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ZBrush for Linux

ZBrush Usage Questions
#161

Remember you can also activate via email. Also the only reason the online activation does not work is b/c ZBrush can’t launch a web browser. Once you know the correct URL for activation, you can activate online with no problem. I was able to run and activate ZBrush 3.5 by email and web on OS X and Ubuntu via Wine.

I had mine installed and running straight from Wine but MatrixNAN had his piggybacked off a Windows install.

I just did it because I wanted to play with ZSpheres II and ZSketch and had a Windows license but no PC anymore. Pressure sensitivity didn’t work but probably could have been fixed if I spent the time on it. I couldn’t get X11 to map the option and alt keys the way I wanted so it was a pain going from 3.5 to 3.2 on OS X (to sculpt with tablet pressure) since the keys were swapped.

I definitely wouldn’t want to have Wine as the Linux or OS X support though. This experiment was the only reason I installed Wine and I got rid of it after upgrading to Snow Leopard.

Meh. I guess it could have been cracked and that would suck if it was but not enough info to jump to that.

Either way, I don’t think I would buy ZBrush, or any app for that matter, if I had to have Wine to use it. ZBrush obviously isn’t supported but even if an app was, I personally don’t want to have to resort to something like Wine.

I mean it would have to be an effin amazing app and no competing apps on my OS. I support indies and smaller companies anyway so I’d go with less functionality for a more native app. I bought some indie vector and image editing apps rather than use Inkscape and Gimp before I got Photoshop because I couldn’t stand using them on OS X. If I was using a Linux distro at the time I may have stuck with them a bit longer. Anyway, that’s my 2cents.

I wonder how much it is though, since you have to contact Autodesk Consulting. Its probably crazy money and seats. Weird though considering they dropped Linux support for XSI. Now that is an app I really miss after switching to a Mac. :cry:

#162

Good new for all those who use Blender-Zbrush pipeline. Zbrush 3 runs on wine nicely! I know the fact there’s no really multi-milion poly sculpting on Linux is holding some people on windows. Now, it isn’t a border anymore!

#163

wow zbrush 4 is coming and still there isn’t a official version for linux
i think the message behind the release of zbrush 4 that pixologic is send us is that:

“THERE WILL NOT BE ZBRUSH FOR LINUX NOT NOW AND NOT IN 20 YEARS
SOO STOP ASKING WE ONLY DEVELOP ZBRUSH FOR WINDOWS AND MAC
AND LINUX USERS WILL NEVER SEE ZBRUSH IN THERE OS”

#164

Ace, are you sure you can run Mental Ray in Linux? I guess I saw something in their website mentioning it wouldn’t work. Although that might’ve changed in the 2010 version, I’m not sure. More info would be cool, as for running zb3.1 on wine, just check wine’s official site, step-by-step procedure is in there and it works flawlessly

#165

Not sure if Pixologic has a new strategy regaarding Linux version (hope they do), but since Mudbox has been released on Linux after their big studio customers’ feedback, I’m hoping that Pixologic team would have some strategy regarding Linux too.

Hoping that we could see Linux native 64 bit version soon.

#166

3DCoat and Mudbox both run natively on Linux (and 64-bit). We need ZBrush on Linux, too.

#167

Running any version of zbrush inside a virtualbox works just fine - windows 7 necessary for zbrush 4r2.
There might be a bit of a slowdown, but zbrush is so lean in general that it’s not much of a problem.
Is it really different than paying extra for a Mac?

Virtualbox also has some nice features, since you can clone your machines, you can customize the entire virtualbox OS(including zbrush) for whatever project you’re doing. And you don’t have to close zbrush or other applications, just save them in whatever state they were in. (atm. my Wacom drivers don’t reload, so can’t use that feature with zbrush, hopefully will be fixed soon, I use wacom bamboo.)

I recommend going through a disable unwanted processes in you GuestOS, including networking and security (you can disable sound and network in VirtualBox settings too, so you won’t run security risk by disabling).
I have only 6Gb mem and can get zbrush up to using 3 - 3.5Gb no problem.
I have an intel quadcore q8300 2.5ghz, definitely more than needed!

Oracle virtualbox is free btw.

The real problem with linux is to get good 3dcard drivers. Most likely it’s in viewport navigation you’ll experience the biggest slow-down. I have ATI = bad driver support for the proprietary drivers, I use opensource drivers(they are much slower than the proprietary drivers). Hopefully will get Nvidia one day. I actually change document size to something less than 800*640, then zoom in. This should get rid of viewport slowdown.

Also back-up will be easier, and if you should get a new computer, you can just run your backup machine without having to reinstall windows and zbrush and photoshop and whatever.

#168

Yep, ZBrush runs great under VirtualBox, that’s how I am using it now. It’s too unstable under Wine.

Both Blender and 3DCoat on Linux can use CUDA now with nVidia cards (and are 64-bit, too), it’s absolutely fantastic.

#169

You use Nvidia? If so, how’s performance inside the virtual box?

#170

Performance is pretty good, although I haven’t done any real heavy duty work with it. My machine is pretty beefy as well (i7, 8G RAM), which probably helps.

#171

I am one of those pipeline developers who really would like to see ZBrush on linux. Mainly because its the last of 3 peices of software that artists seem to not be able to live without. The three are “3dsmax”, “photoshop”, and “ZBrush”… The chances of the other two on Linux are very unlikely. Though talk of Photoshop on Linux has been brought up with Adobe several times.

I do see a potential “port” of 3dsmax if they can stop the “api” from growing weeds in windows system. The startup for 3dsmax is “way too complicated” and gives too many points of failure for the developer.

I do know, that if linux support was added to ZBrush… Many people would pay double the going rate. I may suggest even a “service” contract on Linux that way people can work with the developers directly to improve performance, deployment, and integration.

#172

I would vote a definite yes for this, however, I guess as a new forum member I’m not allowed? I signed up specifically to vote on this thread. I have been following ZBrush quite a bit, and several friends use it but it’s useless to me unless I have windows, and I will not go back to that.

#173

This thread is old man…

#174

So where’s the new Linux thread then?
Where can I voice my request for a Linux version of ZBrush?
The lack of a Linux version is becoming increasingly problematic for me to the point where I’m looking into switching to 3D Coat for my sculpting needs.

1 Like
#175

Oh yes! Please for the love of god MAXON PLEASE SELL Linux license, Substance Painter does it, Cinema 4d does it, Autodesk does it. Why not Zbrush? Pretty please, I’ll buy it right away! ZBrush is literally THE ONLY software package that prevents me from transitioning to Linux completely, I was trying to switch to Linux on my desktop this week, but Zbrush is the only software that is not supported, and it is, sadly, very crucial for me to meet the project deadlines, and basically a unique software package with no analogues, the other sculpting packages are not even remotely close to Zbrush.

Maxon, come on, sell it via Steam, your platform, or any other way you fit desirable, please let me enjoy speed, control, neat customizable Linux desktop environments on my desktop. It’s an additional channel for your income, not as big as the rest, but still.