ZBrushCentral

ZMapper problem with memory and polycount issues

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hoi.

ZMapper says something like “Memory could not be allocated” at the header of the errorbox. Error itself can be about like “Quad links…” or something.

Model has ~12 million polys at the highest subdiv level, and the error comes when trying to render normal maps out from this model with ZMapper. When destroying the highest level, model has only ~2-3 million polys left, and looks like ZMapper can handle it then.

Model has no HD -subdivs, so those 12 million polys are those normal subdivs. Texture size is 4096x4096, so it should fit into it.

System settings in ZBrush are: Compact mem: 256, doc and tool undo: 4, MaxPolyPerMesh:12, HD prew MaxPoly:8.

System specs are: 6 gig ddr2, 8800 gts with beta driver 180.84, quad processor, Zbrush installation drive has ~40 gig free of HD and its defragmented.

Is it about that there is somekind of software limitation (ZBrush, ZMapper…?), that its not possible to render over like 5 million polygons models to normal maps or something?

Thx.

#2

if you have 6 gigs, and a 64bit OS, then move compact mem to 4096, not 256!!

You’re telling zbrush that you only have 256mb of RAM, hence the error.

you can render normal maps for any number of polygons subDs (12million, 24million…etc). Zmapper doesn’t figure out over 500k for the “LOWPOLY”, because if you have 500k then you don’t need the normal map anyway.

#3

Does that compact mem mean, that ZBrush writes to virtual mem when ZBrush uses mem over that value.

Well tried to raise it to 4096, but didnt help. Gave same error.

Late note:

Just pressed “create normal…” (to see what kind of error it give) and it started to render the map. Strange. Didnt change anything back or else. And ZMapper/ZBrush gave many times that same error before this magic test.

Maybe that raising compact mem did help?

Thx.