Sometimes when I am using zbrush the material menu fills up with a lot of “FastShader”. Does anyone know why this is happening or how to fix it?
Thanks in advance.
I feel like I’m taking crazy pills, I am dead tired and I put together a post that is the exact same issue. I’m getting a lot of Fast Shader and Flat Colors:
Why is this happening? It’s starting to appear on many of my models 
Have either of you made changes to the list of zbrush startup materials?
Hey again Spyndel. I clicked “add to startup material” on the red clay just now, to find out where and what the list is called “Zstartup\StartupMaterial.zmt”
I have no file by that name in Zstartup, or anything even similar when I search Startup in my ZBrush folder. But yeah I haven’t modified any startup file.
Something I notice about the screenshots from both of you, is that your material menu is larger than your canvas. Out of curiosity, what screen resolution are you running Zbrush at? The recommended is 1920 x 1080 or larger.
Yeah I’m using 1920x1080.
here’s my normal size
Hmm yeah that is weird, now that I compare the two… it’s much wider.
This picture is what it is with a clean new document and a freshly booted application.
The earlier picture is what happens after I work and save over a couple of days.
Is it behavior that happens in association with a specific file as you work on it? In other words, is it the same file you have open when this happens? Or does it happen in any session?
I just double checked. I just bought Zbrush and don’t have many new projects, everything is pretty unmodified, I did a little UI color and arrangement work, but no plugins or anything else added yet.
Okay, it doesn’t happen on a new document, freshly opened.
It doesn’t seem to happen early on in a file’s life. I can open it a few times without it happening.
I’ve never witnessed the change happen. I just notice it when I go to look at materials after 3-4 days of working. Also, when I click “new document” after this has happened, it remains this way (prob as expected)
It may have a tie in with files I’ve done some polypainting, color-filling, layer painting on. But I’m not sure. I never ever choose fast shade material and haven’t needed to clear my object with flat color (very rarely so far) -but I haven’t used it at all on these models.
I wonder if it has to do with times I’ve rendered? Or pressing fill object in color menu?
I just tried looking into causes of it. I don’t want to make any assumptions. I wonder if there is a way I can delete those slots though. As it is now, it’s like I have to reimport the file to a new document.
I honestly have no idea, I’m sorry. This isn’t something I’ve seen in recent memory. It may be an issue with your installation, though I’m skeptical because you both appear to have the same issue.
You could try uninstalling/reinstalling the program from a new, freshly downloaded installer (they can become corrupt). Be certain to disable any antivirus during this, as it is a frequent cause of issues.
Otherwise, if it continues and is a significant nuisance, you may need to make a support ticket and have them work through it with you. It would be useful to be able to note exactly when the behavior starts, so pay attention each time you re-open a file you’re working on to see if you can catch it happening.
Good luck!
Thanks Spyndel. I’m torturing a new file, checking at intervals to see if I can get it to happen again. I was thinking it may be my Antivirus. I will disable that too. It says you get 2 downloads with purchase, but how many reinstalls?
I may reinstall, run CCleaner (but only remove pixologic and zbrush left over entries, as I have royally messed up my icons from time to time with it.)
You can re-download the installer at any time through your “My Licenses” page on the Pixologic Support site.
I just had a thought as I opened my testing file… It may be that ONE old file had this issue, and I’m loading another file without closing zbrush. And saving the problem into new files. Maybe. Thanks for your help, I’ll let you know if I pin down the cause. Will send a support ticket.
Hi there. I don’t know the cause of this issue but, I’ve found an easy solution:
1_ Go to Preferences and click “Init Zbrush”.
2_ Go to Document and click “Save as Startup Doc”
3_ Restart Zbrush
4_ Profit!
I’ve been struggling with this issue for a while now, searching for a solution online but I couldn’t find anything. Today I thought of this workaround, and it worked!
Hope this helps.
Unfortunately, that’s not a solution.
I have this issue right now and is frustrating!.
It happens only to this project and any time a re-open it the issue will come back.
I cannot save the subtools and create a new project with them because I am saving Undo History to make a Timelapse.
It seems no one ever found a solution to this misery.
Ok, after searching a lot for this problem. I think I might have got the solution from a person on the internet.
Anyone facing the problem can try these steps:
- save a ztool of your character. (it was in my case)
- Initialize zbrush (fresh start) and load the ztool that you saved. You will notice when clicking on materials section that the fast shaders are gone.
The problem may seem to disappear at this stage but it is far from over. You will most likely find the “fast shaders” as soon as you open the zpr file again.
- Now turn off everything (by default “A” and “Zadd” is turned on) except materials, “M”.
- Click on materials section and select “Flat color” shader.
- Go to zplugin and click on “subtool master”. Select “fill” and have “materials” checkbox clicked (“colors” too if you have polypaint).
- The script will run and change your character to flat color.
- Now, based on what I experienced on my character you will see that some subtools are white, others completely black and a few grey. (may vary on yours)
- Now according to the person that helped me on this, it happens because the material that you are working on may look same visually but they are different materials that have happened as a result of any of the following:
(a) different polygroups on same mesh or subtool.
(b) layers not baked properly.
(c) hidden mesh that were forgotten to be deleted.
(d) use of GoZ plugin along with Maya. - So, in case you have done anything like the things mentioned above, then "group visible: shortcut “ctrl+W”. Bake layers if you have. Delete hidden or rogue mesh if you have.
- Go to “Color” tab and select “Fillobject”.
- Check on every subtool and repeat the process just to confirm. “ctrl+w” and “fill object”
- Now all your subtool have “flat shader” and hopefully no fast shader.
- Save the zpr. file and close.
- Open the zpr. file and click on the desired shader that you like to work, e.g: matcap, basic material, etc.
- Select the subtool which have not changed color(black, grey) to the shader that you selected and go to Color tab and “fillobject” that.
- Now all your subtools are back on the same shader, one polygroup (one color for subtool) and NO “fast shaders”.
This helpful tip was written by a stranger on the internet whom I can no longer find. Thank you if you are reading this.
English is not my first language and I am still an amateur on Zbrush but I wrote as best as I can. I hope this helped you.