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Problem using plug in multi append

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi, I’m a beginner so please bare with me. I have sculpted several characters, each with several subtools and each saved as a tool. I would like to bring these characters into the one work space. To have them, in a virtual sense, standing together. The method I have been trying, is to open one of these tools and then go to the plug in, multi append and choose a second tool. My problem is … that sometimes this works, and sometimes it seems to be working but the character simply does not appear in the workspace. It’s sub tools appear in the sub tool menu (with visibility activated) but the character does not appear on the screen.

Any clues to the problem, or another way to bring the characters together would be much appreciated.

#2

Press “F” to frame the model and see if the subtools show up. Usually the subtools not showing is because they are either much larger or smaller than the model they have been appended to, or that they are away from the origin.

#3

Good thought. Doesn’t seem to be the problem though. It’s peculiar. When I multi append a tool it sometimes just doesn’t appear, but all it’s subtools appear in the menu. It also appears separately as one of the tools in the tool palette (as opposed to subtool menu). If I choose it from the tools palette, it appears but the other tool disappears (as expected). Each of the characters I’ve sculpted are roughly centred on the xyz axis, and are roughly the same size. It’s very strange and frustrating. - Having said that - Zbrush is incredible.

#4

You will see the tool appear in the Tool palette because SubTool Master opens the file first and then appends each subtool. If you can upload the files somewhere like Dropbox I can take a look to see if I can see what is wrong.

#5

Turns out you were right about the sizing issue (What have I learned about trusting the expert) It took me ages to figure out how to standardise the sizes of all the sculptures (tools) I’ve made before I try to multi appended them so chaos doesn’t break out. I’ve ended up using this method and it seems to be working.

(I’m not sure why my tools are so radically different to each other in size - I can only assume that my sculpting methods are rather erratic. I haven’t got a firm grasp of managing sub division levels and dynamesh and so forth, and will make changes on the fly so as to keep my creative flow. Having said that … from my perspective I’m getting brilliant results and think Zbrush is unbelievable)

Thanks for your help.

#6

That’s great, I’m glad you have got it sorted out!