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Workflow to make a displacement- and normal mapped model?

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hello.

I’m a beginner using ZBrush 3.5R3 and I’d like to ask for a rough workflow to make high detailed displacement- and normal map for a low polygon model which would be easy to rig and animate later.

I know already how to make a simple model in Maya 2010, properly UV mapped with UVLayout and export it to ZBrush. I know how to raise subdivion level high enough to be able to make detailed work but then comes my question:

What is the correct order to make maps if I want my, say 500 polygon model to be raised to 25k polygons with a displacement map and then add the finest details (2M polygons) with a normal map.

Which map do I need to create first and how can I make for example a displacement map from subdivision lvl 1 to 5 and a normal map from 5 to 7?

I also know how to export these back to Maya so no need to explain that.

-Ryon

#2

doesn’t matter which you generate first.

to create your maps for the 500k (displacement) clone your mesh, go to the level that you want the displacement map to move your mesh to. Take delete the higher subD levels. (geometry>deletehigher) generate your displacement map.

open up the file again, delete all of the levels below 500k, and then step up to your highest and generate your maps.

Normals/displacement maps are generated to create the distance between the two meshes…lowest and highest subD levels.

There probably is an easier way to do this on 3.5 now, but that way is the tried and true method.

#3

Oh, thank you! I’m not realy sure if I understood this thing correctly.

go to the level that you want the displacement map to move your mesh to. Take delete the higher subD levels. (geometry>deletehigher) generate your displacement map.
Okey this would make the displacement map from say level 1 to 5, when 6, 7 and 8 are deleted.

delete all of the levels below 500k, and then step up to your highest and generate your maps.

In this case levels from 1 to 5 are deleted but this let’s me understand that I need to be on my highest subdivision level? When you say in the end “lowest to highest subD levels”. If I would be on 7th suB level, would the normal map still be created from 6 to 8 or just to the level I’m currently on? Which was 7 in this case.

#4

you have to be always on the lowest subd level to create maps with detail from higher levels… that is, if you’ve deleted your levels from 1-4, now your 5th level would be your lowest level, and the detail would come from levels 6 to whatever you have.