Does anyone or the pixologic team can tell me if I am able to run Zbrush2 or zbrush 155 on an Intel Mac under OSX?
The only option I can think of is within rosetta but probably not very fast.
no winxp option please.
ciao voolger
1.55b can run on the Intel-based Macs. The Rosetta emulator unfortunately wreaks merry hell with ZBrush’s memory management features, and Z2 can’t run at all.
We are taking this into account with our development of 2.5, which will have a Universal Binary option so that it can run natively on the Intel-based Macs. 2.5 will be a free upgrade, but I don’t have any release estimates that I can share at this time.
i am not overly stressed about the fact that 2.5 takes a time to be prepared.
thanks for the information aurick.
ciao voolger
Hi there
I tried to move the ZPlugs from the ZData folder a couple of days ago, and now ZBrush works just fine - it dosen’t hang on startup. Just dont leave/hide ZBrush - it becomes “slow” after that, but still able to save the file. I will try to replace one plugin at a time to find the one or more plugins conflicting.
Making ANY modifications to the ZData folder is NOT a good idea and is expressly not recommended by Pixologic. There are interdendencies between the various items in there, and making any change to any one of them can and probably will cause unexpected or undesirable behavior in ZBrush.
Has anyone tried this tip from macosxhints?
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20060609174903641
I am running ZBrush on a Mac G5 (OS X 10.4.5) with 2 gigs of ram. The only way I can get Zbrush to function at all is to hit the hide the program after I get the “out of memory” alert screen. Many of the add-on scripts and plug-ins don’t work. How sad… Wish there was a fix for this, because I really like ZBrush.
To the staff - Please pardon the double post. I thought it would be more likely to get a response in this thread. - Thanks! 
I have the same problem using ZBrush2 (not the demo)… ZBrush freezes when I start up, about 9 out of 10 times. Eventually it does start up correctly and works fine afterwards, but getting it to launch seems to be an issue.
I thought that it had something to do with either the VMem files, which are created upon launch, or my customized UISettings… After deleting the formention, ZBrush continues to freeze upon launch.
I’m using an Intel based IMac G5 with the following configuration.
Operating System - OSX v.10.4.7
Hardware Overview:
Machine Name: iMac
Machine Model: iMac4,1
CPU Type: Intel Core Duo
Number Of Cores: 2
CPU Speed: 2 GHz
L2 Cache (shared): 2 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: IM41.0039.B00
SMC Version: 1.1f5
Graphics Card Info
ATI Radeon X1600:
Chipset Model: ATY,RadeonX1600
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
VRAM (Total): 128 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x71c5
Revision ID: 0x0000
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.063
Displays:
iMac:
Display Type: LCD
Resolution: 1680 x 1050
Depth: 32-bit Color
Built-In: Yes
Core Image: Supported
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Any help would be greatly appreciated… Thank you!!!
Dan - Trecman
There is no help to be had at this point. Intel-based Macs need to launch ZBrush through the Rosetta emulator. Emulators are notorious memory hogs, and Rosetta conflicts with the incredible amount of memory optimization that went into ZBrush 2.
If you manage to get Z2 to run at all under Rosetta, you’re one of the lucky ones. I have yet to hear of anyone who has gotten flawless performance with it, however. Most people can’t get it to start up at all, and of those who do it usually crashes before very long.
Until we can release 2.5 with the Universal Binary, there’s just nothing that can be done.
Aurick… Thank you for your time.
I did what was suggested on this page —> http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20060609174903641
And it worked for me. This is what I did…
I launched ZB… It froze. So, I opened the Activity Monitor (In Applications) and “quit” Rosetta… Not Force Quit… Simply Quit. Then I did the same for ZBrush… Rosetta started right back up (automatically) and then I restarted ZBrush, and it launched fine. I’m very happy (again)!!! LOL…
Peace, my friend!
Dan - Trecman ~ www.artofdansanchez.com
Thank you for this info. Hopefully other users will report success with this technique as well, and we can start recommending it!
Hi Aurick… I have experienced a few freezes on startup since deactivating Rosetta, but it’s not nearly as bad as it use to be. The application does launch . Sometimes on the first try, sometimes on the second or third.
