ZBrushCentral

Use transparency of texture patterns to cut/section a mesh

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Dear all,

this is my first post here, so I hope I’m doing things right.

I’m looking into a way to use texture patterns, such grids, puzzles etc (where some parts are transparent), and obtain a clean polygon cut on the mesh.

Let’s say I wanted to create a simple cylindrical cage (see attachment). The steps I do are:

  1. Create a cylinder.
  2. Subdivide the geometry a couple of times.
  3. Apply a cylindrical UV map.
  4. Apply a grid texture, enabling transparency.
  5. Select the part to cut (tools > masking > “mask by intensity” and invert the mask).
  6. Hide the points.
  7. Finally use a combo of morph target and negative inflation to give a bit of thickness.

While this works it has a major drawback: Polygons are not cut. They are only either hidden or not. If the texture pattern is not aligned with the polygons, jagged edges will appear. Texture transparency would make the edge look clean cut, but then step 7 would not be possible (or actually it would, but the final result would be jagged). Brute force subdivision is not always an option, as the number of polygon may explode.

So my question to you, wise Zbrush folks, is whether there is a better way of doing this. :slight_smile:

Thank you in advance for your time.

Attachments

cage.jpg

#2

After you create your morph target with your pattern use the CreateDiff Mesh button on the Tool/Morph Target panel to create a mesh that is the difference between your base and your morph target.

-Joe

#3

I think what you suggest is not what I need, i.e. a way to cut the mesh polygons where the texture transparency kicks in.

With the procedure in the opening post, one obtains something like in the attachment (puzzle_cut). What I don’t like is the jagged effect, due to the polygons being masked and not cut.

The texture looks actually better (see texture_trans). If I could first cut based on the texture, and then do the inflation thick, I would get cleaner edges.

Attachments

puzzle_cut.jpg

texture_trans.jpg

#4

After you make your mask from your pattern you could use the Edgeloop Mask Boarder button on the Tools/Geometry panel to get a nice line around your mask shape. Then you could try Extract button at the bottom of the Subtool panel. There is a slider to set the thickness of the extracted mesh.

-Joe