ZBrushCentral

Layer Problems

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I am having quite a lot of problems in regards to layers all of a sudden.

If I come out of record and then go back into record the paint on my layer seems to double in intensity. Its almost as if the layer is being duplciated without adding a new layer, what i mean is that if I then try and paint on the same layer it erases the “intensity” to reveal the original paint below.

Edit: Another layer problem i am finding which is linked with the intensity thing is that when this happens I dont seem to be able to paint or erase in the same way as previous to the problem. Paint and erase seem to swap round, with paint being alt and click, erase being just click. Also when the intensity thing happens erase doesnt update in the viewport during record, it is only after you unselect record that erase shows.

The only way im finding to fix this is to Bake all (which i dont like doing because it defeats the poitn of editablility). Even then though my layers dont seem to act properly, in order to get my paint tools working correctly I have to switch to zadd or zsub only, sculpt, undo, reselect rgb only, and then paint in the normal manner… .

I am new to Zbrush and am at a complete loss as to whats going on. Any help much appreciated.

#2

I seem to have reached some sort of conclusion as to what is going on.

I think the problem stems from my lack of understanding of how layers work in Zbrush. When painting on a layer that is below another painted layer, Zbrush seems to visually bring this layer to the front of the stack, even though the stack itself doesnt change. When the record button is unchecked the layer is displayed taking into account the stack order, which means that in a lot of cases it will appear that the intesnity of your colour is being reduced as there will be paint on layers above the one being worked on.

When the record button is pressed again, Zbrush again seems to show the layer as it would be displayed if at the top of the stack, so giving the impression that the intensity of your layer has increased.

If someone can decipher what I have said, can this behaviour be confirmed for anyone othe rnoobs having this problem?

#3

I agree , this way of layer stacking and applying intensities is totally messed up.

Sometimes I disable a layer enable it it and disable it back, then I see the “residues” of that layer even though the layer is disabled and this behaviour accumulates quickly if one has multiple layers/