ZBrushCentral

Help on seamless merge please!

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi everyone,
I’m posting this message because I’m an animator looking for a job, and to earn a little money I accepted a character modeling mission. Unfortunately, I’m not a Zbrush pro!
So here is my problem: I modeled the body of the caracter from a sphere, and then to have the arms come off the body, I added Zspheres. I merged the meshes, but now I have this ugly line on the shoulders that I have to erase in order to complete the modeling (and be payed, at last).
I’ve searched on the internet but couldn’t find any post or tutorial that would help me.
I precise that if I import the character’s OBJ in Maya, the arms and body are 2 different objects, whereas there are one in Zbrush.
Many thanks in advance for your help, I can’t wait to get rid of this mission.

Attachments

Sumo2.jpg

Sumo6.jpg

#2

it’s likely because the arms and the rest of the mesh are two separate groups. that’s why they are separate meshes when brought into maya.

go to polygroups and click on group visible. then when you apply the smooth brush the lines will disappear.

#3

Hello Zeddie!
Thank you very much for you answer.
I tried it but unfortunately it won’t work. I think Zbrush still considers that the body is not one big bloc of clay but arms bloc and torso bloc…
I tried to merge all the parts in maya using “combine” and then import it on Zbrush, bu I still have this separation between torso and arms…

#4

Did you merge the arms and body groups as suggested? What about applying Crease first before merging? Once merged they should smooth out.

#5

Hello Dillster,
Yes I tried merging the polygroups, but nothing new happened…
I’m novice on Zbrush. Maybe I could send you the file so you can see what’s wrong?
Thank you very much for your answer :slight_smile:

#6

you can upload the file here.

i don’t mean to make you answer the same question over and over but…you did go to “polygroups” and with the entire mesh visible, you clicked “group visible” and when you turn on poly frame, the mesh is one color?

if that’s the case…make sure all the setting on the smooth brush are correct…like make sure “add” is turned on and intensity is up.
sometimes i turn it off and forget, then when i go to smooth i’m like “what’s going on?”

what is the poly count?

#7

Hello Zeddie!
Don’t worry, it’s ok to ask me the same question several times. I’m such a noob on Zbrush that I’m not even sure I did the whole thing right! :lol:
But yes I did go to the polygroup section, and tried all the grouping options.
Here is a photo of all the available options.

group_options.jpg

When I turn on polyframe, all of the mesh is the same color (and I don’t know if it can be any help for you, I did that by accident, but when I turn on the polypaint in the subtool, all of the mesh becomes green)
I checked my smooth brush options, add is turned on and the intensity is up.
My file weights 2mb, even compressed it still weights 1,5 and thus it’s to heavy to be uploaded on the site, so I put it on my mediafire account.
https://www.mediafire.com/?9d6jdmct1brwbzn

#8

Try the clay brush with ZAdd turned on, blend the areas together then smooth.

#9

I think the easiest way to combine the body and arm meshes would be to use Dynamesh.

After dynameshing, you’ll probly need to re-do the mouth and eyes, and then use zRemesher (or whatever) to get your topology back.

Attachments

sumoworking.jpg

#10

Hi Thor,
I’ve tried dynamesh + zremesher, but I can’t get rid of that line, even if I had clay on it.
Could you send me the file you corrected please?
Many thanks in advance!

#11

Hey killer,I apologize… I wasn’t notified of replies to this thread. :confused:

I saved a couple versions of what I thought was the ztl that I screen capped… but they’re huge files, and I’m not sure they’re the right ones.

I also couldn’t remember exactly how I went about it… so I’ll try starting over…

Loaded your ZTL.

Duplicated it. In order to keep the detail for projecting, I divided your original and the duplicate to subd 3.

To combine the groups before dynameshing, I think I used decimation master on the dupe (at the default settings).

For dynameshing the decimated copy, I use the DynaMesh Master plugin.

Just the default settings, but I reduce blur to 1, and turn on project. 1.5 million polys.

Project all again to get detail back from your original.

Now the dynameshed copy is all one group. Smooth brush on shoulder seams worked.

Now you can zRemesh to get the polycount back down. NOTE: because of the stuff on his back, you can’t have symmetry on when you zRemesh. If you want a nice symmetrical remesh, you should split that stuff off of his back before you start any of this.

Also, his eyes and mouth are a little sketchy in the dynamesh, so you’ll need to tweak (perhaps with the pinch brush).

#12

Hi Thor,
I’m very sorry to answer that late but I’ve been overwhelmed with my witress job.
I’ve been trying to follow your instructions but I can’t get rid of that line…
Could you please send me the file you worked on? You can use wetransfer, it supports heavy files.
Thank you so much in advance!!

#13

I don’t understand where are you having trouble.

Simpler instructions:

  1. Open your file.

  2. Subdivide your tool once, and delete lower subdiv.

  3. IMPORTANT: Make sure the Group button in Dynamesh is turned off and turn on the Project button.
    3a) Set dynamesh to around 1024 and Click dynamesh

  4. Use smooth brush or sculpt brushes on your seam.

That’s it.

You can then use decimation master and/or zRemesher to lower your polycount back down.

//youtu.be/GDMroMWq1HM

#14

Hello Thor,
Thank you sooooo much for your help.
I did try you method, following the video, but it still didn’t worked. When I tried to smooth the shoulder, the torso smoothed itself but went in the shoulder, as if they were still different parts.
I remembered a friend told me that I may had problem with the groups and I tried “merge similar groups” totally randomly.
I retried your manipulation and HALLELUJAH it finally works. Now I can finish it and get paid.
Once again thank you very much, I really appreciate that you answered me each time and even took the time to make a video.
Have a great day!