ZBrushCentral

TextAlpha maker

ZBrush Artworks
#14

Thanks Flycatcher. I added to the program. Added a flip vertical checkbox, save shortcuts and a character range. I recommend keeping save shortcuts off when using a character range especially one including the letters [,],". The text of all buttons except letters and alphabets are in ascii even when using different fonts.

Here it is:
TextAlpha.zip

#15

Looks like a great utility :+1:

As far as sizes go, I imagine that alphas are the same as textures and have to be imported with ‘square’ dimensions, i.e. height = width. Otherwise they come in distorted; zbrush will stretch the short dimension to make it square.

#16

Thanks Bonecradle, that confirms it.

I suddenly realized that buttons can have pictures and so I changed the program to generate buttons with the pictures that they will load. ZBrush may not recognize all characters in a set and thus some may show as the exclamation mark.

TextAlpha.zip

#17

Thanks Keith - that was fast - excellent example of customer service! :+1: :slight_smile: :+1:

#18

Greeat Update :+1:
Pilou

#19

Had time to test it now and everything works fine.

The crisper outline on the above collection of 3 perfectly proportioned strings was achieved by ignoring the font size slider with its maximum of 72 and typing 240 in the box.

However, when I tried it at 600 (because I was testing it with an intricately detailed dingbat font at the time which didn’t show up all that well even at 200 - the font’s problem, not your program’s), all I got was a large blank square by way of an alpha. Presumably this is because I’d exceeded an upper size limit inherent in your code; can you tell me what the maximum permissible size is please?

#20

Many Thanks for this great new toy. Hours of amusement and I’m sure it will come in very handy. :wink:

#21

There are no limits on the picture size. All pictures are created in memory so it may be a memory problem. I created a 600 font using wingdings and it went proper at 1034x1034. What is the size of the alpha you get?

Seeing your post Flycatcher, gave me a new idea - multiline:
TextAlpha.zip

#22

hi keith
a Bud of mine ask me to Give this to you
:small_orange_diamond:TEXT.zip
just a sample on how you can shorten the code in 2 ways.
he said if you use .JPG instead of the .BMP
you won’t need to Flip the Text :wink:
Hope this helps…

its a sample with numbers i don’t know why he named it txt
:smiley:

#23

Truly excellent script :+1: :sunglasses: :+1:
Thanks keith!

#24

Thanks ZBuddie. I was trying to think of a way to cut the generated script. I thought of using RoutineDef to load the alpha only when required. I’ll try that tip as well and see which is shorter.

Does ZBrush support jpeg loading for alphas? If so, I may as well add support - saves space.

Keith

#25

Thanks Keith - another very useful addition that I thought of as I ran the three instances but was shy to ask for. :+1: :roll_eyes:

I think you’re right about the memory thing. I’ve tried to recreate the large sized alpha problem, but it’s working fine now using the same program version. I suspect it was just my resources running low at the end of a long day on the PC.

#26

PS forgot to mention - I think I’m right in saying that JPG support for alphas and textures came in with version 1.55 - I’m not sure about the interim trial version which I didn’t download, but it was certainly not included in earlier versions.

#27

hi keith
a bud of mine said use this if you want to get rid of the preload button.
this will only load the letter or number when called on.

[IButton,[FileNameSetNext,”alpha1.bmp”]
[IPress,ALPHA:IMPORT],alpha1.bmp]

a sample
:small_orange_diamond:alpha1.zip

#28

ZBuddie, won’t that snippet import the texture each time you click on the button? You would have to import only if the alpha does not exist. And who is the mysterious bud? :slight_smile:

#29

oh that what i thought you were trying to do.
mysterious bud
is a friend of mine hes a newsgroup reader and just the kind of guy who keeps to his self i can’t get him to particapate in any forum board :stuck_out_tongue:

#30

I added jpeg support and changed the generated zscript. However, now the program requires an extra dll called gdiplus.dll. I’ve included a link. Place this dll in the same dir as the executable. If you’re running winXP, you do not need to download this dll.

TextAlpha:TextAlpha.zip

GDI+ dll:
GDI+ Download

PS: I may add antialiasing support later

#31

This is getting really polished - the antialiasing would be the icing on the cake! What’s next - 3D extrusion? Shadow effects? Animation? :smiley: Thanks again. :+1:

#32

Here it is with antialiasing. It can also be turned off to see the difference.

TextAlpha.zip

#33

Can someone help me get this import or running…its awesome!