Texture map painters

#1

I recently bought Zbrush, thinking it was mainly for making texture maps then finding out its a whole kind of subdivision modeler sort of deal, with tmaps thrown in… really overkill for what I needed it for, though a nice addition to the tool box.

Yes, that 's right, I bought it before trying it out. That will teach me. But hey with a name like “zBRUSH” I figured it would be really good at texture maps!!

Anyway does anyone know of a good program that just does texture maps? I need to create and edit UV maps on organic-type models. Something like Photoshop, but for 3D. (yeah, the answer is almost Photoshop CS3, but it can’t “create” maps yet, just edit them - and not very conveniently at that).

Or do I just bear down and learn zbrush? It does seem like its pretty powerful at what it does.

The purchase came after using BodyPaint and hating it - the C4D guys at work have that as part of the “ultimate package” they talked the company into getting, but even they dislike BodyPaint and don’t use it.

thanks

#2

I had a music teacher that use to crush our knuckles if we didn’t learn our new lessons. It hurt.
http://www.digitaltutors.com/store/product.php?productid=64

Click GUVs, Texture>size, paint or Zapp Link directly in PSD, fix seams, export, apply to model.

I would say, buying ZB on “here say” was a good choice…

My first choice to use ZB was a texture paint tool. With Zapplink, you can edit your maps in PSD and ZB at the same time. Zbrush imports standard UV layout. It also has an auto-UV mapping that assigns UVs in one click. However, it’s not visually editable in Paint apps, so I use a standard UV layout technique like Maya. UV layout is “why” I learned Maya. If I use Maya for a standard UV layout for paint, I mark the draft in Zbrush or rough paint and finalize in PSD.

Take my advice, don’t read the manual, just get a video. I only did ZB2 intro not all the other really cool videos. The total video is 3 hours. I’m a slow learner so it too me a week. Better than getting my artsy-fartsy fingers crushed by the competition. haha.

#3

Hi,

Maxon ‘Bodypaint’ is really nice.

#4

Actually looked at that one first, cause we own a bunch of licneses of it. But even the die-hard Cinema guys here don’t seem to like it. Admittedly, I didn’t give it much of a chance…

#5

Well, it’s no ZBrush but you can paint directly on your models. Seems pretty good with multiple file formats.

#6

Maybe the collective brilliance here can help with a minor problem I’m having - I used to use the built-in Microsoft Mouse tools to assign keystrokes to my Intellimouse. But that control panel now plays havoc with AfterEffects - flashing the screen constantly and such, causing unnecessary redraws, etc.

Does anyone know of a really simple control panel for XP that can map keystrokes to the Intellimouse buttons? I just can’t live without my left and right sub-buttons jumping to the “j” and “k” next or last keyframes… So much time saved!

Related topic, more thread hijack: anyone know of a really nice high-end mouse out there? Gotta be ambidexterous, I use the mouse leftie. Cost is no issue, as long as it isnt’ like $500 bucks. I mean, I use the thing sometimes 18 hours a day, and a good mouse is worth its weight in rock solid gold, in my opinion. Like having a good chair, you know?

The “gameing” ones from Logitech look and feel nice, but I just can’t use those assymetrical mice.

Thanks all!!

#7

Zapp link is free! Wow, thanks Alonzo! Why don’t they just include this in their initial download? Great tip.

#8

I have been a fan of the Razer line since the first 2000dpi Boomslang many years ago.
I have owned 3 Logitech mice in the last 6 years. I was very disappointed with all of them

I think this is the top of the line right now.
http://www.amazon.com/Razer-Copperhead-Tempest-built-Memory/dp/B000IOB44O/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1207566511&sr=8-3

Don’t know about customization software for Windows. Razer’s drivers have some customization capability, but I don’t know how much. I use USB Overdrive on the Mac.
It is nice to have custom button settings (7 buttons on this mouse) set by application.

Good luck, :wink:
Dave

#9

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