The poll is simple. Yes or No if you would like to see Pixologic develope a port of ZBrush for Linux.
1 Like
It’d be even better if it were open source too 
If it does come out for Linux I hope they release an AutoPackage for it so people can install it easily on any distro instead of using proprietary package managers like RPM, DPKG, Portage, etc…
I would pay double for Zbrush2 in linux!!!
it would make so I would not have to dual boot… Zbrush is th only reason I use windows…
useing some small windows manager would be nice to free up system recources…like XFCE,Fluxbox or IceWM.
I realy like how you install blender in linux, just un-tar the archive and move the .blend folder into your home folder… thats it… (you can add a symbolic link in your /usr/bin folder, and then blender can be run from any command line).
some software packages use the LOKI installer, so setup is almost as simple as running a .MSI installer in windows…
.rpm or .deb packages would make it hard for all distros to use… I have been a debian user for quite some time, and ALIEN dose not install .RPM’s verry well… in fedora core you cannot install .DEB packages. hopefully they use LOKI or some other type of automatic installer system…
well anyways, I would really love to have Z2 in linux…
Pixologic may not need to make a “linux” version… some GURUS have gotten a older version of Zbrush working under WINE
http://appdb.winehq.org/appview.php?appId=1152
I have not seen this in persion, I have no idea what kind of preformance you can get with WINE…
That would be nice. If it runs under OSX the changes cannot be to large.
I would buy another full version just to have it on Linux.
LemonNado
Main reason for asking for a Linux port of ZBrush is simple. Studios such as ILM, Weta Digital, Rhythm & Hues, Sony Pictures, Dreamworks, etc use Linux extensively in the pipeline. While they and other artists tend to use this in a crossplatform with Windows this is only out of necessity in most cases due to some software not ported to Linux or simply still running licenses for software ported to Windows. Since most highend software used by studios has been ported to Linux for years such as Maya, XSI, Houdini, Shake, Smoke, etc it would be nice to see ZBrush be included in this group.
As for packaging I believe the primary focus should be what studios are using and that is RPM based distributions, primarily Red Hat Enterprise Linux with Novell SUSE Linux gaining ground. This would be no differant than Alias porting Maya, Softimage porting XSI, etc all packaged as binary RPM for RPM based distributions. The reason being this is what studios use and are the main deciding factor for software developers of applications used by this industry.
For now I guess we’ll have to settle for running ZBrush on Wine whether free or Codeweavers CrossOver Office. Though I’m not one to normally just settle and another reason for this poll. So I hope Pixologic is listening and can realize the dollar value with porting this viable software to Linux.
Linux is far better than windows.
I wish Z on Linux tomorrow…
I suspect the linux version would be more stable and fast…as every program running on Linux.
cameyo
p.s. and i can use python better 
I whish Zbrush version on my pocketPC…
lots of cool movies… this list is Old…lots of TV stations use GNU Linux also
A Sampler of Linux Movies
1997
[i]Dante's Peak[/i] (Digital Domain)
Titanic (Digital Domain)
1998
[i]What Dreams May Come[/i] (Digital Domain)
Armageddon (Digital Domain)
1999
[i]Stuart Little[/i] (Rhythm & Hues)
Ed TV (Digital Domain)
Lake Placid (Digital Domain)
Fight Club (Digital Domain)
2000
[i]Little Nicky[/i] (Rhythm & Hues)
The Grinch (Rhythm & Hues)
The Sixth Day (Rhythm & Hues)
Supernova (Digital Domain)
Rules of Engagement (Digital Domain)
X-Men (Digital Domain)
Red Planet (Digital Domain)
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Digital Domain)
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Digital Domain)
2001
[i]Enemy at the Gates[/i] (Double Negative)
Cats & Dogs (Rhythm & Hues)
Shrek (DreamWorks SKG)
The Fast and the Furious (Hammerhead)
Dr. Dolittle 2 (Rhythm & Hues)
Final Fantasy (Square)
Planet of the Apes (Rhythm & Hues)
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (Double Negative)
Harry Potter (Rhythm & Hues)
A Beautiful Mind (Digital Domain)
Vanilla Sky (Digital Domain)
Lord of the Rings (Weta Digital, Digital Domain)
2002
[i]Collateral Damage[/i] (Flash Film Works)
Blade II (Tippett Studio)
Star Wars: Episode II (ILM)
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (DreamWorks)
Scooby-Doo (Rhythm & Hues)
Blue Crush (Hammerhead)
Star Trek: Nemesis (Digital Domain)
Lord of the Rings 2 (Weta Digital)
We Were Soldiers Once (Digital Domain)
The Time Machine (Digital Domain)
2003
[i]The Matrix Reloaded[/i] (Tippett)
2 Fast 2 Furious (Hammerhead)
Junglebook 2 (Disney)
Incredible Hulk (ILM)
Pirates of the Caribbean (ILM)
Sinbad (DreamWorks)
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IMHO if Pixologic go RPM, they will alienate all the Debian distros.
