ZB3 on OS X

[Lone Deranger]

It runs under parallels and you can get work done in this way provided that you don't intend to sculpt well into the millions of polys. I found it rather slow on my Mac Pro and also noticed an annoying stutter in the sculpting tools when drawing long strokes. The stutter actually has a visual impact.
Also, you'll be limited to using one core only and a theoretical maximum of 1.5GB of Ram (more like <1.0GB in reality).
So despite what Pixologic would have you believe, it's *not* a good alternative considering the circumstances (same price in license plus the additional costs incurred by purchasing both Windows and Parallels licenses).

As to when ZB3 comes out? Pixologic's statement "4-6 months after Windows ZB3 is done" seems deliberately vague. Would that be after 3.0? Or 3.1? Or 3.2... 3.3?? They don't say. :shrug:
Considering that 3.1 still has things missing and is anything but bug-free I have my doubts that work is currently undergoing full force to provide their OSX based clients with what they are entitled to. :sad:

For more interesting reading go here (http://forums.luxology.com/discussion/topic.aspx?id=19441).

[DagMX]

It runs under parallels and you can get work done in this way provided that you don't intend to sculpt well into the millions of polys. I found it rather slow on my Mac Pro and also noticed an annoying stutter in the sculpting tools when drawing long strokes. The stutter actually has a visual impact.
Also, you'll be limited to using one core only and a theoretical maximum of 1.5GB of Ram (more like <1.0GB in reality).
So despite what Pixologic would have you believe, it's *not* a good alternative considering the circumstances (same price in license plus the additional costs incurred by purchasing both Windows and Parallels licenses).

As to when ZB3 comes out? Pixologic's statement "4-6 months after Windows ZB3 is done" seems deliberately vague. Would that be after 3.0? Or 3.1? Or 3.2... 3.3?? They don't say. :shrug:
Considering that 3.1 still has things missing and is anything but bug-free I have my doubts that work is currently undergoing full force to provide their OSX based clients with what they are entitled to. :sad:

For more interesting reading go here (http://forums.luxology.com/discussion/topic.aspx?id=19441).


So I'd assume it would run worse on a macbook pro on parallels. Btw, were you running parallels 3 or 2?

Well I hope modo 301's sculpting will be comparable to Zbrush. I'd also prefer modos layout since I think Zbrush would be aweful in terms of interface on a mac unless they do it well, but Zbrush does have the best tools for getting the job done quickly.

And thanks for the link

[Crazzy Legs]

if you are running on an intel mac, you can do it for free by downloading "boot camp" which from what I understand is getting the best speed of all the multi-OS options out there for the mac, especially the newest release.
Boot camp is free

Then you can get ahold of pixelogic and exchange your mac zbrush license for a pc license and upgrade for free. You will be able to go back to the mac version after the mac version is released. See Pixologics Zbrush requirements page for info on exchanging the license.
That too is for free

The only thing you will have to pay for now is Windows...but hey, considering the flexibility that will add , I think its worth the purchase.

[Rhs_CG]

I have XP Pro on my MacBook Pro (via boot camp) and with 1.83Ghz Core Duo, 1.5GB Ram, I was sculpting a 5-6 Million polygon model in very close to realtime. Only when I used the undo command did I notice a major performance hit.

I too await ZBrush for OS X, though I haven't gotten too frustrated at Pixologic's efforts in that arena, yet.

[DagMX]

if you are running on an intel mac, you can do it for free by downloading "boot camp" which from what I understand is getting the best speed of all the multi-OS options out there for the mac, especially the newest release.
Boot camp is free

Then you can get ahold of pixelogic and exchange your mac zbrush license for a pc license and upgrade for free. You will be able to go back to the mac version after the mac version is released. See Pixologics Zbrush requirements page for info on exchanging the license.
That too is for free

The only thing you will have to pay for now is Windows...but hey, considering the flexibility that will add , I think its worth the purchase.

yeah, I'd be installing windows anyway once I get my mac(mainly for games and MSN though), but it would be a pain to have to switch to windows evertime that I wanted to do some sculpting on an obj and then bring it back into maya, or especially if I wanted to do texturing in zbrush.

I was looking at modo 301 though. The sculpting tools look as good as Zb3, and the other ZB3 functions are pretty much there in 203 so maybe I'll switch to modo.

Thanks for the help though

[ClearVista]

I've been using ZB3.1 under Vista on my MBPro for a while now, along with Maya. I've found that ZB and Maya are really performing (zb2.5 that is) a lot faster under Vista than they did on OSX. To the point that I have perminantly switched back to windows until I finish getting the money together to get myself a new windows workstation.

If you are a heavy ZB user on a Intel Mac, I would highly recommend installing windows for ZB3.1. Also as far as I remember ZB2.5 on the Mac wasn't Intel native and was running through Rosetta, which would obviously impact the performace cosiderably

[womanonfire]

*blip* sry double post

[womanonfire]

it has been said on the zbrushcentral forums that ZB3 isn't coming out for mac till the next version of OSX... i think that will be out in november(? not sure tho)

[ClearVista]

that is quite possible as it isn't until the next osx comes out that 64-bit will be available to mac software. Could be a reason for the delay

[Lone Deranger]

Seeing as running a 64bit version of Windows adds absolutely *zero* improvement to ZB3 I don't see why this would be a reason to hold back the OSX release.

Maybe I'm wrong though and Pixologic will surprise Mac users with a true 64bit version of ZB3. They sure have some making up to do.

[liquidik]

Well Leopard, is going to have huge improvements in open GL...maybe that's the thing :D

[DagMX]

Well Leopard, is going to have huge improvements in open GL...maybe that's the thing :D
yeah, I guess they'd want to have everything ready for the graphics system overhaul in OS X.
and modo301 is out. anyone tried it yet?

