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Question about using reference images...

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

When I’m modelling in other packages, I can quickly set up two planes in a setup that looks like a plus symbol (+) and drop, for instance, a frontal and profile schematic view or a photo.

It’s often used for modelling someone’s head.

The way I understand it, in ZBrush, tools you’re not using get dropped to the canvas… So that means that you can’t spin the world around to properly view everything like you would in a full blown modelling program like 3dsmax, or Maya.

I would like to try working completely in ZBrush, instead of using it as a refinement tool. Currently, for example, when I’m creating a head, I’ll model it in another application, and then once it’s to a certain point, drop it into ZBrush so I can refine everything.

Making people in ZBrush is extremely quick, and you can get a very realistic looking person in a couple of hours (or maybe quicker if you’re a true maven at ZBrush like some I’ve seen here.) but it won’t necessarily look identical to the person you’re trying to make.

Is it possible in ZBrush to have some sort of a reference image that will act as a live tool acts, while you’re using other tools and editing on other surfaces?

Oh, also… Is there a translucent shader in ZBrush that doesn’t refract the background like glass would? (Edit: I’d just like to drop the opacity of the working polymesh so I can see the reference behind it.)

I know I could probably drop a couple of planes on the canvas and texture them with whatever reference I need, and then later move the active model back and forth to overlap everything, but for workflow’s sake, I was hoping that there is something easier, and more accurate. Perhaps Aurick can shed some light?

#2

Hello,

As you know, the viewport isnt 3d like maya/max/lightwave/etc.

However, like photoshop/paint shop pro/etc, you can have layers and lock them and hide/show them.

So, you can load a reference pics in different layers.

#3

yes your right you can’t put up reference pics and rotate them to your obj but you can rotate the obj to the reference pics.

Svengali just put up a quick and dirty plugin that is most useful to quickly to front, side, back etc snaps…ie rotate quickly.

GameMaster770 also posted a great plugin to make your model semi transparent so you can use the background images as reference.

Sven’s script was within that last 4 days so check the main forum for that thread…or search Svengali in the search thing as he has written some other great scripts as well such as Moldy.

GameMaster770’s is a bit older so do a search on his name to find it.

#4

Svengali’s AXIS zscript

Load your reference photo as a texture and then use the crop and fill button to resize the canvas. Then create a new layer for your model. The GelShaderA is a good one to modify for transparency but you must have the Flatten button turned OFF in the Render menu. Try adjusting the GelShaderA to: Ambient 64, Diffuse 0, Specular 25, Transparency 100.

:slight_smile: Edit: you might also try Aurick’s QuadQuick which was written for version 1 but may work with 2 ok (a brief test seemed to work ok for me). It let’s you set up four views of your model and, more importantly, load different background images into each. Using a transparent material for your model would give you pretty much the method you are after.

#5

I’ve done this, so I’ll walk you through. (step-by-step)

1- setup your canvas size.
2- goto Layers panel and create an extra layer for each reference photo
3- create a 3d plane, and assign it with Flat color material, and your texture photo image.
4- with the 3d plane selected, make sure Edit mode is off, and select Scale.
5- in Transform pallete, open the Info subsection, and change the X and Y components to your image size in pixels.
6- uniform scale the plane after the aspect ratio is corrected by step 5. size it as needed and center it if you didn’t already.
7- repeat steps 3-6 for each reference photo, and making sure each is in it’s own layer.
8- pick an empty layer to model in, and turn off any layer not needed at the time.
9- change the opacity of your object so you can see through it, like X-ray mode from other apps. Do this by setting the Rgb Intensity while not in Edit mode.
9b- the same results of step 9 can be done more easily using my 3d Opacity plug-in,which lets you modify opacity while remaining in Edit mode.

#6

More help than I thought I’d get. This forum is pretty good.

Can’t wait to accept you guys into the CGTalk fold.

#7

Don’t forget that a layer can move on the Z Axe ! :slight_smile:
Look at the 5’ post here :slight_smile:
It’s the Aurick method for simulate a photoshoplayer + the power of the Z Axe moving :slight_smile:
Pilou