ZBrushCentral

Insert cylinder with "curve mode" struggle.

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I have seen on this movie ( http://pixologic.com/zclassroom/homeroom/lesson/panel-loops/ ) easy way to insert stuff using the curve mode when you make a border of something etc. (Its the 3rd movie on that page).

So i have noticed that ZBrush have easy ways to do multiple stuff without need to do each of the element one by one. So today i was trying to insert cylinders using the curve mode but not on border but on my own drawn curve. And here is the problem: It dont want to snap to my shape.

Im trying to attach a little cylindrical connections between the helmet and the metalic base for the decoration above, and i want them identical, so i figured i will use that curve mode to insert them insetad of inserting them one by one and then scaling each of them.
Here is the struggle on movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWNats_rIBA

I was playing a lot with settings but i coudlnt get the effect i need. English isnt my native language so maybe im not getting the right message from the “ctrl” tips but i havent seen much of a difference with plenty of options whatsoever.
Usually they just hang in the air even tho i have “snap” enabled.

Around 1:15 of that struggle on the movie you can see i have decided to manually adjust the curve in place and it was quite succesfull, however here comes my another question: Is there a way to increase the lenght of once drawn curve? Cause when i pull it, it just moves with its whole line…

Also when i try to make curve with small curve step and then increase the step absolutely wierd things happens (instead of having less of the inserted elements they multiply and are placed narrowed, and when i then move it a bit for a sake of seeing what will happen they explode all over the document :slight_smile:

So in short:
What is the good and quick method of inserting multiple indentical elements? Im ultra excited about finishing this helmet. It feels like a great achievement in my learning of 3d stuff :slight_smile: I have learned a lot watching these zbrush lessons but now i desperately need to find answer for that burning question so i can close that locker in my brain before i can absorb any new knowledge from them.

Thanks in advance for any help.

edit:
how to you get rid of the curve after you succesfully insert stuff with it? Cause while they are still attached to that visible curve i seem to be unable to fill them with material.

#2

To delete the curve you just go to Stroke pallet, Curve Functions and Delete Curve.<br><br>About your struggle you should try to frame a portion of you mesh and after that apply the curve, just like the video you mentioned did, this whay youll have the exact controll of where youll be placing those cylinders.

And to alter the length of the curve line you just put your cursor at the end of the curve untill you see a small red line, once you see it you can just click and drag to make the curve longer. To make the cylinders bigger just adjust the size of your brush and click the curve again.