ZBrushCentral

Z3 - How can I make a subtool transparent like glass?

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Researched extensively with the Search button above, but I found nothing concerning my problem, wich is to make a subtool with a transparent material.

Here the shot:

I’m making an eye, but with 2 pieces. The main ocular globe with a flat side where the iris and pupil are drawn, and the crystalline one, a curved lens over the main eye. Despite I messed a lot with the configs of the materials, I found no clue of how to make the crystalline lens to be transparent, in order for the texture of the rest of the ocular globe to be seen throught, like glass.

I want to preserve its glossyness of course, but the only thing wich separates me from a blind glaucoma illness and a clear eye is that issue… How to make a subtool transparent? Where is the “slider” to adjust? If someone can help me, I’ll be eternally grateful. This little difficulty is blocking my creativity and frustrating me a lot…

Thanks for read.

#2

Objects cannot be self-transparent in ZBrush. SubTools are still part of the same object, so one subtool can’t be transparent to another any more than some polygons could be made transparent to the others. While working with your model, the whole thing must share the same amount of transparency, and it won’t be able to be self-transparent.

However, if you’re planning to render in ZBrush you can have the transparent parts as separate subtools. Hide them, and snapshot your model. Place a marker. Then create a new layer and use the marker to draw your model again. Now invert visibility, select a transparent material, and snapshot the transparent parts in place. Turn off Render>Flatten, and you’ll be able to render your scene with the transparency that you want. Just be sure to render the layer with the non-transparent part before you render the transparent layer. That way ZBrush will give an accurate rendering of what’s seen through the transparency.

#3

aurick - I HATE to ask this but…do you know if Pixologic is looking at incorporating self transparency as a capability that we may see in a future version of ZB? Not necessarily 3.5…but something after 3.5?

#4

I can NEVER talk about what may or may not be planned. Sorry!

#5

Hey…can’t blame a person for asking. :smiley:

Besides…I figured you probably couldn’t. :stuck_out_tongue: