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Transpose Master Merges all Subtools and Removes Subdivisions

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hi. I’m very new to Zbrush - and 3D sculpting in general. I have a problem and I’m not sure if it’s a bug, or something I just don’t understand. All online tutorials I’ve seen don’t seem to have this issue.

Transpose master just seems to create another tool with all subtools merged and all higher subdivisions for each subtool deleted. My original model is still there as another tool, with all subtools’ subdivisions, but not posed.

This is what I’m doing:

I create a figure with subdivisions:

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Then go into transpose master, make a rig for it, select “Bind Mesh” and change the pose:

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Then I click TPose/SubT and end up with this, a posed model that’s merged and without subdivisions, and my original model (as a different tool) untouched:

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What am I doing wrong?

Thanks in advance for any help with this.
-Andrew

#2

Oddly, I’m having trouble finding a concise video about using the Transpose Master plugin. Anyway the steps are:

  1. With all subtools visible press TPose Mesh -> creates a new subtool called TPose_<subtool_name> at the lowest subdivision and all subtools merged into one.

  2. Select the TPose_<subtool_name>, insert a ZSphere and create your ZSphere rig, bind mesh and pose to this merged, low subdiv subtool.

  3. When posing is complete press TPose | SubT -> this will map the pose on the merged TPose_ mesh with rig to your original high subdiv model.

I think the mistake you made was to make and bind your ZSpheres on the original subtool rather than the TPose_ subtool.

#3

Hi. Thank you for responding, although I don’t think this is the solution.

Transpose master in its basic form seems to work fine - I can make a Tpose, pose it with masking and the Rotate tools, and then click TPose/SubT and it will transfer the new pose to my original model, keeping all the subtools and subdivisions.

It’s just with the ZSphere rigging. When I select ZSphereRig in Transpose Master, it creates another tool called ZRig#1 <Subtool_name>

zrig

This is the only thing I can pose with the ZSpheres, or bind to. The TPose won’t change as I alter it, and if I CLICK on the TPose, I switch to that tool and lose the ZSpheres so can’t use the rigging anyway.

Because it’s not changing the TPose, when I click TPose/SubT, nothing is happening.

Again, thanks for your help, but I could still use a little more.

-Andrew

#4

In TPose Master activate ZSphere Rig and then click TPoseMesh. This creates a low subdiv merged mesh of all subtools (Tpose_xxx) and a separate ZSPhere Rig (ZRig_xxx) subtool. Select the ZSphere Rig subtool. The merged mesh will be visible as a transparent version to help with ZSphere placement. Add ZSphere sections for arms, legs etc. and align as required with the QWER hotkeys. When ready to pose select Tool:Rigging:Bind Mesh. Now any Move/Scale/Rotate actions on the ZSphere will move the bound mesh. If you need to add more ZSpheres to help with deformation just deselect bind mesh and keep working on the ZSphere Rig. Bind again and continue posing. When posing is complete select Transpose Master : TPose | SubT. The deformations from the bound mesh/rig pair will be transferred to the original subtool.

I just did precisely these steps with the Demo Soldier and it worked properly. Note that once the initial root ZSPhere Rig is created all ZSphere editing, binding, posing work should be done with this tool selected alone. No need to select anything else. Also make sure that Bind Mesh is active before the TPose | SubT step.

Don’t forget to Bind Mesh before posing. Also you won’t see the TPose_xxx subtool change as you pose the ZRig. You will see the transparent copy bound to the ZRig change.

Anyway hopefully that’s a little bit clearer. Good Luck,

#5

Thank you.

This is exactly what I’m doing to the letter, and it’s not working. I’m starting to think, therefore, that I’m experiencing some form of bug with Zbrush.

Maybe I should try reinstalling it.

#6

You need to update your ZBrush version - the latest version is ZBrush 2021.5.1
There was a bug with Transpose Master in the earlier version.

#7

Thank you both.

Yes, it was a bug. I reinstalled Zbrush and it’s working just fine now.

I appreciate the help, and your quick responses!

-Andrew