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morph target understanding

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi,

I have an question about morph target. I have an 3d detailed scan and I created new base mesh on which I want to re-project the details from the scan.
When i reproject details I end up with 5 subdivisions. When I drop to the base first subdivision, vertexes on my base model had moved [morphtarget changed]. So before reprojection I store morph target so when I get onto the first subdivision level I can restore my untouched base mesh. But with this switched morph target when I get to the top fifth subdivision level the reprojected mesh change according with switched morph target too. For example nails are completely broken when I switch morph target after the reprojection in the top subdivision level.

Can I somehow reproject details on my base mesh without changing the base mesh during the re projection or without switching morph target?
I want to extract displacement map from this detail so is it necessary to switch the morph target before exporting displacement map ? Will it work with my original base mesh anyway?

[I hope I explained it clearly.]

#2

Whenever you make changes to one subdivision level they will be reflected in changes to the other levels; that is how subdivision modeling works. If you want to use a specific base mesh in another program, together with a displacement/normal map for the high resolution details, then there are basically two working methods you can use in ZBrush:

A:

  1. Import your base mesh.
  2. Store a morph target. This makes sure ZBrush has a copy of your original mesh.
  3. Subdivide and sculpt high resolution detail (or, as in your case, project it from another mesh).
  4. Go to the lowest level.
  5. Switch the morph target. This restores the original mesh.
  6. Create the displacement map.
    7.***If you want to return to the higher subdivision levels to do more sculpting you must switch the morph target again before leaving the lowest level. This will ensure your higher levels aren’t changed. ***

B:

  1. Import your base mesh.
  2. Subdivide and sculpt high resolution detail (or, as in your case, project it from another mesh).
  3. Go to the lowest level.
  4. Store a morph target. This stores a copy of your sculpted mesh.
  5. Import the original mesh.
  6. Create the displacement map.
    7.***If you want to return to the higher subdivision levels to do more sculpting you must switch the morph target again before leaving the lowest level. This will ensure your higher levels aren’t changed. ***
#3

Thank you Marcus, now i understand it better. Till now I was using first variant but I did not do the fifth step[there was the problem].

But still I have an question about second variant. When I import the mesh after all the sculpting, all the detail will be reprojected on the new imported mesh. Does not this procedure move/edit the new imported mesh already during the import-projection? Because its the same like the re-projection technique from the different mesh which at the end move the base mesh.

#4

I have an additional question about the morph target.

I need to resize the model before I can export it to the different software. I store the morph target, than i resize the model. When i want to switch the morph target on the resized [smaller] model it always jumps to the not resized [bigger] morph. Is there any technique witch allow me to resize the model with the morph target, so I only resize the model and use the morph target normally like I would use it before resizeing?

#5

Just wondering why you can’t use the resized the model in Zbrush?

#6

The adjustment of the lowest subdivision level only happens when you move back up to the higher levels. That is why you must generate the displacement/normal maps immediately after restoring the original mesh either by importing (as in B) or switching the morph target (as in A).

I need to resize the model before I can export it to the different software. I store the morph target, than i resize the model. When i want to switch the morph target on the resized [smaller] model it always jumps to the not resized [bigger] morph. Is there any technique witch allow me to resize the model with the morph target, so I only resize the model and use the morph target normally like I would use it before resizeing?

Morph targets won’t work like that as they are relative to the scale of the model. You will have to do this:

  1. Import the resized model.
  2. Go to the top subdivision level.
  3. Go to the lowest level.
  4. Import the resized model again.
  5. Generate the displacement/normal map.