ZBrushCentral

Other than simple topology, whats the point of zremesher?

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

So is zremesher purely for when you need topology and not for anything to animate with?

Spent the better part of the day trying to get an effing edge loop around the eyes and mouth using zguides. All I get are concave, distorted, or non-complete edge loops. Even with the guide slider set to 100, it continuously fails to deliver simple edge loops around the eyes. I even gave up, didnt care what the mesh would look like, all I wanted was a simple circle around an eye for this humanoid model.

For some reason the arms and fingers are fine. Perfect edge loops around a stretched out arm. However draw a damn circle around an eye socket? Nope, aint gonna happen.

So whats the point? Am I using it wrong? Is it not for animation? Am I better off doing it manually?
Seriously pixologic makes zremesher seem like its a holy grail in topology I feel like im missing something here.

After some searching all I find is outdated guides on the old qremesher. Nothing seems current. Maybe its just an off day for me so any help would be appreciated.

Also, is it at all possible to save your guide layout? Like if I were to draw a zguide, then remesh, it dissappears, is there a way to load the same guide or path?

Heres a sample of what happens:

Model is decimated (4k-ish polys) with a zguide around the eye.

Settings at default, polypaint color painted for twice the amount on the face (doesnt matter)

Result

Settings set to curve strenth 100, everything else the same.

Ive seen youtube videos of people making clean circles around the eyes, I dont get it.
This is what happens when I hold Alt while clicking zremesher.

Attachments

1.png

2.png

3.png

4.png

5.png

#2

Have you tried to mask and create the groups beforehand? ZRemesher is supposed to get your mesh to a lower point count, it usually does do that for you.
http://docs.pixologic.com/user-guide/3d-modeling/topology/zremesher/introduction/ Don’t stop reading after that page. More than one attempt may be necessary :wink:
The ZModeler brush is awesome, the ability to add and delete loops is a welcome addition. Have fun.

#3

Does polygrouping where I want an edgeloop help?

In the using curves section: http://docs.pixologic.com/user-guide/3d-modeling/topology/zremesher/using-curves/

It doesnt show the example using polygroups at all. The only thing different from that one and mine seems to be they used red polypaint and half curves guiding the flow.

One thing I dont get is that it seems the smaller the poly count the better the results, but it also seems that if i divide my model, id also get better results. Im assuming theres a sweet spot or something?

#4

Groups can be hidden and masked easily. You can insert edge loops around the masked area/s.
ZRemesher with the Polypaint option is good but may require a couple attempts to get the hang of it.
http://docs.pixologic.com/reference-guide/tool/polymesh/geometry/zremesher/

#5

have a look at what was done here: http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?191472-Z-Brush-4r7-tips-(Zmodeler)(nan-mesh)(array-mesh)(zremesher2-0)&p=1131641&viewfull=1#post1131641

#6

Are you using ZBrush4R7 P3? If not you will want to update to this version first. Also I would recommend putting a few curves are each eye. I will usually use 3 but I would have at least 2 for each eye.

#7

ZClassroom Videos

#8

Perfect topology is for professionals in ANIMATION

If YOU’RE using ZBRUSH simply for illustration and your PIPELINE is “ZBRUSH to KEYSHOT” or “ZBRUSH to PHOTOSHOP”. Then you don’t have to worry about an animation-friendly-mesh. FORGET topology and just DYNAMESH

But if you’re going for PHOTOREALISM and your testing out more expensive tools like VRAY, Arnold or a renderer along that path… Then you better learn all the tricks about MAPS and NORMALS and TOPOLOGY because MAYA, C4D or MAX will CHOKE on millions of polygons…

also if you’re creating game content, you better learn about maximizing poly count and MAPS also…

That’s why we have DECIMATION MASTER, ZREMESHER, and the 5 or 6 other topology tools found in ZBRUSH that can easily get you loops around EYE SOCKETS