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Is it okay to move Ztool file from Zbrush 3.5 R3 to 3.1?

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi guys,
I’m a little confuse about working on different version of Zbrush. At home I got 3.5 R3, but at school they got only 3.1, is it okay to work on different version, I mean moving around the ztl file? is it gonna corrupt? how about from PC Zbrush 3.5 to Mac Zbrush 3.12? my instructor never give me a clear answer so I never give it a try.
Please help I’m tired working on my laptop, I want to use school 21" inch screen :smiley:

Thanks

#2

From what I heard you can open 3.1 ztl files in 3.5R3 but not the other way around. On your Mac you can`t open ztl files which were originally created on a PC, but you can export and import them as OBJs. Tjat works fine and that also works when you want to use a 3.5R3 ztl file in 3.1.

#3

I have a mac and use zbrush 3.2.
I can open .ztl files that were created on a pc with zbrush 3.1.
If I save a .ztl from zbrush 3.2 (mac) I can not open it with 3.1 (pc).

I think it works this way:
You can not go backwards. Meaning anything created on previous versions of zbrush can be opened in new versions of zbrush. But you can not go backwards - for example you can’t open a 3.5 .ztl on a 3.1, 3.2, etc. I don’t believe it has anything to do with mac/pc, it more has to do with current versions vs. previous versions.

#4

I think bLawless is correct. I had no issues opening ZB 3.1 (pc) files in 3.2 (osx)… but could not go the other way. I have not had the pleasure of playing with 3.5 as a mac user so cannot confirm if 3.2 (osx) files can be opened by 3.5 (pc). Ofcourse I am talking of ZTL files.

#5

Going from lower to higher almost always works when it comes to V3 ZTLs. The other way (higher numbered to lower numbered) almost never works because Pixologic is tweaking (e.g. adding new features) to the file format which previous versions don’t know what to do with.

The workaround for sending tools (without color or material information) is to just export highest level as a .obj and use “reconstruct subdiv” to get back you lower levels. This also works well if you hit a Mac/PC stumbling block (speaking from long experience. :wink: )

-K

#6

Thank you very much for your reply.
I know that by saving as obj, it doesn’t matter which zbrush you open the file it’s going to open, but it just a little more work, since I have to rebuild the subdivision.

and yes I tried moving backward from newer version of Zbrush, and the file can’t be open. well I guess I just have to move forward :smiley:

Thanks