ZBrushCentral

Maya and Zbrush Spotlight Painting

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I know you need to create a uv map to place a 2d texture on a 3D model, however I know this can be tedious so I have been exploring other ways to texture. I found that ZBrush 4 allows you to paint on the model with spotlight, its easy and very quick, so I imported a model into Zbrush from Maya in OBJ format, painted on it with spotlight then… I got stuck.

How do you export the model back to Maya with all the textures painted on ?

Also I have hear about Ptex , is this the same thing as Zbrush spotlight painting?

#2

Once you have done your polypainting, you will have to convert it to a texture. To do that, first go to “Tool > UV Map” and select your UV Map size. This will also be the size of the texture map. Then go to “Tool > Texture Map > Create” and click “New From Polypaint”. Next, in “Tool > Texture Map” click “Clone”. This will place your texture in the Texture palette where you can export it. ZBrush creates upsidedown texture maps, so you will have to flip it vertically (Flip V) before you export it. This will also be the same for Displacement and Normal maps.

Things to keep in mind…

  1. Polypaint resolution is dependant on mesh resolution as you will be painting points. So, the higher your subdivision level, the higher the painting resolution.

  2. You can also paint directly to texture using Projection Master or ZAppLink.

#3

Many Thanks for the reply, Ill try the suggestions.

#4

I tried the above but when i got to Create" and click “New From Polypaint” this was greyed out?

can you help?

#5

The mesh has to have a UV Map before you can create a texture. That is why everything is greyed out in the “Texture Map” subpalette. You said you already knew that you need to create a UV Map so I didn’t mention it. Making a UV Map in ZBrush is extremely easy. If you don’t have to edit the texture after it’s made, you can use one of ZBrush’s one click auto methods in “Tool > UV Map > Create” such as “PUVTiles” (best tiled solution), or a better (recommended) method is to use the UV Master plugin. UV Master takes all the tedious work out of making a UV Map and the textures can be editable.

ps: Ptex is not the same as ZBrush Spotlight painting.