ZBrushCentral

localized displacement?

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi all,

What is the workflow for getting only the details I sculpt into my displacement map? If i bring in a head mesh, subdivide 3 times, and sculpt some localized feature, then I bring it back down to level 1 and import the original geo, zbrush creates a displacement map with a localized area of displacement (this is my desired result). But, if i’m going back and for between different subdivisions and refining at these different subdivision, zbrush seems to create a displacement map that incorporates the smoothing of the mesh (the result I do not want). Is there a proper workflow to not include this smoothing in the displacement map?

Many Thanks

#2

After some more testing, here is what I found.

Try this for yourselves and you can quickly see the problem.

  1. Import a mesh, subdivide a couple times, take back down to level 1, re-import original mesh and extract displacement. You will find the map to have no information (desired result).

  2. Now with the same tool from above, bring back up to highest subdivision level and back down, then re-import original mesh and extract displacement. The map now has the subdivision smoothing baked in.

Can someone please explain to me what is going on and how to get result 1) with my tools?

Thanks

#3

If you don’t want the smoothing baked into your maps, don’t ever bring your tool back down to level 1 before saving. I feel this should be corrected to either have smoothing baked in or not (maybe some button for this).

Hope this helps someone else having this problem.