ZBrushCentral

Import terrain from Google Earth or similar?

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hello,

I am wondering if it is somehow possible to import “real” terrain from e.g. Google Earth and have it 3D modeled as a basis for further modification? I am working on scientific illustrations and would like to extend into the 3D field. Having some basis would make it easier for sculpting.

Thank you!

#2

You can a import a height map and then apply it as displacement to a plane.

heightmapDisp.jpg
heightmapDisp.jpg1444×867 113 KB

#3

thanks a lot, I’ll try that! Is it also possible to overlay an image to add color?

#4

Yes, you can do that. A good rough working method would be:

  1. Import the height map into the Alpha palette, and the color textuire map into the Texture palette.
  2. Make sure there’s nothing in Edit mode and the canvas is clear. With the texture map selected in the Texture palette press the Texture>Image Plane>Load Image button. Using the Image Plane plugin just makes this bit simpler as it creates a plane of the right proportions and applies the texture map.
  3. You should now see the texture map on the canvas with the Gyro showing. Turn on Edit mode.
  4. Turn off Tool>Geometry>Smt and the divide the plane until the polygons are approximately the same number as the height map pixels.
  5. In the Tool>Displacement Map sub-palette click on the thumbnail and select the height map from the pop-up.
  6. Turn on Tool>Displacement Map>Mode and then adjust the Tool>Displacement Map>Intensity until you see the amount of displacement you want. (This is trial and error.) You may want to click and drag outside the canvas to rotate the plane so you can see the displacement.
  7. When you’re happy, click Tool>Displacement Map>Apply DispMap. This coverts the displacement into actual geometry which you can then sculpt further.

Notes:
*For the displacement to work you need a texture map displayed in the Tool>Texture Map sub-palette. Just create a white map if you aren’t importing one.
*If you want to change the color as well as sculpt then you will probably want to convert to polypaint using Tool>Polypaint>Polypaint From Texture.

HTH,

#5

Wow, that worked beautifully, thanks a lot for your help!

I assume that the color is pixelated because the texture is only 1025x1025?

terrain (Medium).jpg
terrain (Medium).jpg1230×768 209 KB

#6

Looks good! Yes, the color will be limited by the texture map resolution, though you may be able to get a better result converting to polypaint and then subdividing further (the polypaint will be interpolated for the higher resolution and look less blocky).