ZBrushCentral

Noob question: duplicating large pieces of geometry

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

So im thinking of trying to do something similar to Kakasse4’s queen modelfrom Starcraft2. It looks like he duplicated the legs around or had some kind of symmetry going on, or all the legs would look different etc etc.

My question is, if your doing something like a spider, or bug like, what is the best way to tackle all of those spindly legs? Is there some kind of symmetry settings that work well? Or, is there a ways to duplicate them around so that you only have to really model one leg and all the other legs “update”? I was originally gonna just turn on symmetry and go for it, but there has to be a better way.

ty in advance!

#2

I would just do one leg, then clone and append it as sub tools by the number of legs you want, then rotate each one by the number degrees on the pertinent axes using the rotation controls under Tools > Deformation > Rotate.

You can also do multiple legs at the same time too by creating ZSpheres with radial symmetry turned on, then making a unified skin and sculpting from there.

#3

Oh cool, i didn’t know about either of those tricks. How do i clone something? i assume i mask it off then “clone” but i can’t seem to find it. Can i make it an instance when i clone it?

Also, thankyou very much for the quick response, it’s very much appreciated! :smiley:

#4

For Zbrush version 3.5R3 It’s a button right up there at the top of the Tool palette that says Clone. It’s right under the Import button. There is a Clone all SubTools button too right under it and you use that one when you want to clone all the sub tools you have.

So after you hit the clone button then you’ll want to append it. To do that go to Tools > SubTool > Append. Then, from the quick pick menue find your clone that you cloned and select it.

Doing this will put your clone exactly in the same position and orientation as your original so you wont be able to see it in the viewport until you move it or something. You will be able to see your clone that you’ve appended in the Sub tool list though. And you can select it there in the sub tool list by clicking on it. Once selected, you can rotate by the number of degrees you want by using the Tools > Deformation > Rotate.

If you’re already using the new version 4 of Zbrush then the procedure is slightly different. If so let me know and I’ll tell you how.

#5

Awesome, thanks very much again for the help. Tis mucho appreciated.

I got the leg duplicated successfully! So now i think i can just work on one leg, then when im done, just dupe them around to all 8 sockets on the spider’s carapace.

Just a few more questions when you have time (or anyone else)

When im cloning the leg, then appending it, it works good when duplicating say the left legs on the left side, but what’s the best way to completely mirror flip the leg so all the details are reversed onto the right side?

ALSO, (forgive all the questions) after i successfully duplicated the leg mesh, i was rotating it into place, got the 2nd one moved and rotated no problem, but when i went to rotate the third using the “Deformation rotate” it seemed to rotate from a strange axis that wasn’t the base of the legs like all of the others. is there a way to control or reset the pivot? or is this just a bug?

lastly, is there any way to instance the leg so that i can make changes on one, and all the other duplicates will update?

ty in advance.

#6

Carapace! I just learned something! I always wondered what that part was called in general. Thanks!:smiley:

There is a mirror command at the top part of the Tools > Deformation. If you’re rotating on the Y axis, then you would just mirror one of legs over on the X axis.

I’ve never seen that error before. If you can recreate the error then come back with a detailed description so we can try out the error on our systems.

There is no way to make an instance in Zbrush that I know of. Zbrush can do bi-symmetry very well, even after posing, by implementing the Use Posable Symmetry command. You can even do up to 40 sepret operations at the same time using radial symmetry. Basically, if aligned, and you can effect it with a brush or the transpose tools, then you can effect multiple areas at the same time and identically using symmetry. But nothing like an actual instance where you could, say, scale one leg and have all the legs scale no matter where the coordinates are or what the orientation is.

I like Zbrush. :slight_smile: The people at Pixologic are geniuses! :smiley: They have impressed me enough that I don’t mind answering questions. To me it’s like saying, “Hey come over here and look! This is amazing!” :lol:

#7

Haha, glad i could help with my usage of carapace :slight_smile:
I’ll give that a shot. I thought mirror only worked if u had an existing piece of geometry, but if it mirrors stuff ala maya then that sounds like it will solve my problem. Forgive the delayed response, zbrush study has been only happening on weekends, but i much appreciate the advice! cheers!