ZBrushCentral

Zbrush normal maps in Max 2009

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I have been making models in Max 2009, then adding detail and making normal maps in zbrush with zmapper. But you can barely see the details when put into max. I have to exagerate everything a fair bit to get anything even half decent.

Is there anything ic an do to make my results in max alot closer to that which i sculpt.

(is there some kind of delay on posting a thread and it appearing in the forum because i already tried posting this and have waited like 5 hours and it hasn’t come up. Sorry if it comes up twice.) Edit: it would appear the first one jsut didn’t work then :stuck_out_tongue:

#2

by the looks of it, every post has a delay. I did the same thing. I posted a thread but thought since I was new that I wasnt aloud to post just yet. (seen this in other forums)

So I tried responding in another thread and that post didnt come up either. it wasnt until the next day that both my posts got posted.

anyways, are you talking about it isnt showing up well in your render? or in your viewport?

#3

In the render. I was trying to do wrinkles and stuff but you can barely see them once they are in max. I had to put like canyons in his face before you could see any decent wrinkles in the max render.

#4

help, anyone? :confused:

#5

first off, you need to be using the 3dsmax8modifiedE config settings for Zmapper. do a search, you’ll find it.

secondly, in max, go to your bump slot, change it from a bitmap to a “normal bump” apply the normal map in the top spot. make sure your settings in the material for the normal bump slot is set to 100, not the 30 that it defaults to.

that should be give you what you want to see. also, inside the normal bump, on the bottom slot you can adjust that to be a regular bump to bring in any details that are missing from the normal, things like pores and the like.

and yes, there is a delay for new members.

#6

Ah, thankyou very much. I had seen that max 8 config mentioned and i tried a search for a 2009 one to no avail lol, silly me. I have been putting the map in the right place.

My problem with increasing the bump value above the default 30 is that as the normal map is for the whole head it amplifies it for everything. For example it will make the brow more pronounced, and putting it up to something like 100 will just make the whole face a black shadow.

#7

in zbrush it is possible to edit your normal maps. you can select certain regions in the zmapper renderer and tell it “make this area more noticeable, or make it less defined.” you can do that or you can take your normal into photoshop and choose the purple color (807fff) and edit it yourself.

#8

oh brilliant with the config i can increase the bump level and its not changing the normals for the whole head. Thanks a bunch! :smiley: