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Use this thread for asking questions about and getting help with the Image Plane 4 plugin.
You can read more about the plugin HERE.
Image Plane for 4R2 Mac OSX update is now available from the Download Center. See here for instructions.
I just installed the image plane 4 and noticed that the brushes I use with ImagePlane4 don’t react predictable with the surface that im sculpting on if they have Fast Samples turned on. Go ahead and try using the snakeHook brush at a few different scalled out positions on the model to see what I mean.
Is this a bug? Any suggestions on how to use imagePlane4 correctly?
my computer specs
windows vista
8 gigs ram
dual quad core.
Is it possible to use the background image with BPR and if so how do you do it?
Can you show an screenshot with the issue you are experiencing? I’m unsure as to what problem you are experiencing.
Thanks,
I hope this illustrates what I’m trying to say. Using the snake Hook brush with imagePlane4 turned on is just an example. I find that any brush that has the “fast Sample” activated within the brush pallet gives a strange result when sculpting. Try working with a brush with Fast Sample on and an image loaded from imagePlane4. (try the brush at different zoomed in/out position on the model to really see the effect.)
Do you mean how the background gets erased? That is not particular to Image Plane. It’s a screen redraw issue with any background fill and is easy to correct by clicking the background.
no not the black background artifacts. I’m talking about an inconsistent depth issue while sculpting when an image is loaded with ImagePlan4. Just try the snake hook brush with an image loaded from imagePlane4 and try and sculpt on the model. You will knotice that there is problem sculpting on the mesh. It feels like the depth of the brush is inconsistent. If you clear the canvas to get rid of that image from imagePlane4 then you’ll see its much more consistent. Or toggle the fast sample off and you’ll see how more predictable the sculpting is while an image is loaded with imagePlane4.
Here’s another example of the problem with imagePlane4 and fast samples, this time using the clay brush in zbrush 4. I try the brush with fast samples off and on before and after using the imagePlane 4. Please try it to see what i mean. I just want to know why this is happening. I feel like I can’t use it at this time because of this bug.
[imagePlane4_fastSampleBug.jpg[/ATT]%3C/font%3E"]
](http://%3Cfont%20color=%22#9A9A9A%22%3E[ATT=222977)
edit: nvm
crumbaker,
There’s no direct way to use a background image with BPR because the background is always cleared during the render. What you could do is append the image plane as a subtool to your model, then scale and position it how you want. This would then remain visible for a BPR.
slickytom,
Thank you, I can now reproduce this. I suspect this is an issue which results from having any background image, not just one from Image Plane, and if so there may not be a solution (other than to turn off Fast Samples). I suggest you use Spotlight for modeling with a reference image.
I never used this plugin before. How does this work? I guess you load the model and views get assigned to it depending on its orientation. So basically you select Front to get the front view of the model, then you press the load image button and select the corresponding front view image. I thought perhaps you could activate the left view of the model and the left view reference image would get activated in the back on its own. But I guess you have to load the reference image manually. Is that how it works? There was this other tool where you could load images on a box primitive and append it as a subtool. I guess that is something else.
It appears that the issue with fast samples not working predictable could be something to do with having the model selected first and then applying the imagePlane4. If you first clear your canvas and not be in edit mode on a tool, then use the imagePlane4… fast samples will work correctly.
moonlitmaverick,
There’s a Help button in the Image Plane menu which explains how the plugin works.
slickytom,
Thanks, it is more complex than that. For example, your sphere is buried in the plane. This means that for any more complex shape you will not see the whole outline. If you move the mesh forwards then the Fast Samples issue reappears. Also you cannot easily rotate the model to see how it looks which you may not find a hindrance but I’d guess many people would.
Oh hah, I didn’t realize my sphere was on the same level as the plane. Thanks for catching that. And your right, It would be a hindrance if you cant see the whole outline of the model. Hmm, I thought I had this one figured out. Thanks for your help marcus_civis.
Hi Marcus,
Great plugin, thank you very much for this great contribution.
Question - Is there anything that can be done about the background redraw? The black tearing is a bit annoying, though it isn’t such a big deal as all you have to do is click the screen. Still - wondering if there is a setting to minimize this.
Also - I would be interested to know what your lighting setup is when you use image planes? I have made some adjustments because I found that the backside of my objects were a bit dark. I wanted to see what others are doing, thanks.
-NBreslow
Hey Thanks much for the plug-in! One question! This might sound dumb, but since Zbrush 3.5, I can’t push my image plane right near the bottom of the canvas. (move and stroke up) The problem is sometimes my model is intersecting with the image plane, and have to get out of edit mode and pull my model up a bit and back to sculpting. Is this limitation of new versions or are there simple solution? 
-Arnold
I had the same problem, yesterday.
NBreslow,
I think the background redraw issue is probably beyond the scope of the plugin.
For lighting set up, if you use a MatCap such as Skin Shader 4 the lighting won’t have an effect. If you adjust the lighting make sure you are not using a MatCap.
arnoldmoon,
I’m not sure what you are doing to get this result. Could you explain exactly the steps? (If you draw a model on the canvas and enter Edit mode before loading an image the plane will be put well behind the model so that no clipping occurs.)
marcus_civis: (If you draw a model on the canvas and enter Edit mode before loading an image the plane will be put well behind the model so that no clipping occurs.)
Thank you for the quick reply marcus, I’ve tried it that was the solution 
Christian
Weird, I experience the issue quite often, loading image after entering edit mode seem to work just for short amount of time. One thing I’ve noticed is, when that intersecting happens, zoom in and out affects placement of imageplane. When I zoom in, image plane comes forward and eventually stand completely in front of my model, when I zoom out, the opposite, image plane moves back. 
I haven’t had this problem until 3.5 came out.
-Arnold