ZBrushCentral

Can't create Displacement and Normal maps!

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi guys,

This is the problem Im facing:

Have created a character bust… its actually part of an entire full body, but ive hidden the rest of it. It’s detailed and textured using HD geometry.

Ive created a tube top using mesh extraction and the scarf around the neck using mesh extraction as well.

Added two tails of the scarf using the append tool.

Now the problem is, Im trying to export it to 3DS for rendering and hair creation, but I can’t create the normal and displacement maps.

The option to create and toggle normal/displacement maps is not even lit up for me to toggle, and Im not sure why.

Of note is, when I select one of the subtools (one of the tails of the scarf), I am able to do it, but not for the rest of the sculpt.

I have tried the following:
Merging all visible subtools, but still unable to.
Reducing the subdivisions for all subtools, but still unable to.

Also, Im not sure why I cant increase or reduce the subdivisions for the subtools i created with mesh extraction (the scarf around the next and the tube top)

Help me please!

#2

Also, Im not sure why I cant increase or reduce the subdivisions for the subtools i created with mesh extraction

Mesh extraction will create a new mesh with no subdivision history, so it’s base geometry will be dependent on the geometry / subdivision level of the mesh it was extracted from at the time it was extracted. You can create new subdivision levels on the extraction afterwards, but the old mesh’s history wont transfer over with the extraction.

As for your main problem, make sure the meshes all have UVs that didn’t get deleted somewhere along the way (you can check under Tool: UV Map, if Delete UV and Morph UVs aren’t options, then there are no UVs).