A nice article appears in the winter copy (issue #4) of Highend magazine put out by the Gnomom School in L.A. Talks alot about the up coming version,(Displacement, normal mapping,Projection master, polygon management tools) and how it is going to work with other software in a production enviroment. A good read for anyone interested in this topic…
uh oh, cat’s out of the bag 
tantalizing, anyway …
I just checked their website and they still had previews of issue #3 online
but it’s cool to see ZBrush getting an article in a journal like this – although I imagine they have already been getting great word-of-mouth from WETA and other groups
Sounds like fun! I can’t wait to try! 
Checking out the site, it seems that issue 3 also had some info on it. You’ll notice Pixolators dragon/dinosaur thing on one of the articles.
I wonder if this means it will be coming out soon? I’m thinking of picking up the magazine, and see what’s in it. Actually I’m thinking about buying all of them. That will have to wait til next month though. I’m poor now. 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>A good read for anyone interested in this topic…<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Strange, I would have thought that one would be able to find and read such details about ZBrush here on ZBCentral.
It’s only mid-season, yet I sense a change in the air.
Indeed. I’ve wondered why there is such secrecy surrounding the new version. It’s going to rock no doubt, just from the things we know about, but still, it’s strange to see that there is an article talking about some of the new stuff in an area that isn’t very familiar to the current users of Zbrush.
I sense a change too… but it’s been coming for awhile. Over a year in the making it seems… this almost feels like the quite before the storm.
I’ll give a bit on what the article said. These things may or may not have been previously mentioned…
-Projection Master
Described as an extention of Texture master. Includes a full range of brushes, tools, strokes adn alphas that can be used when painting detail.
-Multi Resolution Modeling
Described as a SubDivision modeling system on Steroids. Allows you to model through different levels of subDiv and make changes that propigate up through the model…I.E. Your working on a model, you are detailing it and then you decide to change the overall shape, no problem go to the base mesh make the changes and it makes the changes without messing up what you have detailed…(I already kinda new this but the article made more sense to me that what we’ve heard so far… :D)
-Intergration of both Normal and Displacement Maps
Most of us I think are up to a degree on this topic. If not well there is a great thread started on spiraloid that you might want to read on this topic. This of course will make Zbrush very cutting edge…Or is that more cutting edge…
-Polygon Management Tools
Described as a way of hiding grouped polygons so as to allow you to work closer in detail. Now this is something I didn’t know about and for one am very glad for it…
-Redesigned interface
Not much info on this but “it promises more room to work.” I’ve gotten used the current interface, Don’t know how this is going to be “Improved”…
-Extendibility, via new plug-in Architecture.
I didn’t know that this was coming but that really really is good news for plug-ins and people that like that kind of stuff…
-Assortment of New strokes, improved import/export.
And to quote the article, “…Zbrush is now a serious film production tool and is unique in many respects.”
Oh and the other quote,
“At the time of writing, Zbrush was in beta testing, however, it should be available for purchase by the time you read this.”
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGH…That one killed me… :D…Anyway hope there were a few worthwhile tidbits in this for you folks…
well, I guess it’s public info in a way, but not at everyone’s grocery store yet
just waiting for Aurick to flash us with the Neuralyzer …
wchamlet: I’m just a hobbyist, but I imagine the secrecy is needed because they wouldn’t want some other company stealing their thunder/income when they come up with some conceptual innovation
Thank’s for the heads up DavidT, I’ve been duying for some info on the other features the next version will bring. ZAAAPPPP!!! What was I talking about?
Oh, I understand their need for secrecy. I just wondered what it was that they needed to be secret about. You know, like what things they’re hiding that they don’t want people to know about yet. I’m anxious to play with this new version. Can’t hardly wait actually.
I’ve got a design I’m working on right now, that I’m hoping will look magnificent with Z’s new features. I’m working on getting the face to look right in Maya, and everything else will be Zsphered goodness… with those Sub’s on Steroids that was mentioned above.
I’m giddy… yeah… sue me. LOL
I’m going to have to take my high blood
pressure after reading these tidbits.
Drooooooooool…
In case you haven’t already seen it, Issue 4 preview pages are posted including the Character Design - Detail Management, Part 2 spread.
Sven
Thanks for the info David, much apreciated. Now where are those hires scans
hmmm, there have been more sightings of “The Ancients” recently – could the time be nigh?
I’m hoping that the new Z will come out tomorrow! I’m just guessing, but I’m pretty sure… ah no I’m not really… that the new Z will be showcased at Macworld tomorrow. My fingers are crossed.
I feel all warm and fuzzy shader inside. LOL
Aaack, don’t say things like that wchamlet!! Now I’ll be clicking refresh on my browser all day tomorrow 
Just checked the exhibitor list and no sign of Pixologic. But then again they did not have a booth at the last Siggraph show and still showed Zbrush to various people.
Yeah, no sign of Pixologic. Ah well, it was good to hope right?
:mad: :mad: 
When exactly does MacWorld happen???
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Now I’ll be clicking refresh on my browser all day tomorrow<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Refreshing is next to Godliness, especially when there are alms to be had.
Three months now I have walked in dark places and ask, is there no ZB for me?
I trust in ‘soon’ and ‘very soon’ and in the meantime lean on 1.55b.
Information very much appreciated!