ZBrushCentral

ZB4 retopo cant select mesh.(answered)

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi
ZB4
Win7

I cant find the answer to this. Retopo in zb4

Mesh cube from max (goz)
Divide a couple of times.
Edit mode in zb
append zsphere
go to rigging, cant select the mesh I want to build on it doesnt appear in the menu
go to topology cant select the mesh I want to build on.

Any help appreciated
Kind regards
Chris

#2

If you want to edit topology by appending a zsphere and selecting the topology then you need to clone the mesh first. That’s because otherwise it won’t appear in the pop-up (because the zsphere is part of the same tool):

  1. At the lowest subdivision level, clone the mesh you want to use.
  2. Append a ZSphere to your model.
  3. Select the ZSphere and press Tool>Topology>Select Topo. Choose the mesh cloned at 1.
  4. Press Tool>Topology>Edit Topology.

You don’t need to select a mesh in the Rigging menu for this method. Simply use ProjectAll to transfer the high res detail later.

Appending a zsphere means that you can create new topology across multiple subtools. This method is ideal for creating clothes etc.

#3

Thanks Marcus.

Clone the tool
Click on the tool to load the clone,
Append a zsphere
Go to topology with the zsphere selected and select topo
Now I can select the mesh
Edit topology
The topology of the clone becomes editable, the zsphere is still visible and drawing on the clone does not show the new topology I am drawing when I press preview. (A) It looks like I am editing the topo of the clone which I dont want, I want to draw on top of it and make a seperate/new mesh and an adaptive skin to project onto the high detailed version later.

Researching the problem on youtube showed me a zb4 demo where the artist could select the mesh without cloning and do new topology like I have done it a thousand times before. What th heck has changed?

I am missing something basic here because I cant see others have the same problem. I want to get this working as it is a large part of ZB functionality. I tried the method with different meshes to see it wasnt the mesh origin and had the same problem every time.

Thanks again any further help appreciated.
Chris

#4

Nothing has changed. But the method you use will determine which way you need to do it:

A. Create completely new topology - original method:

  1. Load the mesh you want to retopo into ZBrush.
  2. Select the ZSphere tool. Do NOT append this to anything!
  3. Press Tool>Rigging>Select Mesh and choose the mesh loaded at (1).
  4. Press Tool>Topology>Edit Topology. You will now be able to draw on the mesh, creating new topology.

B. Edit existing topology:

  1. Load the mesh you want to retopo into ZBrush.
  2. Select the ZSphere tool. Do NOT append this to anything!
  3. Press Tool>Rigging>Select Mesh and choose the mesh loaded at (1).
  4. Switch to the Mesh in the Tool palette and set the subdivision level to 1. Switch back to the ZSphere that you are using for topology.
  5. Press Tool>Topology>Select Topo and choose the mesh (now at its lowest subdiv level). This loads the topology you wish to edit.
  6. Press Tool>Topology>Edit Topology. You will now be able to edit the existing topology.

C. Create new topology using the Append ZSphere method:
This is useful if you want to create new topology across several subtools.

  1. Load the ztool you want to retopo into ZBrush. It can have any number of subtools.
  2. Append a ZSphere to the ztool.
  3. Select the ZSphere in the subtool list. In Scale mode, reduce the size of the ZSphere. In Move mode, move the ZSphere so it is inside the mesh.
  4. Press Tool>Topology>Edit Topology. You will now be able to create new topology on top of the mesh (and subtools if there are any).
    Note: make sure Ghost mode is turned off or the new points won’t sit on the underlying form. Turning on Transparent mode may make it easier to see the new topology.
#5

Thanks Marcus will try it first thing tomorrow evening. This looks like there have been steps I have been missing.

You are a jem!

#6

Hi Marcus.
Everything is working even the last one. I dont think it works in symmetry though, is that correct? Even so its great, including the new possibilities.

Thanks again for the step by step.
Chris