ZBrushCentral

Texture/ Normal Transfer

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I’m making a first attempt at exporting a normal map to be applied from a high poly model to a low polyl mesh. I’m guessing (based on numerous articles and threads I’ve read) that the goal is to take the (Hi res) normals RGB map and the Diffuse/color texture, painted in projection master and line them up with the texture map coordinates of the low poly model. Is my thinking correct on this one? I’m assuming that I have the right idea because the hi resolution model is simply the low poly resolution model only it has been subdivided. Thus this should make the UV’s between the two models line up more easily. Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks

#2

You won’t have to deal with any “lining up”. The normalmap will automatically be mapped to the UVs of the low-res model. In Zbrush that’s automatic, because you’re dealing with the same model and UVs for all subD levels no matter what. External normalmappers (ATI, Melody etc.) give you several options, like use existing UVs or generate a new UV set before they map the normals. The UVs of the high-res model are ignored for normalmap output (but might be considered when an additional bumpmap is applied towards the calculations).