low poly to zbrush workflow?

Maddness

So I've been using Zbrush for a bit now and I usually create my base mesh in zbrush with Dynamesh or zspheres.

Lately though I've been enjoying going back and creating low poly characters and I usually just create them in Modo or Maya quickly. My problem comes when I go to bring them in Zbrush. I usually just don't have a great workflow method for adding density to my model in zbrush without it either rounding all edges or if I turn off smoothing, creating very dense polys with hard edges everywhere.


Is there a good workflow out there for importing a relatively low poly model (say around 1400 tris for a character/armor)? Oh and of note I am trying to do more hand painted stuff but I like the look of making my shapes and forms in Zbrush and then using that with my hand painted stuff.


Thanks guys/gals.

Eric Chadwick

Have you tried subdividing the model first in Maya/Modo, with smoothing off, then importing that and subdividing with smooth on in Zbrush? That works pretty well for me.

Or you could try the method Faf explains in her Vertex tutorial:
http://i.imgur.com/Qq8WhqR.jpg

jfitch

My guess is that you need to add supporting loops in maya/modo or use creasing in zbrush to keep your hard edges.

One of the easiest ways that I have found is to make polygroups for different smoothing groups (ie if there is a hard edge you would have two polygroups, one on each side of the edge), and then doing 'crease polygroups'