ZBrushCentral

Using Export/Import to Merge Subtools No Longer Working

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Hopefully, the title of this thread explains it all. Hopefully, someone can help me. For some time now, I have not been able to merge Subtools and then use Export/Import to fully merge the Subtools into one Tool. Fool that I am, I had hoped the upgrade to 4R7 would solve this problem. Alas, no. Yes, Dynamesh is one solution, but I don’t always want to use Dynamesh. Frankly, to this former real world sculptor, it’s the equivilent of working with Klean Klay when the clay you want is Chavant Firm. Even at high resolutions, Dynamesh is gooshie. Attached is a link to Paul Gaboury’s excellent tutorial illustrating the method that is still lost to me. Do I have to uninstall and then re-install Zbrush 4 (I have the disc) followed by successive upgrades to R6 and R7 to solve this problem? Is this something better handled by submitting a Support Ticket rather than here on ZBC?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoyaXLYByIs

Regards,
Katherine Dewey

#2

Not sure if it’s what you looking for but maybe this is it

Tool -> Subtool -> MergeDown (with switched on option “weld”)

after that

Tool -> Geometry -> Modify Topology -> CloseHoles

edit: it doesn’t work with multiple subdivisions so u can try “freeze subdivisions levels” close holes then unfreeze…

#3

Hey Katherine,

For the Merging using any of the [Tool:SubTool:Merge] options should generate the same effect as the video. The ‘WeldPoints’ threshold has been updated inside of 4R7 so you shouldn’t need to do the export/import weld effect (just change the slider and weld.)

So steps:

  1. Select a model broken into two SubTools
  2. Use [Tool:SubTool:Merge:Merge Visible] to generate a new tool in the tool palette (this will also reconstruct the subdivisions if possible.)
  3. Append that tool to the current Tool if needed.
  4. Select the tool apply the ‘WeldPoints’ function [Tool:Geometry:Modify Topology:WeldPoints] (adjust the ‘WeldDist’ slider as needed to make sure the points weld.)
  5. Use [Tool:SubTool:Split:Group Split] to split the parts back to separate Subtools if needed.

Let me know if that helps :slight_smile:

-Joseph

#4

Actually, I’ve tried all of these steps many times and repeated them today. The problem, I fear, is deeper. Tools exported to the Desktop as obj files and then imported to not act as obj files: true merging with welded points does not occur; Polygroups and Polypaint do not vanish as they once did. The Subtools are just Merged, but not fused. You can’t truly model across groups and smoothing separates them. I need to be able to export obj files for a friend’s ongoing project. As things stand now, I don’t trust these “obj” files.
Still, thanks to both of your for your prompt and thoughtful replies,
Katherine

Piggyson, really?