The mesh-generation is looking really impressive now! Looks particularly good for architectural stuff. 
Thanks everyone… we are thrilled to finally get this out. Can’t wait to see what you serious ZBrushers do with it.
sgrell -
You’re right, just the sorts of things this model needs. I’ve held off because I’m not quite done modeling in GroBoto (just to impatient – had to pull it into ZB for some experimentation).
SG -
By GroBoto-generated alphas, I just mean using GroBoto (usually algorithmic ‘Bots’, and simple depth-fog), to create nice alpha images for use in ZB & elsewhere – see attached image.
I’m using ZB’s Cavity Masking option in the Tool>Masking panel… nothing special except that the structure of our meshes seems to produce a nice mask with that option. ‘Patch Masking’ refers to using the patch-based groups exported with GroBoto’s OBJ to easily make selections for masking in ZB. You can see an example of the patch groups in my ‘Brier’ post just up a bit in this thread. GroBoto can also Group by geometric primitives.
I’ve attached a closer look at the GroBoto mesh, and the Polyframe in ZB (after one subdivision). What’s cool is that all of the seams have very nice double rows of quads (becoming 4 parallel rows along the seam after subD)… combine that with ZB masking-by-patch, and a bit of mask blur and you can tease out extra levels of detail with big, simple brushes, or even global deformations. The ‘Traffic’ model a few posts above shows some of that effect… better examples coming soon.
Marsyas -
Right… quite a ways from those chaotic meshes GroBoto was generated a year ago… they are going to get quite a bit nicer & cleaner in the weeks ahead… all still fully automatic of course.
Best Wishes,
Darrel
GroBoto-Zbrush Synergy Thread
My CGSociety Folio
GroBoto Site
[attach=169521]groBotoZAlphas.jpg[/attach]
Attachments
That’s rockin. Thanks for the breakdown. You’ve got an amazing tool in gB, can’t wait to explore it 
~sG~
Thanks again sG,
This model shows a bit more of those masking + deformation techniques. For example, where the radial cones intersect the main disc… the beveled cutouts in the disc are not in the GroBoto model.
They come from the double-seam quads rows (which become quadruple after first subdiv). Making out everything but the disc ‘patch’ – easily selected with shift-cmd-click (OS X) – then slightly bluring the mask, and applying a global ‘Inflate’ does the trick.
Of course you can be more varied and subtle by using any variety of brushes on masked patches… get nice effects with highly blurred masks, etc.
…anyhow a whole bunch of that stuff going on in this model. I’ll post some close-ups later.
Best Wishes,
Darrel
GroBoto-Zbrush Synergy Thread
My CGSociety Folio
GroBoto Site
[attach=169627]GroBotoMesh.013.jpg[/attach]
[attach=169629]GroBotoMesh.015.jpg[/attach]
Attachments
love this sort of stuff way cool !!
Big steampunk fun there!
Ah, the polygrouping looks very useful! Especially with all the new features in the latest ZBrush release. And the alpha grabs are very nice.
Pushing the envelope of creativity…exposing yet to be seen dreams…a taste of unreal reality born torn and exposed from it’s seams…your process is in the process of breathing life back into magic it seems.
Thank you for one of the most inspirational threads that i’ve seen…
Glenn
Thanks Gary… appreciate the kudos.
Hey markkens – Yep… SteamPunk is definitely a fun arena. I was inspired years ago by a visit to the The Harvard University Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments.
Hi Marsyas – Thanks… we plan on going much farther with many grouping options and even GroBoto-generated masking (again, we can do some clever things because of internal knowledge about geometry & topology… GoZ will allow us to export those masks into ZB).
SpiritDreamer – Thanks for the kind words… I do enjoy playing the fringes of reality.
Here’s that closer view I promised.
Best Wishes,
Darrel
GroBoto-Zbrush Synergy Thread
My CGSociety Folio
GroBoto Site
Here’s an update to the ‘Traffic’ model I posted earlier… Went back into GroBoto and played some more – added a second ‘head’ among other things.
