ZBrushCentral

Basic help on stretching a figure

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi
I’m sure this is very basic but help!

I have a human figure and I want to stretch just the neck along the vertical. (straight up)
I want to keep the body where it is and the head to go upwards with the neck.
A bit like Mr Fantastic from the Fantastic four!

I know how to mask areas but what is the right approach and tool for this.

Thanks for any help.
Blueisland

#2

I think your thought process is on the track when you mentioned masking. I am going to assume you have one sub tool, which your main mesh or human figure.

Go to masking and click mask all.
Use control + alt with a standard brush to unmask the neck and head
Using the move transpose tool draw from the base of the neck to the top of head and stretch the topology.

What I also recommend before using the transpose tool is dynamesh your model at about 64. Start at lo res, stretch the neck/head and then refresh the dyanmesh.

What’s going to happen if you do not dynamesh and go to use the transpose to stretch your topology, is that the stretching is going to put stress on the polygons where the stretching is taking place and that is going to look very unappealing. With dynamesh you relieve that polygon stress after using the transpose tool and the resume blocking your form.

Tip: Work lo res first blocking your form. When you get a decent human shape turn off dynamesh, continue blocking with subdivision levels. Start working in your details at higher sub division levels.

Hope that helps!

#3

What I also recommend before using the transpose tool is dynamesh your model at about 64. Start at lo res, stretch the neck/head and then refresh the dyanmesh.

What’s going to happen if you do not dynamesh and go to use the transpose to stretch your topology, is that the stretching is going to put stress on the polygons where the stretching is taking place and that is going to look very unappealing. With dynamesh you relieve that polygon stress after using the transpose tool and the resume blocking your form.

I don’t recommend Dynamesh if he already has good topology. You can make movements with the transpose tool and add topology, which means no stretching.

  1. Freeze SubDivision Levels.
  2. Mask off the areas you don’t want to move.
  3. Use the transpose move tool but when dragging the middle circle hold down CTRL button.

This will add edge loops to your mesh instead of stretching like normal. If you don’t mask off part of your mesh then this action will duplicate the mesh but keep it in the same subtool.

#4

Thanks for your responses. Really good.

I shall go away and try this out

Very best