ZbrushCore - extended review
vertex
Hey all! I recently bought zbrushcore and am really excited to do some quicker modeling! Since it's still pretty new there doesn't seem to be a lot of resources/ discussions about people running into issues for me to look up.
So I'm going to use this thread to document workarounds I've found, workarounds I'm looking for, differences in workflow from main Zbrush and issues I've come across. Please add your own, etc.
Hope it helps!
So I'm going to use this thread to document workarounds I've found, workarounds I'm looking for, differences in workflow from main Zbrush and issues I've come across. Please add your own, etc.
Hope it helps!
Replies
Anyway, I wasn't sure if my rig could handle a dynameshed... mesh going into maya for manual retopoing (there's no zremesher which was sad, but I like retopo and am pretty quick at it, so doing it manually is probably better. Furthermore it can later be used for animation). It can handle a heavy mesh, although it runs slower, but it'll be fine.
For the custom brushes, I knew I REALLY wanted the orb cracks brush ( I NEED IT!!) and was able to emulate it pretty well just based on the alpha, which seems to be it's most important component.
I also use the snakehook brush instead of the move brush, but I haven't been able to emulate that yet... I don't think I'll be able to.
Ah, ok, the alpha didn't actually work. I'll look more into it tomorrow.
I get the feeling something pixologic is going with is trying to phase out the little idiosyncrasies that have persisted in the software. This seems to be going along those lines. I see no disadvantage, other than the discomfort of change.
Probably should have gotten that first huh? Anyway, here it is in case anyone's interested.
http://docs.pixologic.com/zbrushcore/
Edited
Well there you go, ZCore can't open any ZB file no matter the file size. I really didn't see any positive thing why people will use ZCore though (for those who used to work with ZB but run on low budget for personal use at home), other then just to doodle in 3d, but then again, you already have Sculptris (RIP) or Blender for free.
I hated Sculptris and recently tried sculpting with Blender, but was left pretty disappointed. So I got ZBC. For me, starting in ZBC will be many times faster than modeling only in Maya, allowing me to do a larger volume of work. Modeling is all I want it for though, AND I don't plan to make any money off it, so the price is right. If you were getting it for freelance for non-3d printing stuff, then it probably would not be a good option.
When going from Maya to ZBC (or from some other 3D package) make sure your sizes are what you want them to be. Resizing will have to be done subtool by subtool in ZBC. Exporting back to Maya could be an option for resizing, but you can only export one subtool at a time, so that won't exactly be faster. You could combine all your subtools and take them back to maya, but then you'd have to separate them again in ZBC... again, pretty tedious.
To be sure it's a good size, just open one of the sample files with a dynamesh sphere or something, export that to obj, open in maya and use as your guide.
Have u checked them out yet?
Particularly enjoy watching Drust work:
http://pixologic.com/zclassroom/lesson/conceptual-sculpting
There's no "fill holes" button, so you have to fill a hole by dynameshing.
All steps are tentative depending on the desired outcome. I sculpted a little skull as a test. If anyone is interested in screenshots I can post them (or a more detailed overview of the workflow)
However, an issue I keep running into which I don't remember having in Zbrush is that I'll go to zoom in, and it looks like it's doing what I expect, but when I release the button, it'll track instead or just end up somewhere totally wrong that was not where I wanted the camera to focus. Maybe I'm releasing the key too soon, but again, I don't remember having this issue before. It really gets in my way.
I can share that as well if anyone is interested.
Can you describe how you fill holes in ZBC? I'm still struggling with this operation.
This happens worryingly often, and apparently there's nothing that could be done about it. There is a workaround though, which is to save the project with another name and then delete the old save. But the thing is, sometimes Core writes these faulty saves when you exit the program, meaning that you cannot open the project the next time you start up Core and that your work is gone. I'm not sure how many people have experienced this issue, but I do know I'm not the only one.
I got ZbCore in January, since then this has happened to me way over 20 times. When you add this issue to the instability of the program I would definitely not recommend getting ZbrushCore. It just doesn't feel like a finished product, which is weird since it should essentially be Zbrush with some removed features.
Have you used the zbrush trial before installing ZBC? I've found that with most programs installing a full version after having a trial usually gives annoying issues.
As for the instability - I'm talking about things like:
- 50/50 chance of ZbCore crashing on startup, and a guaranteed crash if I click anywhere while it's booting up
- Sometimes ZbCore crashes when it autosaves. Not too common, but it still happens. Someone suggested that it'd be an issue with Core hogging up more and more RAM with each autosave, but I haven't noticed my RAM (16 Gb) running out while using the tool
- Using dynamesh causes ZbCore to crash very often, even on very simple models and low values
I also got in touch with Pixologic support about all the issues a few days ago, but I haven't heard anything from them yet.EDIT: Alright, update - I got in touch with the guys at Pixologic. They said that if anyone experiences the issue that prevents them from opening a project because ZbCore claims it was made with the full Zbrush, they should send the project over to them through a support ticket and they'll recover it.
They're aware of the issue and they're working on an update for ZbCore, which is good news.
Not sure how Bluestemos has not heard of "instability" This is when the software crashes often or cant open files it saved and this is a major issue if you have invested time into your model. Sending it to Pixoligic is not a solution its a time consuming crutch.Save your money. You will regret you spent money here.
Bummer on this.
It seems obvious to me what they're doing, release a standalone dinky package like this toward the end of ZB4's lifetime. No doubt 5 will be a new beast altogether; so Core will sit in limbo not being updated, like Sculptris, except people paid for it.
My opinion is that ZBCore was never meant to be ZB alternative, but more to an introductory stage to people who interested in ZB but won't commit that much money early on. Pixo definitely know this and hope you guys like what ZB has to offer and eventually upgrade to the full ZB version. But for people that already used to ZB n all it's feature/ workflow, ZBCore feels very limiting in term of functionality, almost crippled.
Sculptris on the other hand is totally different thing, it's just a generic sculpting app that sadly get abandoned..
Soon, I'll gather my resources and delete the thread (if I can). Thanks for all your input!