Hi window1,
Cool, glad you are diving in and – most importantly – having fun.
As for General GroBoto questions, this thread is not the right place. I’ve sent you a private message with that info.
I’m doing all I can to share GroBoto-to-ZBrush related techniques here – in the context of my own ZBrush Art pursuits, but don’t want to stray beyond that… want to stay within the threads intent… ‘Images, models & works-in-progress (WIP)’
Best Wishes,
Darrel
Awesome posts, Darrel!
So, how DO you make Alphas in groBoto? A link to the process on the site?
Thanks kevphil,
Right – I plan on reviving the GroBoto/Zbrush Synergy thread in the Community Forums section – Actually I’ll just start a new one, the existing thread is quite outdated.
This subject looks perfect for one of the firsts posts there (it’s simple – but as usual, there are a few tricks). I’ll post something on this thread once it’s up and running.
Best Wishes,
Darrel
This last one is great!!!
I wish I new how to do it, still haven’t figured out how. I have to spend some time here.
Thank you very much michalis,
Yes, this sort of thing is very easy. I’ll post a quick video tomorrow. As usual, a few tricks and tips are needed. After that, it is all just play.
Best Wishes,
Darrel
Hi Everyone,
More play with GroBoto’s Bots, FlexForm Tools… Then, as usual, Styled SeamNet Mesh generation & export, and a bit of ZBrush Sculpting (including some GroBoto-created Alpha stuff).
I have uploaded a video that outlines the tools and methods used on this model (GroBoto & ZBrush):
GroBoto Bot & FlexForm to ZBrush Video
(Fourth Thumbnail in Second Row).
I also have a GroBoto ZBrush Alpha creation video ready to go. Will post that link here soon.
Best Wishes,
Darrel
Kione 3D Jam 4
My CGSociety Folio
GroBoto Site
I like that last one…Has the look of a spider crab…I always see the seagulls dropping them from above onto the rocks at the beach across the street from where I live…A hard nut to crack…
Thanks for sharing this new technoligy…I see lots of new possibilities with it on the horizon… 
Great video,great crab, I must try this out
Hi SpiritDreamer,
Thank you… Yes, my primary motivation is the potential of seeing these tools out in the world adding their small part to creative endeavor.
Thanks rolilli, I hope to keep the videos coming… there are a myriad of ways GroBoto & ZBrush can work together – including many yet-discovered I suspect.
Best Wishes,
Darrel
More play with GroBoto head meshes.
Learning a lot about setting up the GroBoto Mesh for different sculpting goals… an organic take here, will post some Mech explorations soon.
You can download & play with the Download the ZTL, OBJ, and/or GroBoto files here. …some other recent free ZTLs are there too.
See this thread for more about these meshes… and what some other ZBrushers have created with them:
Who Can it Be Now…? Thread
Best Wishes,
Darrel
Kione 3D Jam 4
My CGSociety Folio
GroBoto v3 Beta Site
Hi Everyone,
Here is that mech/hard-surface approach I mentioned in the previous (neoSimian) post.
…a different GroBoto Model, but structured in a very similar way, Either one can be bent towards Organic or Mech by tweaking the Mesh Export settings.
The ‘neoSimian’ mesh & ZTL were just added to the downloads and ‘Who Can it Be Now?..’ Thread (‘Tin Lizard’ will be added later this week).
Download the ZTL, OBJ, and/or GroBoto files here. Several other free ZTLs are there too.
Best Wishes,
Darrel
Kione 3D Jam 4
My CGSociety Folio
GroBoto v3 Beta Site
I love the seam net mesh exporter in Groboto.
I must say this, I started this whole 3D brouhaha in 1993 with 3d Studio for DOS.
So that meant I started modeling with Boolean operations, and it stayed that way for years, but the only thing was all of the Boolean tools are (for lack of a better word) pretty much crap, I think we all can relate, you know crudely cramming meshes together, operations failing, etc.
So basically I put Boolean modeling down, not an Ideal situation because it remains the only way to get certain shapes and forms.
Now with Groboto all of that has changed (game changer).