The Polypaint is just exploratory (and a little clumsy I fear). I plan on sculpting a bit more, and bumping up the subD at lease one level before final paint.
Best Wishes,
Darrel
GroBoto-Zbrush Synergy Thread
My CGSociety Folio
GroBoto Site
[attach=169860]GroBotoMesh.019.jpg[/attach]
[attach=169861]GroBotoMesh.021.jpg[/attach]
…sculpting is mostly subtle, detail stuff – raising/lowering ridges based on seams in the mesh…
[attach=169862]GroBotoMeshStereoAdd.022.jpg[/attach]
…more of the same, separating components, enhancing small details, deepening some cavities, etc.
Attachments
Another followup…
A bit more sculpting and some polypaint on ‘Brier’ (the GroBoto Model & Mesh can be seen a few posts back on this thread).
Could definitely use some surface texturing – right now nearly every surface is smooth – need to distinguish bone/skin/cloth etc… some scrapes, dents & scratches will help too.
Best Wishes
Darrel
GroBoto-Zbrush Synergy Thread
My CGSociety Folio
GroBoto Site
[attach=170041]Brier4.003.jpg[/attach]
[attach=170042]Brier4.004.jpg[/attach]
Attachments
Awesome! Last one even got a tail light 8)))
Rainer
Thanks Rainer,
Having too much fun… I must have generated a couple hundred interesting meshes just in my spare moments while working on GroBoto.
I want to play with them all.
Here’s another ‘blocHead’ – I find these as irresistible as they are pointless.
Just a quick first pass at sculpting.
Best Wishes,
Darrel
GroBoto-Zbrush Synergy Thread
My CGSociety Folio
GroBoto Site
[attach=170156]hammerHead.005.jpg[/attach]
Attachments
Created this little car about a year ago. At that point we were not outputting this second generation ‘SeamNet’ mesh. So I pulled up the GroBoto Model & started playing… see lot’s of fun to be had here. I plan on modeling a bit more in GroBoto before getting serious in ZBrush. Mesh density distribution needs to be tweaked a bit (have already done so – this is an earlier mesh).
Good news is that each mesh takes seconds to create.
Best Wishes,
Darrel
GroBoto-Zbrush Synergy Thread
My CGSociety Folio
GroBoto Site
[attach=170516]Roadster5g.jpg[/attach]
[attach=170518]Roadster5z.jpg[/attach]
Attachments
the car is cool great on the last two also!!
Awesome stuff. Bought Groboto 2 a while back thinking it could help me create shapes I wouldn’t otherwise have come up with, but never found a way to make stuff in there that didn’t look like it was made… well… in Groboto. :o 3.0 looks a whole lot more promising! Pre-ordered and looking very much forward to it. Seamnet ftw!
Hi Displaced – Thanks. Yes, GroBoto is beginning to ‘mesh’ with the rest of the CGI world… hope to accomplish that while remaining focused on being different, and easy.
Thanks Gary… here’s a quick follow-up (only have a few moments to play).
A bit of progress on the Roadster (see previous post on this thread) – went back to GroBoto and remodeled. Main move was re-proportioning… going from absurdly big wheels to just really-big. Made lots of other changes/refinements, added some details.
Ready to go after it in ZBrush – just getting started in these shots.
Best Wishes,
Darrel
GroBoto-Zbrush Synergy Thread
My CGSociety Folio
GroBoto Site
Attachments
the toon car looks great
again like coming to this thread just a thought like some ZB retopo
on like the hammerhead model and some really cool ZB tread design on the tires
just got my wheels turning 
Al.Tintop - Thanks… I see that you do some cool 'tooning as well.
Gary - Thanks… would love to see what you would do… there are some sample meshes on the GroBoto Beta site. Play if you like.
Here’s a quick update – very busy with the latest beta release, so nearly no time.
Best Wishes,
Darrel
GroBoto-Zbrush Synergy Thread
My CGSociety Folio
GroBoto Site
Attachments
