ZBrushCentral

need help: multiple meshes and gryo

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Okay, so I’ve got two meshes that I have created separately, but I need to refine the edges of one so that it fits neatly into the other.

I do not want to merge the meshes, but I would like to be able to position one in such a way that would aid me in refining the other.

Now, I’ve searched a bit here and there, and all I can really come up with is a couple of forum posts about merging two meshes together into a single object by setting individual markers on each, and using the gyro to reposition them, and then finishing by using the multi-marker tool… or something along those lines, as I’m not yet familiar with all the zBrush terminology.

I have a few specific issues though, regarding this process:

1) Is this the right direction? ie. is this similar to how I should do what I want to do?

2) The Gyro. I’ve dealt with similar things in the past, but I can’t quite figure out how to translate across the z axis, or change the depth. I can do what is detailed above, but I get stuck trying to move one object in front of the other, and vice versa.

3) I still, after a few hours of googling around, have not found any decent explanations of working with multiple meshes in the canvas.

4) Is there any way to change the viewpoint? Like, if I create an object, then create another one, is there any way to rotate the scene, as opposed to just whatever object I currently have in edit mode?

5) Why, oh why can’t I return to an object I edited before without deleting my entire canvas and replacing it via Tools?

6) Another Gyro question: when I click and drag my mouse in empty space with the Gyro activated, why does my object dissappear?

7) Yet another Gyro question: when I’m using the rotate Gyro I have a lot of difficulty using anything other than the blue ring. I click the red and green (x and y I presume) and yet, they do nothing. However, if I free rotate a bit, and get a different perspective, I can somehow magically click them, and rotate them by x and y axis. Why?

More info:

I use this primarily to create low-poly “sculpted primitives” in Second Life, and have experimented with multiple programs (Wings3D, Blender, Sculpty Paint) and this seems to be the best for producing fast results. I typically need it for creating an array of small objects that must be assembled in-game to create apparel, shoes, jewelry, gadgets, guns, architectural structures, etc.

Thanks for any and all help!

#2

It might be just me, but it’s hard to understand exactly what your after. If you just want to move subtools around, you select your subtool then use either the Action Lineor you can use Offset in the Deformation submenu clicking the XY or Z option beside the Offset slider for direction.

#3

I don’t exactly know how to be any clearer than I was in the OP, but I suppose I’ll try.

I have two objects (3D meshes). Object A, and Object B. Both Object A and Object B will be exported separately, and loaded into a different program, to be assembled into a single object there. I have Object A completed. Object B needs to be finished, but it must fit perfectly into Object A. Whats the most efficient way to accomplish this?

Specifically, my question(s) all revolve around how I should go about doing this, and why zBrush behaves the way it does. (Which is most likely the result of user error, me being a newbie and all, but I’d love to know regardless.)

#4

Originally posted by dirtydarin,

I don’t exactly know how to be any clearer than I was in the OP

I know right? It probably sounded good in your mind. Bookmark this post then come back in about a year and read it again. :lol: Just kidding.

I don’t know where you got all that Gyro stuff, but put that out of your mind because I think you are way off with that. You need to have Object A and B in your Subtool menu. First, in your Tool menu, import Object A then import Object B. Draw Object A on the canvas then go to Subtool menu and Append Object B. Now both Object A and Object B are in the Subtool menu. Now you can click on either one to select it and then use one of the methods I mentioned above to move them into place so you can work on making them fit together.

The reason that your method that you described in your first post isn’t working the way you expect is that it is meant more for 2.5D illustration and not 3D. 2.5D is just another aspect of ZBrush. If you use that method and draw Object A on the canvas and move it around then go and draw Object B on the canvas then Object A has been dropped down to 2.5D and can no longer be manipulated and the view can no longer be rotated because you are now working in 2.5D.

#5

Firstly, about the whole “come back in a year” thing:

You’re absolutely right! I most likely will come back in a year and be like “wow, I was such a newb lol”, because A) I know very little about this program, and B) I probably don’t know nearly as much as you about modeling in general, as I’m purely a learning hobbyist at this point. So no worries at all about that. I just hope I didn’t sound -too- pretentious haha. I can certainly come off that way.

And yeah, I got all the marking/multi-marker tool/gyro repositioning stuff from googling to the best of my ability. Internets. Sometimes good. Usually bad. But, I suppose that’s not really relevant to what I’m trying to do, according to you. One question down!

Okay, so apparantly, I should look at zBrush as like two different programs serving two different (albeit, closely related) purposes.

2.5D: A two dimensional paint program, featuring two dimensional painting across 3 dimensions (2D painting + depth). It’s -not- a modeling tool.

3D: A standard modeler, with a rather unique approach.

Funny, how I’ve read this several times, heard it mentioned in a few tut vids, yet still, haven’t come to grips with it until now. I guess all of that info spoon-fed to me by dozens of zBrush experts and Pixologic employees and contributers actually is true? LOL. my oh my, I surprise myself sometimes.

I think what got me with your original post, was my assumption that “subtool” was related to subdividing.

Thank you though, for clarifying everything. I think I’m in a much better place now. I knew what I wanted to do was probably so easy to do that I was overlooking something major, and now I know what it was and am on the right page.

#6

Your welcome dirtydarin! And yes, ZBrush is a very unique and amazing program.

If you havn’t yet seen them, I would highly recommend watching the video tutorials in ZClassroom. If you click “Play Introduction to ZBrush” then watch the “Move Rotate Scale” video, it will explain what I was talking about regarding 2.5D vs. 3D.