Debian based distros are the majority.
UBUNTU is debian based, and right now is the most popular linux distro in the world… (according to distro watch, please look at the list on right side of screen… most of what you see there is debian based distros) .
http://distrowatch.com/
debian based distros outnumber all the slackware,redhat, and suse based distros combined. (according to distrowatch)
if it was my buisness decision, I would stay away from RPM, and DEB packageing.
ID software, and a few others use a nice installer system that I was able to use in fedora, slackware, and debian based distros… it is almost as easy as useing the MSI installer in windows… the only hard part is that sometimes you have to change the privilages useing CHMOD or CHROOT… this is hard on new users sometimes… the installer that ID uses gives the user the chance to install in the /home folder so the end user wont have to CHMOD anything.
I was able to install XFCE useing the installer also, If I am not mistaken it is the LOKI installer system. (I think EPIC uses the same installer for unreal 2004)…
well anyways,
If Zbrush comes out with a RPM only, I will learn to like fedora core :)
anyone know if GENTOO can use RPM’s? they have a GUI installer now to make it a little easyer on new users… if that installer is too complicates there is VLOS also, which is GENTOO based and has a installer system that is very easy to use.they use Portage which might be from sourcecode only… I have only used GENTOO for a couple of days, my network was not set up properly. (probably my fault)
thanks for the Topic and the Vote Dark_Knight , I assumed I was the only one around here that liked GNU Linux 
playing with new linux distros is my favorite pastime, with every distro I learn something new and interesting. (there is always something new and annoying too LOL!)
thanks to GNU Linux, I now know far more about my computer than I have ever wanted to learn…
I have much more control over my system in linux, and I have far more choices on how I set up and use my computer… I love playing with windows managers… everything from bulky GNOME, and KDE, to lightweight IceWM, XFCE,fluxbox and Enlightenment.
sorry for the Novel, I am very passionate about my linux system :), Zbrush 2 would make it complete 
small_orange_diamond
A simple prog like ZBrush doesn;t really need an installer other than TAR. Extract, done. Installers are really not that complex either. So making a couple of installers is not a big deal compared to the port. I guess the OSX version would be the closest. I guess it comes down to economics.
Lemo
Polaris30,
I think you need to stop using sites such as Distrowatch to verify what is the most widely used distribution. Distrowatch rating system uses a false indicator as it simply indicates how many times people have clicked on a distribution related link from their site only, not what companies especially the entertainment industry is using. Studios using Linux prefer RPM as the primary distribution used is from Red Hat (RHEL/Fedora) and second Novell (SUSE Linux). All commercially available highend software used by studios is compiled for RPM, not Debian. This can be easily verified by doing research on studios such as ILM, Weta Digital, Sony Pictures, Rhythm & Hues, Dreamworks, etc. I could list as you all the movies, commercials, etc created on RPM based Linux distributions but the list would be very long.
Yea I know that it is just a hits Per Day counter…
Thanks for the other info too 
Also which Fedora? I have fedora 4 right now and I am about to install…
I didn’t say Fedora is #1 though it has been an alternative for those that don’t want either the support from Red Hat or are simply on a really tight budget. As for company Red Hat being number one that’s through not only work experience but also the contacts I’ve made. My brother also has worked for several post-production studios both in Canada and the USA (now on contract at ILM) and Red Hat is the main Linux distribution of choice. Though after demonstrating SUSE Linux he see’s a difference as the distribution from Novell is more simplified while still providing power tools useful in a production environment. Anyway, when I was invited for a private tour of ILM it’s apparent Linux is intelligently put to use in the pipeline.
