ZBrushCentral

HELP! ZBrush Import/Export

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Damn, I’ve gotta finish the next project til friday the 3rd and I’m in REAL trouble right now. So, help would be REALLY appreciated!

So,

I have two characters, both are exactly the same geometry, same point order. To be exact, the first one is actually a character that is just standing straight, the second one is a blendShape (morph target) of the first one, exactly the same geometry, but a different pose.

What I want to do:

Import the standing model into ZBrush, detailing it and after I finished detailing, I want to go to SubD lvl1 again (or 0, the base SubD lvl I imported the mesh with) and import the blendShape at that lvl, so that I have the detailed model, but posed, thanks to the blendShape Import.

I’m pretty tired already, maybe I missed something, but I’ve seen Zack Petrocs DVD and I’m pretty sure that this should be possible - So, what am I doing wrong?

I just tested the following stuff:

I imported the straight model, subdivided it once and used the transform brushes to brush some details onto it. Then, I went back to the base SubD Lvl and tried to import the second (blendShape) model, which is absoltuely the same geometry with the exact same point order, but ZBrush told me that in order to import a mesh, it has to have the same number of verts, etc.

IT FREAKING DOES!

What the heck am I doing wrong? I feel like I missed something important, but I’m in such a stress finishing up my portfolio, I can’t even think right anymore - I’m so freaking tired and haven’t slept more than 4 hours every day since quite some time now, I wouldn’t even notice at all what I did wrong. So please, help me!

I need this one model in 3 different poses - I already have blendShapes poses, how am I using them correctly, so that Zbrush can read them? They have the same point order, I didn’t edit the geometry whatsoever… :frowning:

#2

Zbrush will import a model into another model if they both have the same amount of points. You obviously also need the same point order. You know this.

Zbrush does not alter the number or order of points, at least that has never happened to me. So I am guessing an export setting in your 2nd app or some steps you are taking before exporting is resulting in more or less points being exported. Which app are you using to model?

There is another solution to creating multiple poses with the same details.

By creating a displacement map of the detailed model you can apply that to the various poses. To succesfully apply the displacement map to other models they must have the same UV layout as the detailed model.

Maybe you have tried that already?

#3

Hey TVeyes!

First of all, thanks for the fast reply!

Well, I actually just watched the Zack Petroc DVD again and at the moment, I don’t see what I’m doing wrong. I adjusted Maya, so it doesn’t alter the point order when I’m exporting or importing and since ZBrush also doesn’t alter it, I don’t see why this happens.

Also, one interesting thing: If I don’t subdivide the Mesh, use some transform brushes and then import the second model (the posed one), I’ll see the posed model, but all my transformations are gone. But ZBrush doesn’t tell me that the geometry has to have the same number of verts, the same point order, etc. - really strange.

It only does that if I’ve subdivided the mesh once - After I go back to the lowest SubD Lvl and try to import the second mesh, it’ll give me this annoying message.

So it’s really weird, I just don’t see what I’m doing wrong. Is this workflow even possible?

To model a mesh in Maya, rig it up, pose it, apply these poses as blendShapes (just to check if the point order hasn’t changed and everythings working as it should), export the baseMesh into Z, detail the mesh and import the other poses, so that the brushed details also apply to these poses?

It just won’t work and if it really doesn’t work, I’m seriously f***ed! Honestly… :frowning:

HELP, HELP, HELP!!

#4

allright, i have done that a lot of times and it always works ( i have some problems with max, but with maya always) so, what i do is i have my character, i had division and details and all the cool bumpy etc etc things, and after i go down to the first level of division, i export it to maya, and there with bones i repose him, then i export it back to obj ( be sure to export just the selected mesh,sometimes there is hidden geometry and when u export it does export even the hidden geometry) so, select the character, export it to obj ( be sure to not to do it in groups neither) and then go to zbrush, and being in the first level od division, just tool- import, and select the obj, that should do it…I hope it will help u!

Alex Metamesh

#5

Thomas -

“Also, one interesting thing: If I don’t subdivide the Mesh, use some transform brushes and then import the second model (the posed one), I’ll see the posed model, but all my transformations are gone. But ZBrush doesn’t tell me that the geometry has to have the same number of verts, the same point order, etc. - really strange.”

If you do not have any levels of resolution in your model and you import another model into it, Zbrush will simply replace the model, regardless of vert order. It is not importing it into anything but simply replacing it. This has uses but not for what you are trying to do obviously.

All I can say is that at some point the vert order must have been switched. There are many places that this could happen at. Can you upload the models? Send me an email with the address and I will take a look in Maya and ZB. I have sent the email in a PM.

Best,

Ryan

#6

Have you tested your model for single points or 2 point polygons? That would explain why you can import into a non subdivided model but not the subdivided one.

Individual points and 2 point polygons are removed when you subdivide. That means subdivision level 1 will have a lower point count after a subdivision.