ZBrushCentral

URGENT - error while loading zpr file

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi guys
I’m having a serious problem with my zBrush project file at work. I have been working on a high-res model with mutli subtools and saving the work often and successfully.
However I had to reboot my machine and now whilst trying to load the zpr file I get an error message:

Error has been encountered while trying to load the file. Loading has been aborted

The file is around 4GB and stored on the office network, and I have tried opening from its location and copying it to my local desktop, both give same error

Thanks

Arvind!

#2

which version of Z?
do you have do you save in iterations?
ram in comp?

#3

hi there, I’ve been hearing this is a major bug within zbrush, ram is 24gb and I have been saving multiple files the latest two dont open, the one before opens because it is only 500mb

Thanks

Arvind

#4

any file over 4gb or near it most times will not open.
Those files are lost to you…until Z5 with 64bit probably.
From now on ensure your files are always saved at their lowest SubD, no masks, etc. Each layer that you use will drastically increase your overhead of file size as well. Collapse and consolidate where possible. Breaking up projects into different sections is also a good idea. I.E. Top half of the body in one file, bottom half in another.

Hope this helps.

#5

Thanks for that I think before I’ve never had this issue because just out of habit I always save my files at sDiv 1 but this time totally forgot to do that as we working on the fly and adapting as we went and it just got bigger and bigger

Sorted for next time

Arvind!

#6

Just wondering, in your experience, where do the files start to max out. I have a couple of projects near completion which are about 1.5gigs and I am hesitant to add more to them.

Thanks,
Matt

#7

Well, remember that when you divide a model the number of polygons is quadrupled. That of course increases the size of the file dramatically. How much it will affect things, though, depends upon how many polys the SubTool you’re dividing has and what percentage of the total model’s weight that represents. There really isn’t a hard and fast rule simply because each model is different. One where all the polygons are in a single SubTool will give you a lot less leeway than a model that is split across 20 SubTools.

#8

Were talking 100+ subtools and polypaint. What I am wondering is there seems to be a threshold where Zbrush can’t save or open the file. At 1.5 gigs, for me, things are still pretty snappy, but the OP has maxed out at 4 gigs. So it sounds like there is a tipping point and I would love to know ballpark what that is.

I am assuming a pro-level pc here as well, 64gigs of ram and and quadcore processor.

Cheers,
MC

#9

Hi clappy, yeah I think you’ll be fine increasing but just make sure you drop every subtool down to sDiv lvl1 (use subtool master for this as there is a handy shortcut) and then save your file, it should be fine then, and remember to save a copy somewhere else that you know works
Also you could save out each subtool as a ztool if you REALLY REALLY needed to be sure :slight_smile:

Arvind