Hello ZBrush Team,
I know, not everyone likes “feature suggestions” here, but after some weeks of fight with my appreciated ZBrush, I just wanted to write some small “every day issues”, that could be hopefully once enhanced in far future.
As an 3D generalist I’m using now Zbrush, too, since 1,5 years and all the “complicated” stuff and tools seem great for me.
But just the small simple(!) things of all things in my daily projects are hard and need a lot time and concentration.
When I speak to others, who use ZBrush, I can’t find a single one, who is not experiencing the following things.
Here’s a list from my point of view:
- exchange with other softwares: SIZE & positioning
when exporting objects to Maya and reimporting later again they have randomly a different size and position.
In some cases I couldn’t use anymore my basic zbrush file, because I worked in other softwares and after reimport only some tools came to the right position, others never did again. I had to make complicated workarounds, with merged objects, that I tried to split again, but it was not perfect and took hours.
In some projects scale master helps, but it is not predictable and became a bit buggy since 4r7 or 4r8 (always have to do actions twice). To implement standard unit system would be better than any new workarounds.
- GoZ is buggy
since 4r8 the GoZ to Maya became buggy, it always opens a new instance of the software, instead of replacing an existing object. Since that time I only use it rarely because it makes more trouble than it helps.
- a proper controlable positioning in space
turning/moving objects and object groups controllable and non-destructive in space. ideally with a customizable pivot.
Example: Also I needed for one software to rotate my objects non-destructive in world space: I had always to go via Maya, put it in a folder, that gave me control, to be able to read the rotation settings and to be able to set them back.
For lot of objects with different tests it was more time consuming than the creative process.
- not having to flip textures vertically at import (or is there any preset possible?). I mean at export it works with automatic settings, but the import is still a hazzle, when done frequently.
- exchange with other softwares: UDIM
multi tiling is a standard, it would be great if zbrush could one day do the same UDIM layouts like other softwares do.
I have a big list how to handle UDIM’s but this is no solution
- folder workflow:
Normally each software remembers the last used folder for each action. “use ZFolders” is a small workaround but no solution, when working in large projects, that need their own folders and folder structures
- panels at static floating windows and more options custom UI
possibity to keep all the panels and subpanels in sight (which are only partially customizable, but not possible to have them seeable open as you want).
Custom UI does only accept some buttons but not for example tthe complete “polygroup” section
- much larger subtools panel (custom size possible) with folders and color tags (just have a look at photoshop)
Often I can’t see at a glance which tools are switched on and which not and which were hidden somewhere out of the visible subtool area. the important subtool panel takes like 3% of my huge screenspace and is not expandable.
When I scroll to any other subpanel at the tools (like polygroups) it completely disappears. This again takes time, and is bad for having control. The Subtools are the heart of all operations, I would like always to see them all on a fix spot.
enhanced masking capabilities:
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ability to store and reload masks without big workarounds at a separate panel.
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and really great would be paths for sharp selections. zbrush has already curves, they only should be developed for masking, too.
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creating “temporary polygroups” with zModeller does not work when subdivision levels exist
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customizable symmetrical actions (with a manually set symmetry plane) for mirroring and sculting/painting.
objects which are not symmetrical and/or exactly oriented not in the origin have no chances to work with symmetry (posable symmetry works not) -
a simple clone stamp for sculpting/painting (I read in the web that it was there some years ago, but was dismissed then)
For my personal opinion zBrush wouldn’t need any more new special tools and inventions, but it would help each day, to have more of all the basic standards implemented, which are needed in exchange in big productions. And of course improved the good existing features.
Thanks for reading…