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how to use slice tool and dynamesh to create separate pieces of geometry??

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi,

I am doing the “The Making of Time for Art” tutorial in the Digital Sculpting>Dynamesh section of the classroom.

I’m having trouble with the slice tool, I’m trying to create separate volumes as you can see in the tutorial still to the right but my mesh is not splitting properly as you can see in my model to the left.

Can someone please tell where I am going wrong here?

(NOTE - I notice that this is not an issue in 4r4, but it is in 4R6. it seems like 4r6 keeps the two volumes joined for some reason)

Attachments

Screen-Shot-2013-10-09-at-10.42.40-AM.jpg

#2

Strange…so it appears that even though a wall of mesh is generated inside the geometry, it’s still attaching itself to the other piece. To fix this, here’s what I’d do…

Start by slicing your object, and dynameshing as you would ordinarily with the “groups” box checked.

Then do a SelectRect(or lasso) around the top part of your geometry. Then hit Ctrl-Shift-A to select all polygons attached to that object, then either move it mask it, or split hidden. It should release cleanly from the other piece of geometry.

Not sure why this is happening, but that should help. Let me know if you have any questions.

#3

Do you know if Pixologic are aware of this? and are they looking to fix it quickly. This has to be one of the biggest +'s of using Zbrush and concepting. The ability to split and remesh with minimum clicks n drags. Just can’t get use to this Split to Parts then having to re dynamesh each individual part. Think I might go back to older version. :cry:

#4

thanks for your reply skittixch, i appreciate the suggestion. i can release the geometry using this method you describe but then i have trouble re attaching it and because the second piece of geometry disappears in this process i’m having trouble seeing where i am moving to.

the root problem seems to be that when dynamesh creates the separate groups the area between the two groups is a third group as opposed to just being a part of two separate groups. one work-around that i just discovered was to click Autogroups, then i can move the piece and reattach it in a another positions by unclick the Group button in the dymanesh fucntion, but this doesn’t seem like a sustainable solutions because there may be situations in which i do not want everything autogrouped plus when i regroup by unchecking the Group button and Dynameshing the pieces reattach but they are still separate groups rather than becoming a single group again…

i wonder why dynamesh is doing this, creating the extra group in the middle, i wonder if there is a setting that i accidentally checked?

#5

It’s definitely an odd issue, but I’d say as long as you know how to isolate polygroups and attach connected geometry, you should have enough to work with to create any polygroups you want, wherever you want. It’s a few more clicks, but I don’t know if I agree that it’s a showstopper. Feel free to correct me if that’s not how you see it, or if I’m missing something.

#6

Hi all

This is not a bug in Zbrush 4R6 it is because now Dynamesh the new feature of keeping the polygroups when dynameshing and not spliting in parts. This is something you can´t do in previous versions because it allways splitted the mesh in pieces. And it´s a very usefull new feature we all love;)
Now, if you want to have again the splitting feature you can do it aswell. Just need to have polypaint in your model and the brush icon on. Select Groups in the dynamesh palette and now it works as previous versions

Please see the picture below

DynameshCorrectly.jpg
DynameshCorrectly.jpg1280×1024 326 KB

#7

Many Thanks for this demonstration, most helpful and phew… should have known Pixologic had a work around. Back to reading the docs me thinks. My only criticism is or probably a suggestion, wouldn’t the option be better as a button under Dynamesh. ie Button on yes I do want to split, Button off no I don’t want to split. For those who haven’t pursued customising yet, I think it would minimize having to scroll up and down the tree. Additionally as a button, you could customize a pallet and then switch between split/joined quickly whilst testing new shapes and concepts quickly. Anyway just a suggestion and thanks again.

#8

so basically to have a clean split you just have to have that brush icon checked before you dymamesh with groups.

4Z4R: thank you SO MUCH for clearing this up for us !!

#9

Basically you need to have polypaint information on your mesh :slight_smile:
Glad to help:+1:

#10

and polypaint information is created automatically when you split, right?

and i guess this means you could “paint on” the areas that you want to split aswell?

#11

All you need to have is polypaint information (brush icon in the subtool palette on) and Goups button activated on Dynamesh BEFORE Dynameshing. It will split your Polygrops NOT your Polypaint.

Although, if you want to, you can use polypaint information to create Polygroups. Just go under Tool Pallete-> Polygroups and press From Polypaint button

Hope this make sense

Cheers

#12

yes, got it, thank you very much for your help

#13

Thank you so much!!!

#14

Thank you so much for finding this button. I knew it had to be something obscure and it was quite frustrating trying to find the problem. This solution worked perfectly, I hope this button is added to the Dynamesh option group instead of being hidden away in subtool.

#15

I clicked on the paint brush icon and that fixed the separation problem…but the split is really unclean and jaggy…is there a way to make a clean cut like in the original Zbrush Video Tutorial?

Or does this option not exist anymore?

Adam

#16

I had the same problem and played with the polish etc but still didn’t get the results I wanted without increasing the resolution significantly. So I do the following to make it clean:

1). Slice Curve Your Model. Think this can be done in Dynamesh and Normal Poly Modeling Mode

2). You should have two Poly Groups

3). I then Subtool>Splt>Groups Split

4). This will give you 2 subtools

5). I then Geometry>Modify Topology>Close Holes

I know it appears a bit of a ball ache but I seem to get clean lines on straight lines going through objects. I haven’t tried it on complex cuts yet. But I suspect you will get
results similar to using the Trim Brushes. I’m sure there’s an even more simpler way, but that works for me. Could probably macro it, if it works for ya.

Hope that helps

#17

Thanks so much Treece,

That works much better. I will use that instead. I wish these tools wouldn’t change like that…but I guess that’s they way it goes…I guess they need to update that video on the ZClassroom :slight_smile:

Take Care and Thanks Again,

Adam :slight_smile:

#18

I could not find anything in the documentation about this problem so a big thanks to you.:smiley: