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Matcap. Step by step.

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hello fellow ZBrushers.I have a picture of a vase from which I want to make my own material using matcap. Could anyone give me a basic step by step guide for using matcap.

  1. How to setup the reference image for capturing the material?

  2. How to use the matcap tool. Some tips and tricks on how to capture specular,opacity and diffuse attributes from a reference picture.

  3. What are the default matcap materials? How can they be useful?

  4. How to use materials made in ZBrush in other 3d applications?

I have tried looking for some tutorials or online discussions on matcap, but could not follow much of it. Would really appreciate it if someone could help me with this. Thanks.

#2

Check out this thread…

http://www.pixolator.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=45417&highlight=matcap

Here’s the new movie link.

http://www.uberdesigns.co.uk/old/zbrush/zbrush3matcap.mov

I trust you checked out the “official” how-to’s:

http://www.zbrush.info/docs/index.php/MatCap

#3

After I read the instructions presented in the urls u posted I started making my own materials. Its good fun. However I was wondering why the reference image changes each time I add a new point to the matcap.

1)Is that the way the image is supposed to behave?

  1. Also, is there any way I could add attributes of translucence or raytrace(such as in glass and ice ) self illumination etc using matcap? or do I have to adjust those manually?

  2. If I have a reference image of a clay vase, which has a rough surface, can details like those be added proceduarally through matcap?

Thanks.:slight_smile:

#4

  1. Before drawing your reference image on the canvas, select the FlatColor material. This material doesn’t change the reference image in any way because it’s unaffected by lights and shadows. The reason your image changes every time you update the MatCap is because you had your MatCap material selected when you drew the reference image. This means that every adjustment to the material affects the reference image as well.

  2. MatCap doesn’t support those features. You can affect translucency by modifying the RGB Intensity before you draw the object. Through the Draw palette you can also adjust the objects refraction. This isn’t raytraced, though.

  3. Those kinds of properties need to be added through texture with a MatCap. MatCap shaders tend to overwhelm non-MatCap shaders in other channels.

#5

Will try your suggested method. You’ve always been very forthcoming with your helpful tips and suggestions. it is good to have you on Zbrushcentral. :slight_smile: