ZBrushCentral

Why can't I paint on my unwrap

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi,

I made a desk in 3dsmax 2011 and i would like to texture (realistic) it in Zbrush

The desk has been unwrapped already in 3dsmax.

Now this desk is made in max and is mostly made out of quads but for the top for example which is made with a spline and then extruded it’s not based out of quads.

Now the problem with Zbrush is it needs to be divided in order to have a high poly count. Now because the desk is not only made out of quads the poly distribution is not something that Zbrush likes meaning that when you paint on it, let it be polypainting or projection master or Zapplink(in photoshop) the texture becomes all distorted and blurry.

Also some areas of the desk don’t have a lot of polys to start with so even with a division of 6 it’s not enough

Now I wish I could use viewport canvas in max 2011 but it isn’t well optimized so creating 4096x4096 is out of the question.

Why in Zbrush can’t I directly paint on my object but on the UV unwrap

I hope some of you will understand
I’m starting to think that Zbrush isn’t the best solution when you aren’t doing organic work

Thank you for your time
Dub

#2

If you have Photoshop CS4 Extended or CS5 Extended there will soon be an option for this. I can’t provide more details at this time, however.

#3

I’m not sure if I was clear though,

I want to be painting on my unwrap but while painting on my objects so I see what I’m doing.

is it possible to tell me if it’s coming in the upcoming month and worth waiting because otherwise I need to find an alternative.

I hate unwrapping and painting in 2D so I would of liked to do it on my object in 3d

thank you

#4

ZBrush paints polygons only. Consider 1 polygon as 1 pixel so more polygons equals more paint resolution. If you want to paint your object in 3D, your mesh has to be subdivided to a satisfactory outcome. If your mesh can not be subdivided enough, then consider splitting your mesh into multiple parts which would allow for more subdividing. At that point, a UV map can be created if not already done so and then a texture map created and baked onto a lower poly mesh.

#5

sorry there is no per pixel painting in zbrush. but what you can do is create a blank new texture and use projection master to project or paint details in zbrush.

#6

What NoobVee suggests is probably the closest thing your going to get to what you want to do. The only drawback is that you can’t rotate your mesh as your painting on it. You have to exit Projection Master to rotate your mesh.

#7

projection master is the same thing.

I mean once you drop you are basically flattening what you painted on the poly/pixels

I looked into Bodypaint… it’s really a much better solution for me. I can directly paint on my object without having to divide it or anything. I can leave as is and just paint on a 4096x4096 texture. This is exactly what i want plus i get layer functionalities like photoshop.

I’m disappointed in Zbrush for this, the texturing part even though its very complete you still have the worry of having to divide the mesh and this isn’t the best philosophy for other kinds of work other then organic work

#8

Well, if you can afford the $746.00 just for texture painting, then sure, go for it.