How can I "Add-Import" into an active subdiv surface?

[TVeyes]

Importing into a subdivided PolyMesh3D tool is intended for:

1) Changing the UVs without affecting the geometry.
2) Repositioning the geometry. For example posing / morphing the model in another application and reimporting into ZBrush.
3) Displacement / Normal generation. Reimport your original base subd level geometry to use that as the basis for the Displacement / Normal map generation.

Importing into a subdivided PolyMesh3D Tool is NOT intended for:

1) Adding geometry in another application and reimporting into ZBrush.
2) Modifying the flow of the geometry in another application and reimporting into ZBRush

You need to adhere to two rules to be able to successfully import into an existing PolyMesh3D tool's subdivision level.

1) The imported object's vertice count must be the same as the current subd level's vertice count.
2) The imported object's vertice order must be the same as the current subd levels vertice order.

Be sure you are currently at the subdivision level you want to import into. ZBrush imports into the current subdivision level.

[ThomasMahler]

TVEyes already summed it up pretty nicely.

In the last time I found myself using Import for applying Mayas Deformers to ZBrush Meshes and import the model back into the ZBrush SubD, so I could utilize the best of both worlds.

Using a Lattice in Maya in Perspective View often helps to evaluate the mesh, getting a better feel for it. Also, Lattices often give a little more control over the mesh.

Make sure you check the Import options for .obj in Maya though, or Maya will redo the point order of imported models, so that, as soon as you import your model back into the ZBrush SubD and you want to go higher or lower in the mesh, you'll see a "vertex explosion", thanks to the reordered point cloud.

So, everything you do in an external modeler has to keep the point order precisely the same, or you won't be able to import the model and keep sculpting.

[Haider of Sweden]

Make sure you check the Import options for .obj in Maya though, or Maya will redo the point order of imported models, so that, as soon as you import your model back into the ZBrush SubD and you want to go higher or lower in the mesh, you'll see a "vertex explosion", thanks to the reordered point cloud.

Ah, this might be the detail I use to forget sometimes. Thanx for reminding me

BUT, the question I had first still remains. I knew most of the details TVeyes mentioned, some where new and useful.
If I have an "active subdivision", eg a face. Then I want to add eg. teeth. Is it possible to add-import details even if I have an active subdiv?

While writing this, I thougth that I could delete the lower subdiv, and then add-import the object, and then reconstruct. But I'd like to know if its possible to merge objects into already active subdivs.

[TVeyes]

When subdivision levels exist it is not possible to import new geometry. But as you said you could delete the lower subdivision levels, activate Tool > Import > Add, import your additional geometry and then try to reconstruct the subdivision levels. I have not tried it but it should work.

Of course both objects, the original and the one you want to import, should be reconstructable to the same amount of SDiv levels. If the one object can only be reconstructed to level 4 and the other object to level 5 the combined objects will only be reconstructable to level 4. Also remember, if SDiv level 1 contained tris you cannot reconstruct back to that level.

[Haider of Sweden]

You know. The more you work with a software, the more you realize that it lacks of function. I would really like to see pixologic adding a feature where you can add-import into an existing subdiv. How? It could be some kind of automatic reconstruction embedded.

About reconstructing the mesh - it seems like sometimes when I export a reconstructed mesh to OBJ/Maya, the mesh is kind of splitted into multiple parts.
Really strange.
Thats why I dont like reconstructing so much.

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