ZBrushCentral

Help! reconstruct SubD's not working!

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

So I divided my mesh up to 2.192mil polys and then deleted lower levels thinking I’d need the extra memory for the painting process. Only after I had finished painting the entire model did I realize that in deleting the lower levels I’d also neutered myself of the ability to import my low-res mesh (with UV’s) again!

So I tried reconstructing Subdivision levels (which has always worked for me in the past), but the button doesn’t do anything! no error, no reconstructed mesh…

So my question now is two-fold: any idea how to make reconstruct subd’s work again? And if not, is there any way to transfer polypaint to another ztool? IE: I can re-import my low res mesh again, divide it up to the matching polycount and then ____?

somebody please tell me I don’t have to re-paint all of this again…

#2

hrm… i’m coming to the conclusion that this is a done deal… It seems that the reconstruct subdivs button relies on a mesh having UV’s (or at least UV’s being enabled even if none are created). Once that is done you can reconstruct subd’s. However, it turned my polypaint into something resembling vomit.

Although honestly, it’s a lost cause anyway. Reconstruct Subd’s will not have matching vertex numbers to the original mesh thus resulting in an exploding mesh when the new one is imported.

Oh well, back to the beginning. Sometimes the most valuable lessons are the hardest ones to take :frowning:

#3
  1. Append your original low res mesh to the high res polypainted mesh as a new subtool.
  2. Subdivide to the same level as high res.
  3. Press Tool>SubTool>Project All.
#4

Hrm, that didn’t seem to project the polypaint onto the subtool… In fact it seems like after hitting project all it takes away the polypaint from the main tool as well.

Any thoughts?

#5

Aha, it worked… you have to turn on Colorize on the subtool or the polypaint won’t transfer. It worked pretty damn good actually… there are a few white spots on the texture where it didn’t transfer exactly right but I can clean that up easily enough.

Thanks marcus :slight_smile:

PS: for future reference- is there a way to only project polypaint and not geometry modifications? I noticed that project all caused some weird spikes in the subtool, even though I hadn’t changed the geometry in the original at all (they are identical). Doesn’t really matter for this particular project, but the knowledge might come in handy one day

#6

If you store a Morph Target for the new mesh (at the highest level) before doing the Project All you can use the Morph brush to restore any problem areas.

The same method can be used if you want to tranfer just polypaint. Store a Morph Target, Project All and then press Tool>Morph Target>Switch. Your original mesh will be restored with the polypainting in place.

#7

nice, worked like a charm.

thanks again