ZBrushCentral

Corrupted files

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I’ve been working with a mesh that I cannot subdivide more than 4 times (and I have a huge computer)

Every time I put more than 4 divisions when I save the tool I cannot load again.

Zbrush tell me that there is a problem with the file and cannot load…

Why?

I don’t know…

But if I start again with the original mesh and put less subdivisions then there is no problem, I can save and load normally

It looks like a problem with huge files, but I’ve lost a lot of work thanks to this.

I have 2 Gb of RAM, good CPU and graphic card… it isn’t the computer.

Any idea how to solve it?

#2

Have you tried to reinstall it, mayby there was an error in the installation.
Seems very strange, but I agree, it is not your computer its wrong to.
If there was an error in the installation, can you tell me what the error said?

Adios,

// Synok.

#3

Thanks, but I don’t think that it’s the installation, because I’ve been working with other meshes and it doesn’t happen.

I was working with a head with 6 div and now I’ve opened again the face and I’ve tried to add more divisions and there is no error message until I save and try to load again.

My conclusion is that if you have a mesh with too many divisions it will corrupt the file when you save it. It’s the only explain that I’ve found for that.

#4

hmm, okay this is very strange. A bug in ZBrush??

#5

Ensure that you always save a tool at sub division 1. There is a well known issue with ZBrush such that saving a tool at any other subdiv level causes it (the tool) to become corrupted.

#6

Just to add to what Antimorph said, as well as saving your ZB tool at the lowest sub-d make sure that all of your mesh is unhidden and unmasked.

Might not fix your problem, but is good to know if your not doing this already.

#7

Everything is unhiding, and everything is unmasked.

I save in level 1.

If I have less than 2 million polygons everything is OK,

If I add one more division (and I have meshes in ZBrush with more than 2 millions) then the file is corrupted, no matter if I remove the division, if I save this file then I cannot load again.

But if I don’t add this extra level I can work normally.

It’s weird because I can work with this extra division and the computer works fine, the frame rate is good and the computer isn’t slow… but the file goes straight to the trash bin. We have tested this with other meshes and different computers and it’s the same problem.

Thanks for replies.

#8

What is your poly count in ZB at 4 sub-d’s?

#9

level 4 = 1.553.408

and I just need one more subd

#10

Ok, I missed that your geeting around 2 mil poys.

I suspect your computer cannot handle the next level of Sub-d (8 million poly’s).

My computer doesn’t handle this amout very well either, it is slightly more powerful than your configuration with 2 x 275 Opterons and 8gig of Ram (although I’m only getting acces to 3gigs in XP Pro with the 3gig switch).

Update: ok 1.5 x 4 = 6 million.

What you can try is saving you tool out at the lowest sub-d level, restarting ZB & loading the tool back in, after you take your Tool and Doc undo’s down to the lowest level in the Preferences>Mem.

This should free up some of your ram. Just keep in mind that you have no undo’s and ZB and your 2 gig of ram will probably still be struggling so make sure you incrementally save.

#11

Thanks for your help!

But what I don’t understand is that I can work with models with about 6 or 8 millions polys, but I cannot save my work (even removing the last subd).

Do you think is ZBrush?
maybe windows?
the computer?

#12

See above for my updated answer.

But more likely it is your computer specs.

I have heard of large games companies creating Normals maps from 12 mil mesh’s in ZB (just hear say), but I have never really gone over 8 mil and then ZB is unstable at times. I’m guessing that they plan the poly count extremely well at base mesh level to get the most out of ZB. 25 mil poly mesh’s in ZB 2.5 are said to be achievable, we might have to wait for that.

Things you might want to check out if you haven’t already:

Defrag you HD.

Increase your Virtual memory.

#13

Very useful, Thanks!
Definitely 2.5 need to fix these things.

I think I need to optimize my workflow before to export to ZBrush.

#14

Mate your not alone there. Sometimes I think I have a handle on ZB then it throws something back at me?

Happy ZB-ing:)

#15

Have you read (and followed) the Performance Tips found in the FAQ>General section here at ZBC?