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OS X Lion and Zbrush

ZBrush Usage Questions
#81

We are considering this problem, but we are lacking of information to find the cause of this problem. In fact, none of our Mac at Pixologic have this problem, from development to testing machines and of course, betatesters, except one since few days.

You have to take in consideration that tracking a bug that we can’t reproduce is not an easy task to fix and you will see that sometimes, weird stuff can cause a bug.

If you want, read this short story about this pen tablet bug (it helps understand things…), if not, please jump to the last part of the post.

The betatester who have this issue never had this problem under Snow Leopard and updating to Lion didn’t change anything until ZBrush 4R2b days. Then suddenly, the unusable pen tablet bug appears: the pen tablet have a big lag when it’s over the document, but not over the UI itself. Using a mouse doesn’t create such bug. The only way to reduce a little bit the effect was to disable the Preferences >> Performances >> Multidraw option.

Then came Z4R3, still the same problem and one day, I had a phone call from this guy: he found something strange which make ZBrush running like it should be with the pen tablet: having Steam (from Valve) running! Yes, having Steam was making ZBrush working perfectly! Shutting down Steam was automatically making ZBrush/Wacom lag back. Weird. Most of the time, such conflict happen in the other way: making a software running should interfere with another.

After few weeks, he had to format his Mac and did a clean install of the system (Lion) and the first thing he did was to install ZBrush and the Wacom last driver. Guess what, the bug was here. Then he installed Steam… nothing changed this time… weird (bis). Just the multidraw was improving things.

Of course, this problem appears for him when switching to 4R2b. Then it could mean that this release introduce something which could have created this problem. I asked him to install back ZBrush 4R2… the problem was still here.

At the day of today, we are still investing with him, but with no progress.

Then to help us in this task, and if you have the bug, please reply to this thread with these information. The more details we will have, the better it will help us:

  • Mac OSX version. Ex: Mac OSX 10.7.4 Lion
  • Hardware (processor model, Mac name, year of release, RAM). Ex: MacBookPro 2011, Intel Core i5 @2.4 Ghz, 8 Gb of Ram
  • version number of Wacom driver. If you are not using a Wacom, please specify.
  • Model of pen tablet
  • Do you have Steam running and does it impact ZBrush
  • Which Flash plugin version do you have? (Steam is using Flash on OSX)
  • When this problem appears, when upgrading to Lion, or when upgrading ZBrush to a newer version?

Another thing to test: -copy- (and not moving) your ZBrush folder to the desktop and see if something change.

Thank you for your feedback!

#82

I was in the market for a new Mac when I heard input this problem. I bought a used Mac pro just so that I could stick with OS 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard). Everything works fine with this OS. Apple will not ship new hardware with 10.6.8, so unless the new Mountain Lion solves the issue, then I recommend buying older hardware if you want to go with a Mac

#83

tsss, Lion is sux. I have downloaded the last version update in wacom but it’s not solved. Saaame problem.
I think I have to do is a OSX downgrade. :cry:

#84

So the new Wacom driver changed nothing. Still bad lag over the canvas and when sculpting. I’ve had an open support ticket for this issue for several months with my details.
Just in case I’ll include them here again:

issue started after upgrading to Lion
Lion 10.7.4
MacbookPro 2009
2.66 Core2Duo
8GB RAM
newest wacom intuos4wireless driver (released in june 2012)
Zbrush 4R3

I just tried the Steam “trick” and it works!! Not 100% perfect, but having steam running in the background helps a LOT with the jitter and lag.

#85

Bradock: please check my previous message (in orange).

rgbxyz: thank you for the information. Our betatester also have a Mac Book Pro 2009 with a core2 duo, then you have something in common. Also, it’s good to know that the Steam trick is working. Now we have to find what is the relation between Steam and ZBrush…
Can you give me your ticket number and I’ll assign it to me.

#86

I have a different problem, and although I’m pretty positive its a Wacom issue since it happens in ZBrush and Photoshop I’ll post it here anyway since maybe the lag issues others are having is related.

Issue: Pressing hot keys on the wacom tablet THEN trying to use the pen or mouse (a non-Wacom mouse) prevents the pen or mouse from registering a click (the cursor will move, but the left click from either the pen or mouse will not work.)

For example, if I am smoothing and I hold the express key mapped to “shift” on my Wacom tablet then try and smooth with either the pen or a mouse, the cursor will move over the model but the pen and mouse never register a left click. I have to repeat the actions a few times for it to work.

Here is my system:
Mac Pro 3.33Ghz Intel Xeon processor
24GB DDR3 Ram
ATI Radeon HD5870
8 TB Hard drive space

*This is a brand new install of Mac OS Lion, latest updates as of June 2012. Only ZBrush, Maya, XCode, and Photoshop are on the drive so far.

Here is my Wacom tablet:
Wacom Intuos 4 (Wireless) with the latest drivers as of June 2012.
Wacom 6D Art Pen

ZBrush version:
ZBrush 4R3

Troubleshooting steps:

  1. Reinstalled driver.
  2. Downgraded driver. (It didn’t work so I reinstalled the current driver).
  3. Deleted and recreated Wacom preferences.
  4. Used the tablet wired vs wireless.
  5. Reconnected the tablet via bluetooth.
  6. Tried using the mouse and keyboard (no issues here).
  7. Tried using the pen and keyboard, (no issue here.)
  8. Tried using the tablet express keys and mouse, the issue happened.
    9. Tried using the tablet express keys and pen, the issue happened.
  9. Tried remapping the express keys.
  10. Changed the pen nib (although obviously not the issue since it happens with a mouse too).
  11. PRAM reset on the Mac.

