ZBrushCentral

Strategies to avoid crashes? Lost a hell of work

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi,

I already lost a lot of time and would like you to help me avoiding crashes.
I am close to fail deadline.
It seems that zBrush isn’t working reliable, if you don’t avoid some things.
I can’t remember all the different situations, so I will list them here from now on to not forget.
I would be happy to get any suggestion from you, either if it’s same at your place or tips to avoid certain crashes.
My System is:
Win7 Ultimate 64 Bit
3930k i 7 no overclocking
64 GB Ram
TitanGtx
256 GB Samsung 840 for system
2 x 3 TB for data plus one external USB 3TB BackUP

Crash issue N# 1 = Quicksave !!??
Happened now several times, I am starting to get afraid seeing Quicksave countdown.
Anyone same problems? Could that be a harddrive went into sleepmode (external USB)?
I read saving ZTool in lowest Subdivision is working fluently ?

Crash issue N# 2 - Frame Mesh
using this curve function on bigger meshes even with few openings, often kills zBrush.

More to come :frowning:

#2

I can’t say its the same for me, at home or at work. There’s the occasional crash of course, but I find it no more frequent than any other program I use.

You can change the rate that quicksave will save a file if you’re in the habit of backing up your work manually. Since crashing during a save sucks, it helps to


  • save the file in iterations
  • save onto a disc that has decent writing speeds (not usb)
  • make sure you’re only saving the data that you need (clear unnecessary UVs and polygroups, save the tool itself instead of a Project File which could be bloated with data your sculpt may not need, etc).

#3

Thanks for the advice.
Actually I guess manual saving is the way to go.
In fact quick save had a hell of work due to checked undohistory.
Working without seems to make it more stable.
Of course.
There were sometimes more than 1GB to save.
Now I had just once the issue. Quicksave file was broken then, for sure.

I am not saving on USB, but it’s pugged.
HD’s are 7200rpm 3TB Barracudas, I guess.
Should be fast.
Quicksave goes on primary HD? Than this is an SSD. Faster.

-Curves combined with radial symmetry are causing crashes very often!
I used them in a tunnel without any problems, but using them on a plane surface has a chance of 75% with radial set to 32?

Single curves are much less dangerous but still had more crashes in using curves then in most other functions.