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two .ztl files with different levels - merger?

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi,

I have two .ztl files, one ranging from level 1-4 the other one technically ranging from level 2-5, but it is obviously called 1-4 inside zbrush.
The 2-5 file basically has another division at the higher end but lost its lowest division due to a mess-up.
Now I have all the details in level 5 that i want, but I cant generate a displacement map properly as it is missing the lowest level which is the level I have inside Maya. Basically the lowest level is one division up from its original state.

I want to generate a displacement map from level 5 to level 1, i.e. need to somehow merge the two files. If I divide the 1-4 model one more time, it has exactly the same poly count as my 2-5 level so i was thinking some sort of morph but I am unsure as to how to approach it. Can anybody guide me through this? Much appreciated!!!

Thanks

#2

A couple ideas come to mind. 1) Reconstruct subdiv to get back your missing level 1. You may need to import the level 1 obj from your Maya model once you’ve done this to get UV’s back if you luck out and point order and count are the same.

If not, then you will probably want to bring in your level 1 and subdivided it down to level 5, append your old model as a subtool tool and then one level at a time use “Project all” to get your details back on the model from Maya.

Once one of the paths has a correct Levels 1-5, you can generate your displacement from Level 1 again.

-K

#3

the first idea sounds promising, can you explain how i reconstruct the subdiv?
and then how to I import my level 1 obj to match the level one i reconstructed?
could you go a little bit more into detail?

#4

The “Reconstruct Subdiv” button should be on your geometry subpallet of the Tools menu.

Reimporting level 1 from an .obj is pretty straight forward. With your model in edit mode and your division set at level 1, use the import button of your tool pallet. It will try to re-import the .obj as the new level 1 of your model. To work, point count and order must match, otherwise you’ll have a mess or import will refuse to import the .obj. This is the usual method for loading UVs into a existing model which have been created with an outside program.

If the import fails, you’ll probably have to reproject your hi-def model onto a new one to get back something of an equivalent model. The “Project All” button is found on your Subtools pallet of the Tools menu.

-K