While most novice Linux users will say it doesn’t matter what OS you use it is important in this industry at least to keep yourself a useful resource by knowing that the tools you are learning both applications and OS are typically used by studios. I’ve been to interviews and have had interviewers impressed with my background knowledge of Administering and usage of Red Hat and Novell distributions. This means that if there’s a lack of artist positions in a studio you can still apply for other studio related work such as render wrangler, I.T. Support, etc. Debian distributions such as Ubuntu, Linspire, etc will simply be ignored. That’s not being biased but just a reality of who’s using what. View Red Hat and Novell distributions in the sense of how studios see XSI and Maya. Artists can transition from one to the other with little difficulty or training. The same is true for RHEL and SUSE Linux. Both offer a few of their own custom tools but the underlying structure is familiar. It also helps both developers have passed LSB certification for their software and highend developers such as Alias, Softimage, SideFX, etc qualify their software on both Red Hat and Novell distributions.
Right on
Thanks for all the insight. It has never occurred to me to apply for other positions at studios I always assumed that they only hire people with computer science degrees.
I have toyed around with every major distribution…
I really have learned lots more than I ever wanted to about computers.
I stay with the free distros, for the most part so I can share what I learn with other people.
I am about to go into a small business here in Hawaii doing on site instruction… and also repairs and whatever else the home user wants… (think Geek squad… only more brave, and better looking.)
My hobie has come to a point now that I can really help out Poor people in my state. I am planning on doing computer recycling as a “side job” to give a bit back to the community, and so I can get some Tax breaks (I hope).
I am going to be able to do this without investing anything but time… I wont have to install any propriatory software to make very basic systems for school kids to use.
Well anyways… If my business fails, I think I may start trying applying to studios again.
Thanks for the in site
Does anyone know if Pixologic is porting ZBrush 2.5 to Linux? Due to Pixologic posting interviews and press releases from major studios such as Weta Digital and ILM using ZBrush in production it would make sense to port this application. Especially since these studios mentioned use Linux in their pipelines.
AFAIK they haven’t said anything on the subject. I would imagine that they wouldn’t even consider it until 2.5 is out and known to be stable. I think that people would storm the gates with pitchforks and torches if they delayed that because of a Linux port.
Yes Bill, and Tar and Feathers 
Lemo
PS:I am not so sure how many seats those Studios have bought… But I am sure that they are not the major source of income. But again, I’d buy an additional full license for Linux if it might be available just to support the idea!
Why not just allow Zbrush to work under Wine? Is it difficult for the dongle to work within it? (I’m on demo, so I don’t know how exactly the paid version of Zbrush works, but I’m guessing it’s a dongle)
The only reason I’m suggesting this is because :
-
Minimal effort on Pixologic’s part (just code a debugger exception for wine and continue to release Zbrush as-is)
-
Minimal speed differences (since Zbrush doesn’t access any 3D API’s, the speed difference between Windows and Linux should be 'nill.)
It’s using Java for security… I don’t know if Wine can provide the same metrics they are requesting through Java… The problem is that they only could do it with an unsupported version as Linux offers a lot of possibilities for things to go wrong…
Lemo
Im not a Linux user but im planning to do,Windows it´s a crap keep managing the memory very bad and i not think that Vista do better(in fact i think it will eat resources like a pig just to see the notepad in 3d).
If not zbrush maybe Mudbox could be the option to do all in Linux
i really hate windows it´s a piece of crap but a lot of soft runs under win
Most of the people i meet refuse to install Linux maybe because there is
to much distributions and people think that its just too much complicated
to install,not all people find very funny to read large things just to install an OS.
I eard in this forum that Mudbox can handle much more polys under linux and with better performance
Trust me, if there was a widely supported version of linux that hardware and software companies would support, I would switch in a heartbeat.
I’m so tired of Windows and having to constantly renew my license every time I upgrade or sneeze at my puter.
Yep, I’d upgrade or buy another version of Zbrush just for Linux.
Speaking of upgrades…
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 FX-60 Dual
MB: Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe
Graphics: 2 XFX Geforce 7900 GTX ( SLI )
Mem: 3 Gigs
Oper: Windows XP Home
HDD: WD 120 Gig
Shwwwweeeeeeettttt!