ZBrushCentral

Workflow For Dynamesh & Zremesher

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi,

I would like to get information on a workflow. I am using the system to do some model prep. So far the functions I am getting result with is the Dynamesh and Zremesher.
The problem is, I am getting inconsistent results. Most of the time the models are turning into Swiss Cheese. I am all out of ideas how to fix this. i am been tinkling withthe setting for a bit
I saw a few tutorials from ask Zbrush videos. I have attached some results of what I am getting after dynamesh.

Thanks

Dynamesh 1 Original

#2

Hello @Shilling

Is the mesh a closed, watertight volume? It’s difficult to tell for certain, but those open sections of grille look like they could be problematic for Dynamesh.

The most common cause of “swiss cheese” with Dynamesh is attempting to use it on a mesh that is overly thin or 2D in an area. Dynamesh requires that a mesh be a closed volume with a degree of thickness. It can close minor holes on the surface, but if there is a large open section of mesh any place, it might be reading the mesh as an open volume. If there are any large open sections of mesh anyplace, Dynamesh will also attempt to close this hole, and if the hole is too large or complicated, it may result in creating complicated overlapping surfaces or flyway geometry of the sort seen in those wheel wells.

If the above does not describe your issue, you can contact Pixologic Support, and we can take a closer look at the problem file.

Thank you!

#3

Hi Spyndel.

Thanks for the detailed reply. I contacted Pixologic support via phone today. i was informed that I should come here and an create a post as support does not give individual information, but place the information on the board for the community to benefit…

Please advise which Pixologic support I should reach out too… Maybe I went to the wrong place?
I would love to reach out to support to solve my issue. maybe I am using the wrong combination of tools for my models? I am not sure, but getting knowledge and learning is the best form of attack for any problems… I would love to send some model file over…

Thanks

#4

Well, in this case we’d just be taking a quick peek to rule out any technical issues with your installation, and possibly helping you to confirm the problem with your mesh. You would ultimately have to solve the issue with your mesh for yourself.

This is likely to be due to an issue with the construction of your mesh as I explained previously. If you use the “Analyze Selected Subtool” function (selected size does not matter for this purpose) at the bottom of the Transform menu and the report generated tells you your mesh is not watertight, then this is almost certainly your problem. But there can also be other issues with mesh construction.

Meshes can be more or less suitable for Dynamesh based on how they are constructed. I can illustrate this with 3 ZPR files loaded from Lightbox:

  1. Load the DemoHead.ZPR from Lightbox with the Lightbox> Projects button in the File menu. Run “Analyze Selected Subtool”. It will inform you that the mesh is not watertight. There is a large unopened section at the bottom, and holes in the nostril cavities.

  • Delete the lower subdivision levels or select “no” when asked if you’d like to freeze subdivision levels. If you Dynamesh this at the default setting, it will produce problem geometry around the edges of the base, in the nostril and mouth cavities. The issue at the mouth is because the detail at the lips is too close together for the resolution settings. Your issues could be caused by one or both problems.

  • The issue around the base and the nostrils can be solved by Ctrl-Z -ing the Dynamesh, and first closing the geometry with Tool> Geometry> Modify Topology > Close Holes. Note this function has the same limitations as Dynamesh when asked to close large, complex sections of open mesh, but it is adequate for this case. Dynameshing again at the default settings eliminates the issue in the nostrils and around the edge of the base.

  1. Now load the DemoHeadFemale.ZPR as you did above. This mesh is much more suitable for Dynamesh. It reports as watertight in the subtool analysis, and it produces much better results when Dynameshed at the default settings. There are still a few spots here and there where the details are too close together for the available resolution, but overall much better than the DemoHead.
  1. Finally, load the DemoAnimeHead.ZPR. This head is perfectly suitable for Dynamesh. It’s a completely closed volume with adequate thickness everywhere, reports as watertight, and the resolution is sufficient for the detail it is being asked to capture.

Your mesh could have problems with being open or un-welded in sections, issues with overlapping geometry,or areas where the resolution is insufficient for capturing detail resulting in surfaces that are trying to fuse together. Once a mesh develops these problem areas, they are likely to get worse and worse with subsequent Dynameshing, possibly affecting the overall integrity of the mesh.

The mesh geometry itself may also be unstable. Be sure to check for issues with Tool> Geometry> Mesh Integrity> Check Mesh. Meshes that report errors here may crash or exhibit odd behavior in all sorts of situations.

If nothing of what I’ve gone over above accounts for your issue, then you can start a conversation at Pixologic Support with the email address your license is registered to, and make your subject to “Attention: Spyndel”. If anyone asks you can point them to this thread and tell them I told you to send it.

Thank you!