ZBrushCentral

Lighting and layers?

ZBrush Artworks
#1

I’ve been through Quicklinks, I’ve looked in the manual and I’ve found information on lighting and layers. However, I’m having a problem.

I’m not sure I quite understand how things work. I’ve been playing with it and it’s just not doing what I want it to.

For the sake of example:

I create a new document and put a couple of white 3d objects on the layer. I set the lighting and fog the way I want and then I create a new layer and put 3 different white 3d objects on it. Then I set the lighting the way I want. But, that changes the lighting for all the layers. I turned off a layer and tried it and same thing. Doh, guess that’s why they call it global lighting.

So, my question is this. How do I set lighting and fog differently for each layer. I read a tutorial I think by Kruzr, I could be wrong, that showed spotlights and stuff. Never have got spotlights figured out. Anyway, it says that the lights can be set on different layers. I know I’m missing something really simple. I just can’t figure out what it is. Can anybody point me in the right direction?

#2

You should probably check out the Quicklinks on ‘Baking’…

Another way, one which Kathy uses very succesfully, is to do a layer, render it, create a new doc the same size, import the render as a texture and carry on…The lighting is ‘locked’ into the render, and won’t change if you use Flat color…If you want it to be affected by your new lighting you use a different material…
Hope this helps! :slight_smile:

#3

Thanks Stonecutter! I was afraid of the baking answer. But just in case I missed something on baking I’m gonna go check it out anyway.

Edit: Yes, I missed something…99%

I want to still be able to effect the already lighted layer but I need to set different lighting on new layers…I think I’ll try Kathy’s way.

Thanks again!

#4

Vikki,

Don’t forget about the “Flatten layers” button in the render panel. Turn it off and it disconnects the lighting between layers. Set the lights for a particular layer the way you like, best render (to get shadows), and then “bake” the layer to freeze the lighting the way you want in that layer. Then when switch to another layer you can change the lighting without affecting the previously baked layer. Don’t be afraid of baking, it’s very useful, (and also ‘undoable’) :wink:

#5

great question Vikki…and thnx SC and Zoid for opening my cholesteral filled eye sockets… :slight_smile: I see the light now :slight_smile: :+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: I had been meaning to ask the same question but kept forgetting to do so, thnx Vikki :+1: :+1:

#6

Your welcome Ron! And thanks Zoid for the extra info! It really did make a difference. :smiley: