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How to create a thickness (shell) from a huge surface mesh?

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hello again,

I have often the situation, that I need to create a thick “waterproof” mesh from a surface.
But when my surface mesh has 200.000 polygons, the ZModeler with QMesh does not work anymore.

I also tried to duplicate, move the duplicate and merge, but I don’t know how to tell zBrush to fill the place between.
Sometimes works just Close Holes, when it is a round shape.

Is there an other known solution?
Please see attachments below

Thanks…

a) I thought to fill the space between the duplicated meshes. Just don’t know how:
double object ZBrush.jpg

b) Sometimes works “Close Holes”, but in this case it closes not only on the backside:
Close Holes problem ZBrush.jpg

Attachments

Close Holes problem ZBrush.jpg

#2

You can do an Extract:

  1. Ctrl+click the background to mask all.
  2. In the Tool>SubTool>Extract section, set S Smt to 0, turn off Double and set the Thick slider to a negative value.
  3. Press Extract followed by Accept.
#3

many thanks again…
I used a low value (-0.001) because it worked with less intersection failures and moved then the backside more away from the top surface to make the mesh thickerthicker.jpg

#4

Excellent. :+1:

#5

Thanks for this solution. I have been scanning 3D which produces a thin skin that is impossible to print. As an occasional Zbrush user I had no clue how to manipulate the model to achieve a good, useable, outcome. I tried in other programmes to resolve my issue to no avail. This solution works for me.

1 Like
#6

Great to hear, Philip.
Yes I use mainly photogrammetry data, too, or sometimes clothes from Marvelous designer (which has the same problem),
and it’s hard to find clear explained workflows for all this from zBrush, because Pixologic always thinks first of the classical sculpting.
And classical sculpting produces of course watertight controlable meshes.

I would be happy, if Pixologic would support with new tools and tutorials a bit more also such users like us.

Please share your experiences as well, so we can learn from each other…