I can reproduce this issue consistantly and easily. It happens in ZBrush and Photoshop. I sent the above information (in a much lengthier format) to Wacom so I hope to hear back.

I know no one else seems to have this issue so I doubt they’ll look into it :confused:

#87

I never heard of such problem. I have something which is similar, sometime, my ALT key assigned to my Cintiq (but the default button) remain pressed, but it looks like a hardware issue on my tablet.
Because it happens on both Photoshop and ZBrush, I guess, like you, it’s related to the Wacom tablet, and I think of the tablet itself.
Do you have this problem with all the tablet buttons or just one or two?

#88

It happens with all of them. I tried remapping them and switching them around but it still happens.

I haven’t tried the steam or uninstalling DiVX thing yet but I will when I get home. If it works I’ll post back and let everyone know.

#89

Steam is only for the jitter and lag problem, it won’t help I’m afraid for your mapping/key issue…

#90

I just got the new Macbook Pro with Retina Display (2.6GHz, 16GB RAM config), and I can confirm that ZBrush4 R3 absolutely FLIES on this machine with No Wacom Tablet jitter issues (or any other issues at all [I’m using the Intuos4 Bluetooth Wireless]).

Hope this helps someone considering one of these machines. It is an absolutely amazing conglomeration of hardware and software–and a joy to use with ZBrush!

Cheers

CPU usage, temperatures and fan noise are also extremely improved and pleasant compared to my Early 2009 MBP.

#91

Very happy to hear your positive experience with the new MacBookPro retina. It looks like I have the same 2009 macbook pro and will soon have a very similar MacbookPro Retina. I have one on order but still hasn’t shipped yet… I can’t wait. thanks for sharing some good news! edit: just noticed I have the same exact wacom tablet too!

Out of curiosity how does the Zbrush UI look in the different screen modes on the MPB retina? Have you tried the app that allows you to use the full native resolution?

#92

You’re welcome =)

Mine just came in today. ZBrush and the Wacom driver are the first things i installed, as to rule out any other third party apps that may have been causing the problem before. I started with the Intuos3, and that was jittery, too, on the old machine.

I have not tried the script you mentioned, because after trying it at the 1920 x 1200 emulation I knew that the interface would just be waaay too small for personal preference at 2880 x 1800; and my eyesight is excellent for details (and crap for distance viewing). I came from the 17" MacBook Pro and am used to the 1920 x 1200 res, but even that is too small for me on this screen. I actually prefer the pixel-quadrupled 1440 x 900 resolution for now (even though ZBrush is not UI-prepared for it yet). I have to click the window maximize button twice for ZBrush to get the interface to go full screen (otherwise, the ZBrush interface is cut off at first). ZBrush looks really good at the 1650 x 1080, though.

My wife sitting next to me keeps repeating, “that screen is so Clear!”; “that screen is So Beautiful!”

I’m very happy. Down with the dissenters, I say!

#93

Wow!
Guess what!
The new version R4 solves the problem!!!
!!
Please confirm…

#94

lucky you man. mine is still lagging as before.
hope more people experience better results than me.

#95


Really???
I used the latest Wacom driver from Europe website and the problem is gone…!
weird!!

Of course I forgot to mention that I run it under Mountain Lion…

#96

yes sir, same wacom drivers same os version same zbrush version, 4gb ram old 2.8ghz core duo MBP, intuos 4. lags.
luckily it still doesnt lag on my mac pro 16gb ram.

#97

Weird!

#98

weeee :):):):slight_smile:
finally an official fix for this from pixologic. temp fix but a fix nevertheless. it worked for me.
:+1:small_orange_diamond:+1:small_orange_diamond:+1:small_orange_diamond:+1:small_orange_diamond:+1:small_orange_diamond:+1:small_orange_diamond:+1:
its here from :+1:aurick:+1:small_orange_diamond:
http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?170103-Questions-amp-Troubleshooting-for-ZBrush-4R4

:small_orange_diamond:Jittery Strokes on OS X For some reason, processor priority appears to not be being set correctly for ZBrush or Wacom. We’re looking for a solution. Here is a workaround for now:

  1. Download and install this application, http://www.atpurpose.com/atMonitor/
    2. >
  2. Launch ZBrush
    3. >
  3. In the atMonitor application click on ZBrush.
    4. >
  4. At the top you will see renice, click it
    5. >
  5. Change the Priority to 2 and set that. (If you wanted to keep this setting then you would do the Set and Remember)
    6. >
  6. Now go into ZBrush and the stroke issue should be gone.
    7. >
#99

atMonitor crashes for me in Mountain Lion after a few seconds.

Still looking for a fix here.

I cleared out all prefs and caches for it and it now works… at least for now.

Mike

#100

true mine does too
but somehow the first time i managed to be fast
is set it right up as pixo described
and choose pressed set and remember
then i quit it

when i start now it it quits

but the good news is it still works (for me at least)
open zbrush lags
open atmonitor, crashes
zbrush works

so if you just manage to be really fast
have zbrush open
choose it, choose 2, set and remember and quit

its weird
try not having anything else open except zbrush an datmonitor
maybe that way it will not crash after 3 seconds