Working with multiple subtools simultaneously/merging subtools ?

[Bingo_Jackson]

Dummy question here

I tried to do the basic shift-select or control select thing to select multiple subtools to be active at a time, but no luck. Is there a way to select more than one at a time…or is there a painless way to “merge” subtools into a single one?

Thanks!

[Antimorph]

You can’t select more than one

If 1 click is painless, how much pain is 2 clicks, 3 clicks, or 4 clicks?

[Bingo_Jackson]

Well, I just meant is there a way in-program to merge the subtools into a single one, or does it involve saving out and reimporting?

Thanks!

[Bingo_Jackson]

Alright, I’m sorry for being dumb here, but its got me a bit confused. Theres no way to have more than one subtool interactive at a time, so I want to merge two subtools into a single subtool, ideally with their SubD levels intact. It looks like Ill have to save out the subtool, reimport it, and add it to another with the “append” function. But when i save out the tool with the subtool selected, it saves out the entire mesh/tool.

Could you spell out this “3 click” solution youre speaking of?

[MattSilverstein]

hey. maybe we’re both dumb, but i can’t figure out how to merge subtools either… and i would really like to (or just be able to transpose multiple subtools simultaneously)
-matt

[DanRoberts]

well if u go out of edit mode … and select a std transform too like in the Z2 days (move scale rotate) all ur sub tools are effected together. I guess cause its all considered one mesh once out of pure edit mode.

[cannedmushrooms]

lol I figured out alot but rotating a subtool is still a mystery. Also changing a Zspheres resoution while its a subtool. Still can’t find that magical button anywhere

[Game_Master_770]

Same question. How do you merge multiple subtools. I tried a few things and nothing worked. Even turning it into a polymesh, or exporting. In Edit mode, not in edit mode. If it’s possible, could somebody say the steps?

As for transforming a subtool (such as rotating it), you should be in Edit mode, with the subtool active, and Rotate enabled. Lay down your Action Line, and move the handle. You are just not used to the action line yet. hey, me neither.

:idea: BTW, here’s a neat Sub-Tools technique. On your Mesh, use the Mesh insert brush a few times. When you are done, goto the subtools palette, and press “GrpSplit”. This will turn all your dropped meshes, into subtools.

[cannedmushrooms]

have you tried the extract visible into new subtool button in the subtool pallet

[Game_Master_770]

have you tried the extract visible into new subtool button in the subtool pallet

I just tried it, and nothing. Only the current subtool, is checked for visibility. Did you get it to work??

[Game_Master_770]

Finnaly, a working solution to merging Sub-tools. Looking forward to the zscript!

This method is a little fiddly but works. (I have written a zscript but it needs refining before release.)

1. Save a copy of your ztool so that you can retrieve it if necessary.

2. Selecting the primary subtool, switch to the highest subdivision level and then delete the lower levels. [Geometry subpalette]

   3. Press Tool>Clone to create a copy of the subtool.

   4. Repeat steps (2) and (3) for all subtools.

3. Select the clone of your primary subtool. Then press Insert Mesh in the Geometry subpalette and select the first of your subtools from the popup. It is added to the mesh.

   6. Repeat steps (5) until all subtools have been inserted.

Note that this will only work if the subdivision levels are the same - which is why the lower levels are deleted in step (2). It is possible to omit this step if the number of levels and level set are the same for all subtools.

[daddymack]

Thanks game master, I was looking for that info

[Game_Master_770]

I made a tutorial covering some of this stuff

Tutorial: Interesting things with SubTools.
http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?p=356199