette will only apply to the mesh if you view them with Dynamic Subdivision active, or convert them to geometry with the “apply” function in the Dynamic Subdivision palette. If subdividing the mesh traditionally, it’s all or nothing–the edge is either creased or it isn’t. In this scenario, the softness of the edges can be controlled with the Tool> Geometry> Crease level slider, which basically determines how many subdivision levels the creasing will be present for. If you set this to a low value, the mesh will be subdivided for a few levels as if the edges are creased, and then further levels will be subdivided with no creasing, resulting in a softening of the edges.

Neither approach will do what you want to here. To vary the softness of the edge along a line, you will have to model that geometry. Note that two edges very close together on a mesh functionally act as a crease when the mesh is subdivided (or previewed with dynamic subdivision). So you would model the topology so that a pair of edges are very far apart where you want little or no creasing, and then converge as you want the crease to sharpen.

Good luck!

#3

Hi spyndel,
thanks for the detailed answer.
So in a few words, it cannot be done interactively. (not that I know any software that can do it, but I was hoping that zbrush with all its ‘magic’ would. Maybe in a future version!)

#4

@Aris FYI - the image on the right can be made directly in a CAD software, for example, Fusion360 (free for hobbyist), FreeCAD etc. You would create a cube and a cylinder and then a loft (may be called something else) between them. The image on the left can be made, approximately, into the image on the right by creating a variable radius fillet on the red edge. Large radius at teh top and very small at the bottom. You could then export as STL or OBJ and import into ZBrush.

#5

Hi,
Yes, I know. this is just an example. In reality it’s a much more complex form that I’m working on. It would only make sense if it is used in combination with subdivision. The image above is just an example to explain what I was talking about.
Fusion only works with zero or single curvature surfaces.

#6

@Aris - sorry about that. I took your “…not that I know any software that can do it…” too literally. On Fusion360, perhaps you can do what you want with T-splines. Anyway 'nuff said. Good luck :slight_smile: