ZBrushCentral

New plugin - The ZoomFit Button (updated for ZBrush 3.5 - 9/14/2009)

Shared ZScripts & Macros
#1

zoomfit-splash.jpg

About the ZoomFit Button:
Here’s a button Pixologic forgot. This ZBrush plugin creates a ZoomFit button (similar in nature to the Scroll, Zoom, Actual and Half buttons) which lets you toggle between any Zoomed-in view and a Full view of your Document. This can be extremely useful when you are working up close on a model, but want a quick look at the whole object. Also should be useful to ZBrushers who work on large scale documents (for modeling or 2.5d illustrations).

When you click the ZoomFit button, it will remember the Zoomed view (scale and scrolled position) and will toggle back to it next time the ZoomFit button is clicked.

Any time you change the Zoom scale or shift the document relative to the viewing window, that will be remembered as the new “Zoomed view”.

Installing the ZoomFit button:

The ZoomFit.zip file contains three files:

  1. ZoomFit.zsc
  2. ZoomFit1.psd
  3. About the ZoomFit Button.doc

The ZoomFit.zsc and ZoomFit1.psd files should be unzipped and saved into the ZStartup\ZPlugs folder.

Next time you startup ZBrush 3.1, you will find a ZoomFit button in the ZOOM subpalette. You can drag this into the right-hand shelf or wherever the other document zoom and scroll control buttons are located. Remember to Save the new layout… Ctrl+Shift+i.

As with all ZScripts, using the ZoomFit button (which is a script) will supercede any other current ZScript. Maybe a button similar to ZoomFit will turn up as an integrated control button in ZB4 so that won’t even be an issue.

Assign it a shortcut key and this button can be very useful.

It tests OK on ZB3.1 - if you have trouble loading it on ZB3.12B please let me know the nature of the problem? Thanks.

Svengali

p.s. - a nod to TVEyes, who scripted Tiny Tools a while back… which included a “Fit” button that gave me the idea to create ZoomFit. Thanks Mark.

*** to download 3.5 version click here ***

#2

This will be bloody useful… thanks:+1:small_orange_diamond:+1:

#3

Handy indeed

#4

Yes!

#5

Nice one thanks a lot !

#6

Good idea. This should come in handy. :+1:

MX

#7

Sounds dandy. Will this work with the Mac version?

#8

Hi Svengali,

The script don’t work for me.
In fact there is nothing … neither more button or more action in Zbrush 3.1
I put the 2 files on Zstartup/zplug folder

[Edit] I found now
Fine, all good
sorry about this post Svengali

#9

This will be super handy to maintain the same work size with your brush and still be able to look at the whole picture. Thumbs up!

#10

thanks!!, i’ve been using a custom macro (with help from marcus) that did something similar. i totally agree that it is something that was forgotten. although i think they were hoping we’d use the alt doc view window, maybe we would if we could put it on the side instead of above…

#11

Very good idea! Thanks a bunch

#12

This is a great idea Sven, your script works very well :+1:

When I first saw this thread I thought that the script might save the position of the model when you zoom in to work on it up close (the hold alt and then left click and drag, release alt version of zooming/scaling) as I never really use the actual zoom in button.

Do you think it would be possible to script that method of zooming/scaling the model and then saving the positions and being able to toggle back and forth between full view and scaled in view? If that makes sense :slight_smile:

#13

Eric,

Of course something like that could be scripted, but the whole point of ZoomFit was to give users the ability to toggle between two different sized areas of canvas real estate like an artist does when working at arm’s length - brush in hand - and then stepping back to view the whole painting. The thing is, ZScripting provides a simple way to calculate the proper “scale” factor to show the whole canvas which makes it easy to store the zoomed stats, then restore them by toggling the button.

When someone uses maximum sized documents, especially when modeling, ZoomFit could become indispensable. That’s why I hope Pixologic adds a button that does just that in ZB4.

To script something like you’re describing, you could use the MTransformGet and MTransformSet commands, alternating with a Script-simulated press of the F key using IKeyPress, “f”. Should work just the way you describe. :slight_smile:

A button similar to what you describe might also be a good thing for Pixologic to include in ZB4…

Sven

#14

Thank you! Just installed ZoomFit and it seems to be working just nice. Making ZBrush even more unmissable :slight_smile:

#15

Oh yea, really great little plugin. thanks so much!! :smiley:

#16

hi,
maybe im kind of stupid but i dont really know how to use it… T_T
ive tried clicking and zooming and clicking and zooming but the zoomFit button only zoomed in and out only 10% each time
pls help…
i really like the idea of this plugin (along with quickSave)

#17

The idea here is that you can TOGGLE between a zoomed-in view and a zoomed out view which shows you the entire canvas, scaled down to fit on the screen.

Remember you are ZOOMING in on the canvas (pixels getting larger). You are NOT scaling the model in the window.

So, the way to use the ZoomFit button is:

  1. use the Zoom and Scroll buttons to get some close-up, cropped view of the object so you can work on it. With an extremely large canvas you might even use the Actual button which will only show you a section of the canvas in 1 to 1 scale.

  2. After working close-up modeling or painting, periodically you can press the ZoomFit button to view the whole canvas (as if you stepped back from it) then press the ZoomFit button again to RETURN to the exact previous close-up view of your model or painting (as if you walked back up to the canvas).

That’s all, it does - toggle to let you see the whole canvas and then toggle once more to resume working up close again because it remembers the exact zoom and scroll settings from before.

Sven

#18

I dont understand…
You mean like zooming the canvas (not the model) working on those closed up pixels and then using the zoomFit button to have a look on the whole model (and go back by clicking once more)?
well… it work, but is it convenient to work on such low resolution? O_o

“…the ‘Actual’ button which will only show you a section of the canvas in 1 to 1 scale.” <-- i dont understand this, how to do it?

Is there a way to have a closeup on a section of the canvas in 1:1 scale (resolution?)?

btw, what’s the difference between scale and resolution…?

#19

Go into document menu and press the DOUBLE button. This will make the canvas size twice the width and twice the height. (Many people prefer to work on a larger canvas because it gives better resolution to see details without pixelization.)

Press Control-N to clear the canvas.

Press ZoomFit so you see the whole canvas in the display window.

Redraw your model and go into edit mode. Press F key which will scale your model to fit to the whole canvas.

Press the Actual Button - it has a magnifying glass and a box that says “X1” and the word “Actual” on it and is with all the other square buttons on the shelf at the right side of the display window. This will set the canvas to its “Actual” size (one pixel of canvas = one pixel of screen). Much of the canvas and the model will extend outside the window.

As you sculpt now, you have the best view of your model: it’s not pixelated and it’s not averaged… it’s true 1 to 1. So, to see the whole canvas, press ZoomFit. To resume working with the exact same 1 to 1 view, click ZoomFit again and rock on.

Of course you can scroll the canvas or zoom up the actual model to work at greater detail but keep using the “Actual” button to work at the best pixel resolution for seeing what you’re editing.

Every so often, ZoomFit out for a look, then ZoomFit right back in to continue working.

I can’t make it any more plain than that. Just try it. If it works for you use it.

Sven

P.S. I know the ZoomFit icon needs to be tweaked so the name shows. I’ll update that this week along with my other plugins that need to adapt to the new interface names.

#20

thanks Svengali,
now I get it, and it work! :smiley:

thanks for deep explanation