The image planes worked out pretty cool. Here’s my attempt at following one of the new tutorials.
[attach=144991]skull.jpg[/attach]
However, I’m still trying to get through the first tutorial. I can’t seem to get the Retopologization thing down.
Looken good Fiveby, check out the topology and flow lab it answered all my questions about the new topo tools, they are actually very easy.
That did the trick. Thanks Harmonic. Rigging and Topology are great new tools.
Fiveby - that looks killer. I’m a major noob and was wondering how long that took you? Did you use the sphere3d tool to start? And then the tweak brush just like the tute - or did you stray on the methods? Seems like that tute might be easier if you started with a lower poly sphere and then subdivided as you went to get the extra detail… Like I said, I’m a noob with ZB, but those are my thought - curious if I’m right or not.
Later - Mike
Hi,
Good start! 
Can I ask you how you managed to do the tutorial, because I get stuck after load the reference images, they do not appear orientated like in the tut. And It doesn’t says which tool you need to start it.
This are my steps:
1.- Open ZB3.
2.- On the Tool palette Load Tool, and Load the PolySphere.ZTL from the ZTools folder.
3.- Draw it in the canvas. Press the Edit button (t key).
4.- In Tool Palette > Geometry, press Lower Res. And then Del Higher.
5.- Repeat this step until you have alower version
6.- When you cannot reduce it more, press Reconstruct Subdiv followed by clicking Del Higher a couple of times.
7.- Now on the Tool Palette press Make Polymesh3D.
8.- Now on the palette Macros > Rapid Start > press Image PlaneX and load the Skull_xplane.jpg that you can download from the wiki page.
9.- Here is where I get stuck, look how ZB import the images and the position of my PolySphere.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Best regards,
David
[attach=56481]ZB3_ImagePlane.jpg[/attach]
Did you try to rotate it? Click outside of the objects and rotate - hold the shift key down constraing it to lock. Hope this helps - I didn’t have problems with the reference plane, but couldn’t figure out how to get the mesh lower - you helped me with that 
Later - Mike
Hi,
Glad to help. I am sure there are other way to get a lower PolySphere with less step, but I didn’t found yet how! 
Yes you can rotate the plane and the sphere at the same time. But what about put the sphere where you can use the symmetry? That it is where really I am stuck.
Best regards,
David
Just hit the “x” key - that will turn on symmetry on the X axis. I’d have to dig around to find it in the menus. Good luck - looking forward to seein’ your skull!
Later - Mike
Fewer steps:
Time to load the image plane X
Hi FiveBy
You are right, but the polysphere I got has a LOT of polygons and it is not at the same resolution that you can see on the tutorial. I am posting a screenshot.
Then If I follow my steps, and ALWAYS the macro displace the planes.
If I follow yours, then works, but of course it is not the same as in the tutorial!
I was aware of the prewiew window. But on the palette Draw > Preview, the PolySphere looks gigantic. On the Tool Palette preview I always got a star?
Sorry for so newbie silly questions!
But I am really used to model with reference images and I would like to do and understand this tutorial to its fullest.
Best regards,
David
[attach=56497]ZB3_PolySphere.jpg[/attach]
I created a moderate sphere in LightWave and exported as an .obj. Once you import it into ZB3, you can subdivide it further to get more polys. Here’s the .obj - in case it will help. Good luck - I’m still working on this tute as well.
Later - Mike
[QUOTE=dballesg]
You are right, but the polysphere I got has a LOT of polygons and it is not at the same resolution that you can see on the tutorial. I am posting a screenshot.
I was aware of the prewiew window. But on the palette Draw > Preview, the PolySphere looks gigantic. On the Tool Palette preview I always got a star?
[QUOTE]
Hmmmm. First, it doesn’t have to be the same number of polys for you to do the tutorial. You start with the default, rough in your shape, then start dividing to add polys.
But then you said in your preview you see a star? That’s the import tool, so you’re importing a sphere? No need to do that. Just start out with the sphere tool, then make it a polymesh.
Isn’t there a rule with importanting .obj’s that they need to be all quads? Just curious - before I get too far into this skull thingy…
Later - Mike
These tutes look cool on the surface, but as somebody new to ZB, I am having a hell of a time trying to fill in the holes on these. I’m about ready to throw in the towel on this skull tute - it’s really whooping my arse. I’d love to see a Practical Guide for ZB3. Hell, I’d even be willing to pay extra for it. Anyone else having trouble with this tute?
Later - Mike
Oh hey Chillwill, sorry. I totally missed your question.
I did just about what you said, I just started with a simple sphere3d, then subdivided more and more as I went along. But at first it’s easier for me by keeping it low-res. And yes, you’re right, the tutorials skip right along in some places, but I’m still glad to have them.
So which part is kicking your arse? Because the image planes only really helped me get started, then I did better hiding the plane by clicking on the subtool layer “eye” and just using one of his photos as a reference.
I can’t seem to figure out how to get the shape for the lower/rear/back of the skull. The part where it deviates from being an oval/sphere. I have no idea how to handle that area. Any help would be great…
Thank you - Mike
try this Chillwill:
Wow, thanks a lot, man. That helped out quite a bit. I just tested out your method on my mess of a mesh and was able to see decent results instantly. I’ll tackle this with a fresh mind tomorrow. I’m starting to feel better about this powerful digital sculpting tool. I don’t really have any traditional art background, but love 3D in general. I told a couple of Visual Arts classes so have a decent grasp of the fundamentals. I always joke my wife about the difference between computer and traditional art. I tell her that at least if I screw up on the computer I can just hit “Control Z” Thanks you for the pointers!!!
Goodnight - Mike
Hi,
Fiveby, I see what you mean. Starting with an Sphere and then simply start sculpting with the tweak tool.
And have the advantage that puts the planes where they must be!
About the star on Tool > Preview, you are right as well, I was loading the PolySphere that is why always you get a star there! It would be better if ZB put a copy of your loaded tool, less confusing!
What stills surprise me, it is that problem if you load the PolySPhere, reduce it number of polys so it is more manageable, when you execute the macro, the planes appear on a different size and the reduced sphere it is not on the center, so if you try to use symmetry is impossible. I think I discovered a bug here with that process!
Only to clarify, your way works perfectly.
Best regards,
David
ballesg,
The problem of importing is zbrush and your other modeling software might not use the same world coordinates.
ex: Y axis might be the up axis in one and left to right in another. So when you import it in it gets turned around.
Zbrush does let you correct this in PREFERENCES: IMPORT\EXPORT.
But glad the tutorial is working for you guys, that can be very frustrating!
See ya