ZBrushCentral

modeling mesh with holes....

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hello the pros,

I am modeling a face following Antropus’s tutorial - Picasso. I am stuck at the eye lid and lips… needless to say I am a newbie…

I saw in Kris’s video that he did made the holes - why?

I have now difficulties modeling because of the holes in the mesh! It gets all ugly on the edge when I use the standard brush… strange but his edge seems to stay super sharp…;o) what am I doing wrong?

many thanks for your help!

Helios eyelid.jpg

#2

“Masking” would be your solution.

Check out the “Detailing the eyelid” part from following tutorial on zbrush wiki.

http://www.zbrush.info/docs/index.php/Tutorial:_Birth_2


Rybeck

#3

Hello Rybeck,

thanks for the suggestion! I forgot to mention - I am using zb 2.0 - so my set of tools are limited…

Can you be more specific? I used masking to achieve the mesh I show you - works fine when the mesh is closed… but my problem it is OPEN!!! ;o) so it goes crazy on the edges…

Ok let’s put it simple : how do I make the eye lid regular THICKNESS edges ? :roll_eyes:

thanks!!! it may seems obvious but I am stocked!

Helios Birth_eyelid.jpg

#4

Did you know that you can mask an edge loop? This is done by masking while TransPose is active.

#5

Hello Aurick,

I am using ZB2,0 - no transpose available!

I am sure there is a trick! very simple with mask of course… but what? :rolleyes:

thanks for you help!

Helios

#6

Just to show simple steps I may go with.

(1) Hide out rest of mesh

(2) Mask the area (for local subdivision purpose; very end of the edge to the open eye socket was masked as well… it’s kind of hard to see from this image)

(3) ‘Divide’ (the unmasked will be only be affected)

This’d save # of unnecessary polys.
You may also save the mask as alpha map for another editing in future.

In ZB 2, you will find lot less brushes then ZB 3.1, but you still have various brushes work with (Standard, Inflat, Standard Dot, Inflat Dot, Layer, Nudge, Pinch, and smooth)
Also transform tool (moove, scale, rotate) can be useful from time to time, so don’t hesitate to use it.

Nevertheless, unless you have access to only ZB 2, I’d either go with closed eye socket or bring the mesh into 3d apps then model the eye socket grooves in there.

*Note: Base mesh was originally created by Mashru Mishu.

#7

Hello Rybeck,

thank you for the “real” tutorial style answer!!! I appreciate!

I will move my mesh at low sub div to start - the only problem it is bad! Mashru’s mest is so nice compare to mine! (my real first!)

reto seem like a dream to me! ( rush the mac zb 3 please!)

for the moment will just do the best with what I have!

about the the alpha mask - I know how to save it - but I dont know how to recall it!!! ( told you - real newbie dum question! :slight_smile: )

thank you

Helios badmeshcantchange.jpg

#8

Helios,

No there is no dumb question, and it’s just people scare to ask sometime. I do too all the time… :slight_smile:

Here is a screen shot shows neat trick for Popup help first.

If you hold ‘ctrl’ key and hoover around any area you haven’t explore yet, ZB will give brief explnation.

For the recalling, it’s quite simple actually.
Save the mask you’d like to keep. Under alpha tap, make sure the one you’d like to use is selected, and then click the ‘Alp’ button under Masking saection under Tool Palette.

happy zbrushing~

Rybeck

#9

Hello Rybeck!

I just tried the mask save and recall fonction… I dont get it back exactly the way it was!!!

thanks for your patience!

Helios zulu.jpg

#10

I was wrong about recalling steps that I told you…

Quick search through ZBC, here I found the solution on this post.

http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=51302&highlight=create+alpha

It maybe little complicate at first sight but give a try for yourself first.
Let me know if it doesn’t make sense I’ll go step-by step on that…
Anywho I learned new trick because of you, Helios2~ :slight_smile:

Rybeck

#11

Hello Rybeck,

I am glad you are learning something too! I tryied but got some worst result! There is still many basic concept I have to learn… so I got confused…I don’t know where!

anyway I have to finish my model without this - of course very important feature! - saving your mask …

Going to my hometown Montreal tomorrow! but before must do some eyes socket and lips to this guy!

Helios

#12

Helios2,

Here is the steps…

  1. Import the obj (or Load ztl if you save it as Zbrush tool (=ztl))
  2. Apply GUV tiles or AUV tiles which is quick UV method (Tool > Texture…) (Seems that the mesh should be UVed before do this procedure)
  3. Divide (it is optional if your imported obj or loaded ztl already got high # of polys)
  4. Mask
  5. Create Alpha (Tool > Masking…)
  6. Export Alpha
    Then let’s say time past, and you want to bring the saved alpha back…
  7. Same step as #1 (or just skip this if you are keep following whole step at once)
  8. Import Alpha
  9. Make Text from Alpha (Alpha > Make Tx)
  10. Fix Seam from Texture (Tool > Texture > Fix Seam)
  11. Make Alpha from Texture (Tool > Make Alpha)
  12. Texture off (The texture was just used for making Alpha)
  13. Apply “Alp”

Hope this may lead you better result…
Try it, and let me know how it goes.

Rybeck

#13

I’m not biggy on mac, but I guess mac can run PC apps by using ‘bootcamp’ or ‘parallel’ or something… If you can buy either one of them, then you can use latest version. Your license is transferable.

http://www.pixologic.com/zbrush/upgrade/

Rybeck