ZBrushCentral

Need some help...PLEASE.

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I’m a newer 3d modeler, and I’ve only been using Zbrush for two weeks, so forgive my ignorance. I’ve saved up a few questions so I can fire them off together. These have been giving me the worst trouble-

1.- When saving a model I’m sculpting on, I was told to CTRL-S to save it. So I’ve been doing that. However, AFTER I do that, when I go to close the file, it says “changes have been made, would you like to save?” or something to that effect. Do I need to click yes to save it again, or am I over-righting the original CTRL-S save?

2.- After saving a model I’ve been sculpting on (.ZPR) upon opening it later, the model is there, but when I move it, there is a copy of the model “under” it. This copy is non-movable, non-sculptable, and I have no idea how to delete it. I only have one layer, and one subtool, so I have no idea what’s going on. The original model is there, and can be moved and sculpted on. The copy is in the original space I saved the project.

  1. And this one drives me the most insane- When trying to move, scale or rotate a model, it 9 times out of 10 deforms the mesh. I click on the move tool, and then drag the manipulator out so I can “move” the model. I then click on the center white circle and start dragging it. If it’s a sphere, it will completely rip/stretch it in whatever direction I’m pulling. So it’s like it’s stuck to the axis, and I’m just stretching the mesh instead of moving the entire object in 3D space. What gives?

As I’ve stated, I’m extremely new to Zbrush, so please bare with my crude or incorrect terminology or explanations. If you need a more in-depth explanation, or further questions, please let me know and I’ll try my best to explain.

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY AND ALL HELP! I’M TRYING MY BEST TO LEARN THIS PROGRAM, and have been blown away by it’s pure awesomeness. I’ve watch tons of basic tutorials and several sculpting demos, and I still can’t seem to find the answer. I even subscribed to lynda.com to try and learn. Still can’t solve these problems.

#2
  1. You’re just saving over…no clue why it still says this.
  2. You’re hitting shift+S when saving as well most likely. Ctrl+N will clear out your canvas and you can keep sculpting, or draw your model back on your canvas.
  3. My guess is 1 of 2 things. You either have a mask on, or you still have symmetry turn on. Try clearing your mask and turning off symmetry and see if that fixes your issue.
#3
    • YES! I had symmetry on! Thank you so much!
#4

Last question for now. Is there anyway to turn the Alpha OFF by default for my brushes? The square alpha is always on, and I hate it. So I’m forced to turn the Alpha off everytime I switch brushes.

#5

Note 2nd paragraph on this page(it’s a 1 liner)>> http://docs.pixologic.com/reference-guide/brush/

#6

Got a new problem I can’t seem to figure out. I sculpted a head, and then decided I was going to make his body out of zspheres. Everything went fine until I clicked “make polymesh” for the spheres, and boom…my head was gone. I eventually found it over on the right, and appended it as a subtool. So I had my head and body there, but then i was unable to divide my body. I eventually just gave up as it was obvious I was making another rookie mistake somewhere. Is there a format I need to follow when adding zspheres to an existing object I’ve already been editing? Thanks in advance.

#7

http://docs.pixologic.com/user-guide/3d-modeling/modeling-basics/creating-meshes/zspheres/

#8

Yes, thank you for the link. However, I already scanned all those tutorials before posting my question. I just did it step by step, and everything looks fine. I then press “a” to switch the zspheres to a mesh, and it looks like I can sculpt on it, but I am unable to subdivide, and if I click “make polymesh” while the zsphere subtool is selected, every other object disappears. Please if someone can give me a more in-depth explanation of what I may be doing wrong, as all the pixologic docs don’t seem to answer my question. thanks in advance.

#9

Pressing a gets you a preview. Make adaptive skin is what you want. Then select it from tools.

#10

Can ANYBODY please tell me what I’m doing wrong. The replies I’ve received already only pointed to avenues I’ve already explored. My frustration level is increasing by the hour. I’ve been dealing with this for 2 days, and cannot figure out what’s wrong. Please, please if you know what’s wrong, give a brief but thorough explanation on what to do. Thanks. I’ve literally read/watched 20 videos, and read through everything about zspheres on pixologic’s website. Here’s what I’ve done, and here’s whats happening-

1.- I created a model of a head.

  1. I wanted to add a body to the head, so I opened the subtool palette, and clicked “append” and selected zsphere. I created the body with transparency on, and then clicked “a” to get a preview of my mesh.

  2. Happy with my body and it’s position, I clicked “make polymesh 3D” and boom…the head object completely disappears. It is no longer in the subtool palette. The body I just made is the only thing there.

  3. Now all I had was the body, which i am unable to subdivide the mesh I just created with spheres.

  4. I know zspheres can be added to an existing model, I’m just getting lost somewhere along the way, and just linking me to a pixologic doc is fine, but not going to help. Please understand I’ve done plenty of searching and reading before posting my question. I understand people are busy, but I’d really, really appreciated ANY help. Thanks in advance.

#11

When you click “Make polymesh3d” it creates an entirely new PM3d tool, and selects it so you are working with the new tool. Your old head object didn’t disappear. You’re simply working with a new tool. Your old one is still in the tool list, with the live Zphere object subtool. Just find it and reselect it.

Instead, when working with Zsphere’s, when you’re happy with the preview press “Make Adaptive Skin” in the Tool>Adaptive Skin menu. This will create a new skin object in the tool list, but leave you selected on your current tool. Locate that new skin mesh in the tool list, and append it as a subtool to your current one. Discard the zsphere rig from your main tool if finished, or clone it out first to save it for future use, then delete it from your current tool.

The new skin mesh can then be combined with the head object via dynamesh or one of ZBs other remeshing options, into a single mesh.

Future tip: Be advised that threads in the troubleshooting forum don’t bump to the top of the page when posted in, so if you have a new issue, it’s better to post a new thread than in one a few days old. Posts in older threads are likely to be missed.

#12

Thanks you so much for taking the time to explain this to me. It’s much appreciated. I think some of my confusion was coming from the head object not in the tool list after making the z spheres a polymesh. There was older versions of the head, but not the latest. But perhaps it’s still in there? I’ll be trying what you suggested when I get home shortly. I’ll update you when I do. Seriously though, thanks again. I’ve worked strictly in mudbox in the past, and just got zbrush. I’m loving it. Some of its features are amazing. However, it is much, much harder to navigate and figure out what’s going on.