[Imhotep397]

I demoed 301 on a friend's Mac and had been using ZB 3 at work. The lack of ZB 3 for me at home is too much of a slap in the face for me to deal with when modo sculpting is equivalent. Make mine a modo.

[Lone Deranger]

It's my understanding that zBrush does not make use of OpenGL and instead relies on it's own 3D display technology.
So I doubt the OpenGL overhaul in Leopard (first time I've heard of that one by the way) is the reason behind the delays.

Well Leopard, is going to have huge improvements in open GL...maybe that's the thing :D

[womanonfire]

http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=48810&highlight=mac

[AVTPro]

Has anyone ran ZMapper in Parrallels? I crash.

I'm not familiar with Windows. I guess you have to install OpenGL and DirectX?

I know Parrallels say they support OpenGL but I don't have it and I'm running 5160 (911)


One more, will Maya run in Parrallels? I dont' see ZB or Maya here in their supported apps. Thanks.



Applications

Autodesk 3ds Max 9
Autodesk AutoCAD 2008
Autodesk Inventor Pro 2008
Autodesk Revit Arch 2008
AeroFly Pro Deluxe
ArcGIS™ Desktop 9.2
Avid SOFTIMAGE|XSI 5.11
Avid SOFTIMAGE|XSI 6.02
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Maxon CINEMA 4D® R10
NASA World Wind 1.4
Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 3.0 Punch! Professional Home
RhinoCeros® 4
SketchUp Pro 6
SolidWorks® 2007

[DagMX]

Has anyone ran ZMapper in Parrallels? I crash.

I'm not familiar with Windows. I guess you have to install OpenGL and DirectX?

I know Parrallels say they support OpenGL but I don't have it and I'm running 5160 (911)


One more, will Maya run in Parrallels? I dont' see ZB or Maya here in their supported apps. Thanks.



Applications

Autodesk 3ds Max 9
Autodesk AutoCAD 2008
Autodesk Inventor Pro 2008
Autodesk Revit Arch 2008
AeroFly Pro Deluxe
ArcGIS™ Desktop 9.2
Avid SOFTIMAGE|XSI 5.11
Avid SOFTIMAGE|XSI 6.02
CATIA V5R16
Maxon CINEMA 4D® R10
NASA World Wind 1.4
Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 3.0 Punch! Professional Home
RhinoCeros® 4
SketchUp Pro 6
SolidWorks® 2007

I think Zmapper crashes due to to the large memory requirements for it?

Maya should run but IDK why one would run it through parallels when the OS X version isavailable.

OpenGl should be available if your running PArallels 3 or above. might want to check out vmware fusion as well.

[daytona]

I haven't found any successful way of running ZB3 on OSX. I've tried the last Fusion and Parallels and whilst they both work in some degree, they both have major issues that make doing anything properly impossible. Stick to Boot Camp, works a treat. I bit of a pain to have to switch but hey try booting in OSX on a PC!

[AVTPro]

I haven't found any successful way of running ZB3 on OSX. I've tried the last Fusion and Parallels and whilst they both work in some degree, they both have major issues that make doing anything properly impossible. Stick to Boot Camp, works a treat. I bit of a pain to have to switch but hey try booting in OSX on a PC!

Parallels works much better than BootCamp for me. I get lag on the menu items with BootCamp. I just tried it. I still get the GL_Enum error when I try to run zMapper.

Can you run ZMapper in BootCamp?

[AVTPro]

I think Zmapper crashes due to to the large memory requirements for it?

Maya should run but IDK why one would run it through parallels when the OS X version isavailable.

OpenGl should be available if your running PArallels 3 or above. might want to check out vmware fusion as well.

To run Maya in Parrallels or BootCamp because I don't have a Windows machine and I want acess to plugs that don't run on Mac.

[DorisDay]

I have ZB running on my intel Macpro via Parallels & Bootcamp...

Bootcamp gives better performance but only allows 2Gb of ram to be used & considering Vista wants a chunk of that you can't really push ZB3.1 beyond anything ZB2 could do. Bootcamp also requires you to keep rebooting, if your like me & have all your other software running on OSX this can be a pain...

Parallels is much more convenient to use but ZB takes a bigger hit in the performance area as you are limited to poly count again. The bonus is it runs within OSX so no reboot to get to your other apps...

I have not used ZB3 to create anything since it came out which is a blow to me as it was my main creative tool. I am merely using ZB3 in parallels/bootcamp to learn the new tools so when the true Mac version arrives I'll be ready to go. The main reason for not using ZB 3.1 is my workflow also uses Photoshop & Modo which are both on OSX so the term flow is a tad optimistic if you ask me...

I doubt the release of OSX has anything to do with the Mac ZB release as the developers version of OSX has been out for nearly 9 months I believe...

I believe the delay is simply that Pixologic have a small team of coders that decided the masses i.e. Windows users got first dibs & Pix want that version 100% before starting on the Mac version, once that is achieved I would imagine they will start on the Mac version...

When ZB2 was released the Mac version was about 6-7 months behind the Windows version so I'd expect the same delay from the release of 3.1 if not a little longer due to 64 bit & more complex tools etc, my guess for a OSX release is January 2008...

This is all based on my own opinion/experiences & it's not unheard of for me to be totally wrong, hopefully I will be wrong & it will come sooner, fingers crossed...

[AVTPro]

Don't mean to shift the topic but I have an important question:

Can HDR files be used as ZB output for displacement?

Thanks.

BTW, Bux. Enjoyed your post. Though our experiences with emulation is difference our strategy is the same.

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