ZBrushCentral

Array mesh and pivot

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hello,
two questions about Array mesh and pivot.
It seems to me Array mesh uses the pivot of the bounding box of the subtool for all operations.
Instead I would like to know if:

  1. is it possible to snap the pivot point to mesh points for a better alignment?
  2. or is it possible to reset the pivot point to the <0, 0, 0> of the object even if the subtool will change shape?
    As you can see in the image, I would like to have the pivot in one of the two locations pointed by arrows.
    I mean, I’m creating the legs for this floor lamp and using array mesh to instance the modelled one rotating it by 120 degrees.
    Is it possible to change the pivot numerically and not guessing with Pivot XYZ section?

Thank you
Screenshot_111.jpg

#2

I solved in this way, even if it’s a bit strange I have to put a very small number to X axis in Pivot section, as you can see:
solve_1.jpg

solve_2.jpg

Attachments

solve_1.jpg

solve_2.jpg

#3

Hi!
The above trick does not work in 4R8.

Now with the excellent Live Boolean the need for accurate ArrayMesh is even more important.
Is this really STILL impossible in ZBrush 4R8? I thought that with the excellent new 3D Gizmo it would be easy i.e. use Transpose mode for ArrayMesh and then go to Pivot tab and then click on home on gizmo and it would put the pivot to the world center. But that does not work. And you cannot even move the pivot with gizmo or at least I haven’t found any way to do so :o

I can’t believe this very basic feature that is in every other 3D software that can do even basic arrays, free or not, would be still missing from ZBrush :o

For example if I want to make a star motor that has the cylinders in star shape around the axel, it would be easy to do with accurate pivot setting but with only manual guessing where the actual center is, it is impossible to get it accurate.

So I really still want to believe I am just doing it wrong, please anyone tell me how I can position the ArrayMesh pivot to center of some OTHER subtool or better yet, unmasked area center of another subtool or snap to something? Or even in the center of the world :slight_smile:
If that really is not possible in ZBrush UI, then please can you give simple ZScript that puts the ArrayMesh pivot to the world center (or better yet, take it from other subtool of course :))? Sadly ZBrush does not support Python scripting so I need help even with so simple script :slight_smile:

Thank you very much!

#4

atnreg,
sorry doesn’t work in 4r8, at the moment, I’m not working with array, so I could say nothing.
Anyway, some screenshots showing your situation could be very useful. Better if you could share only the geometry you’re trying to create.
Cheers.

#5

It is very simple, let’s say I want to make live boolean cut with the stretched ball on the cylinder (see attachment). I have set up the ArrayMesh and at first it looks nice but then you see that the balls are not at same radius and so ruining the result (for example some mechanical wheel part or something like that which must be exact).

As far as I know, there are two ways to do this:

  1. Use Transpose mode and TRY to move the yellow circle to the exact center of the cylinder manually (which of course is impossible to do exactly)
  2. Use the Pivot Amounts and TRY to find the exact center of the cylinder (which of course is impossible to do exactly unless the cylinder is some simple size)

So as there are zillions of great mechanical wheels and other perfectly round parts made with ZBrush, there MUST be some way to find the exact center.
And THAT is what I need.
Please note that in THIS example case it would probably be possible to use Radial Symmetry to make the cutting object but that is not the point, the point is that there MUST be some way to make ArrayMesh to work exactly :slight_smile:

So pretty much the same what the original poster needed.

So please, any ideas, tricks, tips, scripts are welcome :slight_smile:zbarraymeshproblem.png

Attachments

zbarraymeshproblem.png

#6

Have you considered to use zmodeler brush?
Other thing you could use is an insert sphere (IMM Primitives) with transform->simmetry->radial and set the number you need.
I’m still investigating the arraymesh for our situation, if I’ll have some news, I’ll share them.
Ciao

#7

Yes I know in this case ZModeler and Radial Array would work but the point is that if you have any more complicated object that you want to just spread around another object, you MUST be able to set the ArrayMesh pivot accurately.
The tip for IMM Brush is not bad, however, so thank you for that :slight_smile:
But my main point is how it can be that the makers of ZBrush have not noticed this is essential to work eith anything else than some organic creature :open_mouth: ArrayMesh even has levels so it is obivously meant to be used for complex structures but if you cannot set it up exactly, it ruins the whole feature. I still find it hard to believe that is the case :o
And you don’t even need radial ArrayMesh very often in organic work so even that does not add up as it is obivously targeted for hard surface and mechanical modeling :slight_smile:

So please if you come up with any ideas, please let me know, there MUST be some way to do it, I don’t care if it is some script or anything.
I would be more than happy to get a script that just sets the ArrayMesh pivot to the world center and anything above that would be big plus :slight_smile:

Thanks!

#8

I just found solution to reset the pivot to world center!

Once again, our hero, Joseph Drust, explains it, this time in a new video for live booleans :slight_smile:


Look at position 30:30

It’s actually very simple:
-select the subtool with ArrayMesh
-turn on Transpose (not needed, on video may be related to other things he did)
-Turn on Lock Pos
-click Reset
THAT’S IT!

Now WHY there is NOTHING about these settings in the manual or help? The manual describes the Reset button as reset the current stage to its default values. Really? I would never have guessed that :o But WHAT does that mean, it says nothing about. Like solution to this essential problem that I have been struggling with a long time. That same goes for Lock Pos etc., they only say the obvious, it locks the position. Yes yes but WHAT does that mean and when to use it and why? This kind of manual is quite useless.
Or even separate lesson for ArrayMesh in ZClassroom that would EXPLAIN the settings?

Anyway, this already helps a lot but I will still try to check if it is even possible to reset the pivot to some other subtool or other advanced :slight_smile: