The results are in: ZBrush

[bloontz]

If you don't want to open photoshop just to flip the map there is a Flip V button on the texture palette in ZBrush.

Edit: There's one in the alpha palette too.

[richcz3]

ZBrush is definately an powerful program. It has more than a few quirks which leaves some conventional 3d thinking way out in the cold. On the other hand, it's 2D approach to modifying a 3D mesh is well implemented and is much more like skulpting.

This is a program that requires some good time invested, tutorials, and forum visits. Even then it's interface comes from way left field.

http://www.pix8.net/files/ZBrush_Figuretest_01.jpg

After the character modeling tutorial and some forum visits, the tools start to make more sense. You can get results in minutes as opposed to hours. On the same note you can lose hours of work in seconds by not saving properly. :cry:


richcz3

[G3D]

working on a trilobite I modeled last year. Huge difference. Really happy. Will post soon. If only the Normal Displacement plugin would work with FPrime. Maybe the displacement plugin that comes with FPrime will work?

[bloontz]

The normal displacement plug will work with FPrime but you have to add the FPrime displacemant plug for it to work. The FPrime displacement plug is just so FPrime will see displacement, it doesn't actually cause any. I have had a couple instances where FPrime stops showing displacement for some reason, reloading the scene seemed to fix it. Looking forward to seeing your progress.

[richcz3]

Yeah I would definately like to see how your displacements work out. I am not even there yet. From what I've see on the forums is that theres a whole lotta flippin going on to sort out differences.

good luck

richcz3

[Hansybear]

I'm a bit new to this.
I have lightwave. What use can i have of zbrush? Does it cost much?
What is really zbrush?

[G3D]

...are this model of an extinct Eurypterid (aka a Sea Scorpion):

Sea Scorpion (http://www.G-3D.com/G-3d_Gallery_3d_Still_02.html)

the sort of look that I hope to get is like this photo of a plaster cast of another extinct animal:

Spiny Trilobite (http://www.G-3D.com/tri_teratapsis_head.jpg)

I think that sort of spiny look is very do-able with ZBrush. This is going to be a fun weekend...

[richcz3]

Originally posted by Hansybear
I'm a bit new to this.
I have lightwave. What use can i have of zbrush? Does it cost much?
What is really zbrush?
ZBrush is a 2.5D Paint program with 3D capabilities. It gives detailed organic results quickly and allows for import/export of 3d models to other 3D packages. It's not a program for everyone as the interface, methodolgy, and work flow are unique to itself. In short it can be highly frustrating unless you commit time to the tutorials. The learning curve ranges from easy cool to heart breaking po'd.

It costs $489USD and there is no demo for the current 2.0 version. My suggestion is try the 1.55B demo and try some tutorials. Then decide for yourself if it works for you.


richcz3

[erikals]

ZBrush looks totally awesome, the speed you can create organic models is incredibly fast. We should all look into ZBrush :)

Look at the speed...
http://pixologic.com/zbrush/media_links/movies.html
Didn't know Weta Digital used it...
http://pixologic.com/zbrush/interviews/weta_interview.html

[chikega]

ZBrush is a great way of adding details.

Displacement map was generated in ZBrush 2. Top render in FPrime ... bottom renders with messiah:studio 2.0 beta :)

http://www.3ddmd.com/images/Silo/Zombie.jpghttp://www.3ddmd.com/images/Silo/zombie_front25.jpg
http://www.3ddmd.com/images/Messiah/ZB_Zombie_disp2.jpg

[oxyg3n]

Wow

That is so cool how zbrush works. Is there a problem though with LW and how it handles displacement maps?? I thought that I read this somewhere.

[chikega]

LW's built in displacement is a problem - but, if you use Lynx's two plugins - "Normal Displacement" and "16bit grayscale TIFF-loader" then the results are pretty darn good:

http://lynx.aspect-design.de/plugins.htm

[oxyg3n]

What are 16 bitt grey scale tiffs??

Do they make a difference, and how??

[oxyg3n]

Oh, and thanks for the link

[chikega]

Those are the Gray Scale image files that are generated by ZBrush2 to create those exceptionally detailed displacements. It has more information than the typical 8-bit TIFF (256 shades of gray). :)

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