Non-manifold geometry after zRemeshing & again zRemeshing shrinks the volume too much

[AlexxCentral]

Hello,
two questions to one issue

1.)
I have zRemeshed a character
which now has issues with non-manifold geometry, especially at the fingers of a hand and the ears.

• Is there a way to prevent this? Unfortunately zBrush tells me, that the geometry check ist good.
  I spent quite a bit time already to find ways with dynamesh, to get a clean lowpoly shape.
  The original character is a complex figure with clothes and several subtools, which I “only” need to have as one single mesh. (and the character is also posed, so I can’t use external Wrapping)

2.)
So when I zRemesh it just again, then the hand starts shrinking too much.
I know this would be a good solution to refine the mesh, but when body parts become to small, then ist doesn’t help.

Attached a screenshot from the double zRemeshed hand.

Thanks in advance!

[Spyndel]

Hello @AlexxCentral

Sorry you’re having some trouble! I’ll try to address all your issues here.

@AlexxCentral

I have zRemeshed a character
which now has issues with non-manifold geometry,

This can be fixed via Tool> Geometry > Mesh Integrity> Fix. This should be fixed before performing any further operations on your mesh.

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@AlexxCentral

The original character is a complex figure with clothes and several subtools, which I “only” need to have as one single mesh. (and the character is also posed, so I can’t use external Wrapping)

ZRemesher does not fuse geometry in any way. If you ZRemesh as separate pieces, ZRemesher will return separate pieces. If you want to fuse the mesh into a single piece, this must be done before ZRemeshing, via Dynamesh or Live Boolean.

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@AlexxCentral

So when I zRemesh it just again, then the hand starts shrinking too much.

What is the purpose of the second ZRemesh? To further reduce polycount?

Some softening of form and loss of detail is to be expected as ZRemesher eliminates polygons from the previous topology. Multiple subsequent ZRemeshes will soften and reduce further, because they’re starting with a mesh that has already been softened and reduced.

In order for a mesh to regain its previous form and level of detail, you must subdivide it, and project the detail from your previous mesh onto the new one.

[AlexxCentral]

Thanks Spyndel,
I will test the Boolean next time.
My main issue is often mesh parts inside from merging and Boolean and then dynamesh and then zRemesh could make it cleaner.