ZBrushCentral

Transferring polypaint/remeshing

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hello.
I have a high poly polypainted model. I’d like to remesh it (to a less dense mesh) but obviously when I do it all colour and some details are lost. I have not created Uvs nor any maps (starting out here).

Question is: Is there a way of transferring polypainted colour and detail (like with normal maps) onto a model with a different mesh? Using ZBrush only.

I have found tutorials explaining hot it can be done using a different software, normal and UV maps but I’m interested in doing so in ZBrush if it’s possible. Or is polypainting in Zbrush a dead end when it comes to remeshing?

#2

Hey Netamii, it’s really easy to do.

Just duplicate the model you want to make new topology for.
Zremesh as needed. Then switch back to your original model and mouse over it and press c on a colour which you think is a good average. This is to get a base colour and helps to avoid getting white dot errors when reprojecting which can happen.

If your original mesh has say 5 subdivisions, drop it down to the third sub div level.
Now switch back over to your newly Zremeshed mesh.
Subdivide it twice (Ctrl+D), and then go to your Tools palette > Subtool > Project > and press the Project All button
Oh and make sure the paintbrush icon is active on both subtools, and RGB button is on, on the top toolbar, as you want to project your polypainted information also.

Subdivide twice again, and switch back to your original mesh, raise the sub div level to it’s highest (let’s say 5).
Now switch back to the Zremehed sub div 4 mesh and press Project all again.
If it is all looking good, you can subdivide it a last time to get all of the polypaint and high frequencey details, and reproject.

Doing it in increments like this is better than doing a straight one shot reproject, as you will have less errors. Though there will always be some small tweaking to be done to a reprojected mesh.
Just remember to turn RGB off if you’re using the smooth brush when cleaning up, especially if your polypaint is quite detailed.

I hope this makes sense, and I’ll help if you have any questions.

Cheers ~

#3

Thanks so much for walking me through! It worked like a charm! :+1:

Though (just for future reference) when I’d tired it the first time the Project All button was inactive, it only became avaiable once I duplicated the original model and used it instead for projecting. Tried it all again from the scratch and did not have such a problem, the button was there.

#4

Hey Netamii, glad you got it to work, it’s a work-flow you’ll find your self using a lot.
As to the what you mentioned about the button being inactive the first time you tried it. You may have had the eye icon for the target subtool turned off, as it needs to be on to project.
As the name suggests, it can project all visible subtools in your subtool palette, not just one, which is quite handy.
So remember to turn off the subtools you don’t want projected.

Cheers ~ Have a good one :+1: