ZBrushCentral

Updating subtools

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hey guys
For example I created a ztool that is a blade and inserted it as a subtool into a character model… and now I want to change the design of the blade, so I go back to the blade tool to make edits. Is there a way to update the blade subtool directly in the character model to the new version of the blade tool I made? Right now I’ve just been re-inserting the blade tool into the character and repositioning it to match the previous version.

Similar to the idea of smart objects in Photoshop where any updates on inside smart object would be reflected to the actual PSD that it’s in.

Or is my workflow wrong? Right now I usually build my character and accessories seperately and insert them together later in the stages… so character would be 1 ztool, weapon/other assets would be other ztools. So far this workflow makes sense to me as subtools become hard to edit when repositioned for posing (for example, it would be hard to edit the blade with symmetry when it’s posed on an angle to match the character’s action)

Thanks in advance!

#2

There isn’t instancing of models, no.

#3

So is there a way around it? Or that’s the way zbrush users have always done their models (re-inserting updated subtools and repositioning them manually)?

What I’m still finding hard is trying to make further edits to subtools after I’ve posed my model. For example the blade will no longer be in symmetry with the front/top/left/etc views. I would have to rotate the camera till I can get the blade to be roughly flat on canvas to get straight cuts or something with clipcurve etc.

Thanks again for your help! I’m still new to zbrush… My bg is in Photoshop and Flash animations… so instancing and updating assets have always been part of the workflow.

#4

I usually model the parts and then place them. You can work with a bunch of subtools and clone the one selected. Select that and save it by itself. When appended it should be in the right place…? Instancing might be a good option but it’s not a show stopper for anyone as far as I know.

#5

Thanks Doug!
Probably need to look into how to reset the orientation of the cloned subtool so that its in symmetry to the canvas view