ZBrushCentral

subtools alignment and scene rotation problems

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Here’s my problem. I’m learning Zbrush and I bring in the testhead with it’s displacement map. Okay, everything is fine.

Now I want to mess with some subtools, like place some spheres as a subtool where his eyes should be. I know, it would look weird but I’m just learning and seeing what I can do.

So I bring in the head. Then I bring in a sphere and make a poly mesh of it. then append that to the head. Okay, everything is working fine. I use the transpose tool to scale the sphere down and move it near where the eye is, but when I go to rotate the scene to get a better angle on placement, it’s like the sphere and the head are on two different axis and the sphere will disappear inside the head! I’m just rotating the view around, yet the sphere moves inside and outside the head. it’s impossible to place the sphere exact where I want because as soon as I rotate the scene it will move somewhere else.

What am I doing wrong? BTW, when I bring in primitives like the tutorial video and place them as subtools…the box and the gear for instance…this doesn’t happen at all.

BTW, I tried doing a search but I guess I’m not searching for the right terms to find something that addresses this. :smiley:

#2

I don’t think the sphere is moving at all. I think you’re simply seeing that it’s not where you thought it was. This is the limitation inherent in working with a 3D space that is being represented on a 2D surface (the monitor).

When you view the model from the front, you have no way to know the depth of the sphere. All you can tell is its position within the two axes that are visible from the front.

What you need to do for best results is rotate to a front view and hold Shift to snap the view. Position the object where it should go. Then rotate to a top view. Again hold Shift to snap. Now move the object to exactly where it should be.

#3

I’ll give it a try. Thanks.

If anything, I’ll post some screen shots to show you what I mean if it doesn’t work

#4

Okay, here are some pictures to illustrate what I’m seeing. In the first one you notice that I have a subtool sphere at the side of the head where I moved it.

Now, I go to rotate the scene…just clicking on a blank area to turn the camera to the side…this is even before any “snapping” takes place. You’ll notice now the sphere is embedding itself into the head. Nothing is being touched here, it’s just me turning the scene with a single un-modified mouse click-&-hold to turn the scene.

I’m wondering if it’s just this head as it doesn’t do this with the other primitives.

#5

never seen what you’re experiencing. hopefully aurick can help you, cause I’m at a loss to what you’re doing.

#6

It has to be because of this head mesh…nothing else so far is doing it.

#7

is the sphere actually appended to the head or is it just drawn on the canvas?
also check the preview window, how large is the head, it could be a scale issue.