The approach you guys took with the solids is brilliant, like Solidworks for the Artist!
Then with the seamnet mesh exportation it makes Groboto a MUST HAVE application.
Thanks
+1 jaystein777
I have to add that groboto also changed my thoughts about topology.
Topology first, as a modern armature. In the days of ‘sculpting first, retopo later’, (this is what I was doing and I still mostly do), we have this paradox now. To broadly move existing geometry. To think of topology first. Pores, teeth, nails, anatomy comes after. But structure still remains. A great gift Darrel !
Thanks jaystein & michalis, getting this sort of feedback keeps us going.
It’s been a long road, and we have a ways to go. We believe these tools can change the game a bit (a lot as we continue building on the foundation we’ve laid). We are doing this in the belief we have something new & different to offer – no shortage of developers out there hammering away at more traditional approaches.
It’s about freeing the artist to ‘see’, react, rethink, throughout the creative process. Digital sculpting (ZBrush in particular) was a huge step in that direction. We want to imbue the entire process with that freedom to work and rework the medium at whim.
jaystein - may amuse you to know (or perhaps I already mentioned), that I wrote about a dozen or so of the first 3DStudio DOS IPAS plug-ins for the Yost Group.
michalis - thanks for all of the GroBoto work you’ve posted here – you endured some of the earlier beta quirks and stuck with it. We appreciate you efforts in both modeling and in spreading the word about GroBoto.
BTW - Since you are both handing out kudos – I must mention that my co-coder, Boris, is responsible for the SeamNet Mesh engine. Occasionally my wholly untrained, but somewhat clever, Left-Brain may pitch in an idea or two, but that aspect of GroBoto is Boris’ baby.
I work on Modeling Tools & UI (and way too many other things)… also try to keep everything geared towards the pursuit of art and the needs/desires of artists.
All worth it if GroBoto ends up contributing something significant to the flow of creativity, and to creative people.
Best Wishes,
Darrel
OMG!!! You wrote some of the IPAS!?! That is so awesome, we used to really wish for all of those, we got manta ray and a couple of others, good times mate!
Hats off to Boris, I watched his tutorial to get me booleaning.
Here’s to the good old days, and the Yost Group. Cheers!
Hi Everyone,
Here’s another one in the same vein. In fact the GroBoto Primitive/Boolean model is just a rearrangement of the previous post, ‘tinLizard’… maybe tossed in an additional primitive or two.
Wanted to go a bit further with ZB Sculpting… larger deviations from the Primitive forms.
Best Wishes,
Darrel
Kione 3D Jam 4
My CGSociety Folio
GroBoto Site
Darrell, we’re on 99d, and you seem to have more time for art…so this must mean that 3.0 is entering the atmosphere?
Thanks for sharing your creativity and some of the routes you’re taking to it!
Thank you markkens, for your continuing interest and support.
Yes we are close ('tho it will be the Mac OS X version first).
Actually you would might be surprised how little time I have for art – this hasty stuff is justified by it’s triple role as testing/sample files/promotion. Whatever little extra time I find to make some semblance off art out of it stems from my adoption of the 80 hour work week – unfortunately not an exaggeration.
Probably no such thing as a truly productive 80hr week – but when all energy is drained, Art can still animate my depleted mind.
Best Wishes,
Darrel
Hi Everyone,
Some more sculpting (mostly detailing, but a couple of bigger moves as well). Applied some of those ‘upholstery’ tricks I discovered a couple of weeks ago.
Don’t want to stray too far from the original simple geometry – it’s at the heart of this nickel/deco/diesel style… hoping that a just a few significant reshapes will be enough to keep the forms from looking trivial… have a couple more in mind.
I’ll probably do a quick material & polypaint at some point, but can’t afford the time for high-finish. The overarching purpose of these explorations is to learn about & refine the ways GroBoto & ZBrush work together… must keep moving – trying different models with new settings, and scoping the range of the ever-evolving/improving mesh engine.
Best Wishes,
Darrel
Kione 3D Jam 4
My CGSociety Folio
GroBoto Site
It’s great! Love it.
5 stars.