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32 bit displacement map exporting MD3

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi guys,
Thanks for the help before on this forum, I appreciate the help.
I have another issue i’d like to get sorted. I’m trying to export a 32 bit discplacement map to be rendered in 3ds max 9 mentalray.

I calculated a displacement using the settings

MODE
Adaptive
smooth uv

now after generating I select it in the alpha menu
go into Displacement exporter 3 options. and select

D-32

DE-JCGK-EAAAAA-D32

This is the code I am using.
Auto scale
32 float
channel 1

Now I export, and the tiffs are created.

I open it up in photoshop and go to convert to RGB, but it already is . It’s not greyscale as it is at work.

I convert to .exr and open in max, but there is no data in that file.
Is there anyway to output a greyscale map? Or solve this problem

Thanks in advance

Joe

#2

The catch is that ZBrush can’t display 32-bit maps; it can only calculate them. That means that anything you see in the Alpha palette is going to be a 16-bit map. The approach you’re following is good for anything except 32-bit maps.

To generate a 32-bit map, you must use MD3. In the Zplugin palette, go to MD3 and click Export Options. This is where you’ll input the code you want to use. Make any other adjustments you want to the MD3 settings and then click Create All. ZBrush will then calculate the 32-bit map(s) and output directly to file without ever going into the Alpha palette.

#3

Thanks Aurick.
Unforunately it doens’t work.
The process I described was using MD3, or displacement exporter 3 as I called it.

When I select the displacement in the alpha menu before going into MD3 it is to make sure I can see it in MD3 and see how the options effect it.

It works on some pcs i’ve tried and others not. Possibly some plugin issue? Photoshop on the pc it works on will load the image as a greyscale and show me it.

Perhaps it’s becuase I have another .tiff export plugin loaded during zbrush exprot (Crytiff)

#4

I’m sorry, but we still seem to be talking about different things.

Your description was to use Tool>Displacement>Create DispMap, then use MD3. That doesn’t work. You need to go straight to MD3. If you create a displacement map via the Create DispMap button, you’re only going to get a bit depth of 16.

#5

Thanks Aurick,

Your right, you will only get a bit depth of 16,
but it does provide you with an image inside of MD3 that reacts to the different options you set inside of MD3, such as normal, smooth, vertical flip, intensity etc. But when clicking saving the settings, and clicking create all, the exported maps are 32 bit float.

I have actually solved this problem now :slight_smile: It came down to having the crytiff plugin installed in photoshop and on the system, which seemed to override tiff creation :S . very strange. All solved now though.

Thanks again for the continued support, i’m most appreciative.