zbrush->3ds max problems

[}-{obbes]

I dont use 3ds max myself so i cant be sure on this, but the maps you export from zbrush are tailored for the low res you exported at. So when you then smooth the mesh before putting it on, you're changing the topology and then adding a displacement map that was written for a lower poly version.
The whole point of the displacement map is that you can take that model directly and then not do anything else to it in your 3d program.

Try it, if it still fails then sry.

[yuriythebest]

}-{obbes, thanks for replying, yes, I'm aware of that fact. My problem is not that the high res detail is not displayed, but that anything below a certain height in the map is cut off (like there is a plane or a flat sea) below it, I think its got something to do with bit depth.

Here's another attempt to illustrate the problem:

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/4319/zbr3ku9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[aaraaf]

Hey there yuriythebest!

I'm new to the whole ZBrush thing, and not necessarily getting the results I expect but there is a setting in the materials of Max that addresses this very issue, and it's discussed some on the Pixologic boards.

In the material editor (in Max) go to the bitmap for diffuse, or wherever you have it setup at... It could just be a bitmap material that Max references in its diffuse modifier.

If you go to the bottom of the map's Bitmap section in the material editor, and open the Output panel there is a curve editor there. You need to set the curve beginning to be the negative of whatever the curve ending is. Usually this is -0.5 for the beginning and 0.5 for the end, so that the overall value of absolute black to absolute white is 1. This gives you a lot of control... sort of like using levels in Photoshop, but interactive. This lets the Zbrush materials 0 be the same as Max's... they just initially see 0 as different points.

Max sees black as 0 and flat, whereas you need Max to see black as a negative number and middle grey as 0, and thus flat. This curve does that.

I hope this makes sense and helps... I can post a jpg later if it doesn't do much of either! :D

[yuriythebest]

Hey there yuriythebest!

I'm new to the whole ZBrush thing, and not necessarily getting the results I expect but there is a setting in the materials of Max that addresses this very issue, and it's discussed some on the Pixologic boards.

In the material editor (in Max) go to the bitmap for diffuse, or wherever you have it setup at... It could just be a bitmap material that Max references in its diffuse modifier.

If you go to the bottom of the map's Bitmap section in the material editor, and open the Output panel there is a curve editor there. You need to set the curve beginning to be the negative of whatever the curve ending is. Usually this is -0.5 for the beginning and 0.5 for the end, so that the overall value of absolute black to absolute white is 1. This gives you a lot of control... sort of like using levels in Photoshop, but interactive. This lets the Zbrush materials 0 be the same as Max's... they just initially see 0 as different points.

Max sees black as 0 and flat, whereas you need Max to see black as a negative number and middle grey as 0, and thus flat. This curve does that.

I hope this makes sense and helps... I can post a jpg later if it doesn't do much of either! :D

yes, thanks, though I already have it set-up

[aaraaf]

Hey there yurithebest!

Did you get everything working?

If so, what did you do? I'm new to the whole ZBrush to Max thing, and just trying to build up answers to problems I might encounter.... :)

Thanks!

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