The newest problem I’ve encountered is when trying to render using the Best setting… The application does crash othen when attempting to render a final image using Best Render… I think it may have something to do with my settings, but over all I’m very happy to be able to sculpt and paint.
The custom UIConfig file does not seem to be an issue, as I previously thought.
I’m having the same problem with Lightwave 8 and all of it’s modules. I have not been able to resolve these issues however. Lightwave crashes every time I attempt to import any object file.
I really wish I had my old IMac G5… The Intel based machine (Dual Core) is much faster, but very few graphic programs seem to work properly. I can’t help but to blame Apple computers. I really feel like they’ve done Mac users a great injustice with their switch to the Intel chip.
Anyways… I’m ranting. I do hope this info helps some of the other Mac users who have encountered these problems with their Intel Macs.
All my best…
And when might that be?
OK, here’s the rub; developers have had almost 2 years now to release an intel version. It’s not apple’s fault at all. If anything, they’ve been doing all they can to get developers on board. The development tools are free and it’s not like developers need to do a lot to update their programs. In some cases it’s even just a simple re-compile. Not to mention Rosetta in the first place is an amazing piece of software. About the only thing I could see them doing better is just to give machines to developers. But seriously, a Mac mini is like what?.. 600 USD?
My feeling it that the thing that has really hurt the Intel progress has been Adobe and Microsoft not coming out with UB. Both have made conscious decisions to not support the upgrade until they have a new version. Now some have pointed out that this is just so they can make some money by charging for the upgrade and I happen to agree. Anyway, my feeling is that this has effected development community at large and has helped a lot of developers decide to hold off.
I use C4D on my MacBook and it’s simply great. Not to mention that not only did they release a UB before anyone else, they had switched to Xcode before there was even any hardware to test it on just to be prepared. I just don’t think developers are taking this seriously.
[Ok, now my rant is done]
I agree with you, galenb. I’m a C4D user, too. But I do think that Pixologic is doing a horrible job not providing any updates. They don’t even take some of their time to squash rumors? Cinema 4D did an awsome job with the universal binary ugrade, Silo has anounced their universal update and it almost seems like ZBrush if falling behind. An update once a month would be nice/ Not to mentinion that it would be extremely helpful, I think. Even if it’s not going to be released 6 months from now.
Could those of you wishing to help sort hsi out join me over here…
I have a dual quad 6 gig mac pro. It seems my only hope to use zbrush until the universal binary (zbrush3 mac version) comes out is to use boot camp. This could make me insane. I was made to think I could use zbrush2 in the interm. “just try to load it 4-6 times and it might work”. Are you kidding me?Well I tried 10, and it didn’t. I want to love you zbrush, but don’t give mac users the shaft, it is historically a mistake. Autodesk is buying mud box and they will quickly have a full mac version. Personally, I would rather use zbrush, so get moving!!!
As you toil away for endless hours, oh great creators of the Z, remember, remember. Remember the apple that you yourselves have taken a bite of , not so long ago. I beg you, let the Z run down my aluminun housing like a glistering drop of sweat down the back of a beautiful woman. Pull away!,Pull away thy great lips from the Gates member, and savor the sweet taste of apple pie.
BUSHDA, what are you going on about?
Follow the link in my signature, make sure your OS X is curretn and fully up-to-date. Zbrush 2 runs fine, many of us still play with it. This is not Pixologics fault per say, but an issue with Rosetta that Apple has improved considerably.
If you are still having issues on getting ZB2 running, then post them in the thread in my signature and we’ll see about helping you. Most likely you have something else fighting with Zbrush2.
I would highly reccomend anyone considering running zbrush2 on an intell mac, not to consider it. At this point I have many days invested in tutoreals and just trying to get it to work. I still have not zbrushed anything. I bought paralles for $80.00. I will need to get a copy of windows, then run PC zbrush3 on my mac. Yuk. Save yourself some blood,sweat, and tears, go to step two. At home Jayson could probibly get zbrush2 to run on a toaster, so far its not working for me. Thank You Jayson for all your help so far, you are an ocean, I am but an island.