Hi,
Is it possible to slide the topology/wireframe on a mesh without deforming it?
Like a relax brush but with the move tool?
I’m talking about a mesh ready to be sculpted not the retopology tools.
To a certain extent, but probably not in the way you mean.
If you hold down shift, AFTER you make contact with the move brush, it will move points along the surface of the mesh, not along the screen plane.
The Slide brush does the same thing to a different extent.
The Nudge brush is good for making small adjustments.
all good for flat, or simple surfaces, but If you move points along a complex form, eventually you’re going to deform it. Generally, this is what the new dynamesh is for, to be able to work on form without worrying about geometry at all, and being able to constantly redistribute it for optimal sculpting. There is also always the Relax slider in the deformation palette.
Thank you Spyndel, but in my case I cannot use Dynamesh, it’s not about redistributing topology but I want to control my edgeflow.
The relax function doesn’t have an equivalent brush?
I have to take a look at the smooth brushes to see if I have something similar.
If Dynamesh is not an option for whatever reason, you may want to explore the "Reproject Higher Subdivision (Subtool Palette), and “Equalize Surface Area” (Geometry Palette).
There is nothing I am aware of that will do what you want in the way I think you’re envisioning it. Smooth brushes are the “relax” brushes, and you may be able to find a smooth variant and intensity that, with a light touch, relaxes your geometry with not too much “melting” of form. In some specific cases a polish brush might respect your form a bit more. Even the relax slider is destructive to form to varying degrees, though. There is no infallible magic “relax” function, outside of the topology redistribution processes.
If you want to deliberately lay out edgeflow, while perfectly retaining form, the retopology tools are by far your best best. Simply draw out what you want over the existing form, or edit a low rez version directly, and move points along the surface. You may get also some mileage using polypaint-derived polygroups and Group Loops to direct the edgeflow.
Just keep in mind, the current design direction of Zbrush doesn’t want you to be overly concerned with topology at all, until the retopo stage. If what you’re doing requires you to precisely manipulate edges for some reason, you may not be using your selected tool to its strengths.
What I would do in your situation is store a morph target of your current mesh- then run the Relax deformer several times (or until it’s sufficiently relaxed :P), then Switch your morph target back to the original and use the morph brush to paint back in the ‘relaxed’ area that you want.
Thanks testure that’s a good idea.
I’ll try it.
I found a better one.
Using the project morph feature, it is really good, but I can’t find any documentation about it.
What does the plain circle and empty circle?
Is it also a polish like the relax deformation?