zBrush Export Problem -Export buttons greyed out, and frozen

leidan_37

Hi Folks,
So i've been trying to make some nice stuff for my portfolio, and I am now trying to learn to use zBrush. I made a pineapple grenade base mesh, then exported the pineapple part of it to .obj, then imported to zBrush. I sculpted away for a while, then exported back to .obj, and imported into blender. At the same time, I saved it to the .ZTL format.
Later on I find a few things that needed changing/fixing so I fire zBrush up again, and import that .ztl file that I had saved. Everything was fine, the layers that I had been using were all there, and I was able to make the changes that I wanted. When I went to save, the 'Save As' button was/is greyed out. The export button (which is what I really need, more than the SaveAs) doesn't do anything when I click it.

I really don't know enough to know whether or not this is relevant, but i'm in the 'edit-mode' of the tool, where I can't sculpt around on the mesh.

Not sure if there's anything to see, but here's a screenshot of the Tools panel anyway:



And, if anyone's interested, this is the tool that I'm trying to export:


Thanks a lot for reading, really hope someone can help me export my mesh!

leidan_37

Maybe I should also ask if I am using the correct save/load workflow;

Sculpt like fury,
'Save As' on the Tool Panel.
Close zBrush for some sleep or whatever.
Reopen zBrush, and 'Import' on the Tool Panel.
"Paint" or what-ever-you-call-it-when-you-cause-something-to-appear-on-your-canvas the object into the empty canvas.

I find it unusual that zBrush calls it 'Import' not 'Open'.
Am I missing something here?

Neavah

I'm afraid I can't help you with your export/save as issue, but I can say in zbrush:

import/export - is for importing a mesh that is not a Ztool. (ex. .obj) exporting is for exporting the Ztool (from ztool to .obj)

open/saving - is for saving AND opening a ztool. (ex: something you've been sculpting in zbrush, a .ztl file)

So if you were sculpting an object, saved it and wanted to continue working on it, you would 'open' the .ztl file you saved the night before.

I didn't know zbrush will even let you import a ztool... so I'm kinda confused, but hope that helps

leidan_37

Thanks for responding, after some fiddling 'round, I think I've got it working.

And about that ZTL import deal, yeah your right, I goofed that up, I meant 'Load Tool'.

Model:




Another problem that I have is with the layers. I haven't read up on it, so this may be something sort of obvious, but thought it wouldn't hurt to ask here. I created two layers to 'organize' two different types of effects that I had sculpted, then I subdivided, and added another layer. Now I can't do anything with layers 1, and 2. Can't hide, adjust strength, or anything. Wha'z with that?

cryrid

then I subdivided, and added another layer. Now I can't do anything with layers 1, and 2. Can't hide, adjust strength, or anything. Wha'z with that?

I think layers are tied to subdivision levels. If you go back down to the sub-d level it was on when the layer was created, can you adjust it?

leidan_37

Nope, I thought that too, and tried that.