Surface and Noisemaker
An example of the NoiseMaker, used for most parts of this model, created by Geert Melis.
The Tool > Surface menu has been updated with a new user interface which brings more control to the noise management process.
Offset, Angle and Scale settings have been adding for each axis, allowing you to fine tune your surface noise.
Basic Control and NoiseMaker
The NoiseMaker interface with its preview settings
To edit the noise you wish to apply to your model, click the Noise mode switch. If no noise has been dynamically applied to the model, the NoiseMaker window will open with its dedicated interface.
If noise already exists, the Noise switch lets you toggle its visibility.
To change your existing noise, click the Edit button. To completely remove your noise, click the Delete button.
Surface Noise and Textures
It is now possible to replace the default procedural noise with a texture.
By default, the texture will be applied as noise within the 3D canvas space. Alternatively, you can enable the UV option to apply the texture using your model’s UV information. Once applied, many of the surface noise settings can be used to adjust the texture in exactly the same way as for procedural noise.
To load a texture for use as noise, click the small white dot located at the bottom left of the preview window. A system dialog box will open, allowing you to browse for your desired texture.
Adjust the Scale, Strength or Color Blending settings to create different unique effects on your model. Scale, Offset and the Angle setting at the bottom of the window will have no effect on your image.
A tile texture apply on the model with different scales. At any time, the result can be converted to move the model vertices and having the geometry affected by the Noise.
Notes: For better results, it is strongly advised that a texture used for noise be tileable and in 16-bit grayscale PSD format..
You will notice that the 2D and NoisePlug buttons currently do nothing. They will be enabled by a plugin which is planned for release sometime after ZBrush 4R2 launches. The Offset, Angle, and Scale XYZ sliders at the bottom of the popup window will also only work with that plugin. More information will be made available following ZBrush 4R2’s release.
Noise in Transparency with DymaMesh Sub Function
Noise applied to your model using the Tool > Surface > Noise function can be pure black in color so as to display partial mesh transparency. This transparency can then be used by DynaMesh to subtract those areas from the mesh. Simply double-click the Sub command.
In order to demonstrate this action, do the following:
- Load the DynaMesh064.ZPR project from LightBox.
- Open up the Surface sub-palette and click on Noise. A window will appear.
- Click on the little circle in the bottom left corner to load a texture. (Alternatively, the Noise Plug-In can be used instead of a texture.)
- Load checkered texture (Txtr03.PSD) from the ZBrush4.0r2/ZData/Textures folder.
- Below the curve in the Noise window, move the Offset slider to a negative number.
- The lower-left point in the graph will start to move up the curve. Move this point back down to the bottom corner of the graph.
- Any part of the sphere that is under a black square will now become transparent. This is just a visual representation; the points are still present in the actual mesh.
- To convert this visual effect into actual geometry, double-click the Sub button found in the DynaMesh menu.
Note: BPR can render the transparency without converting it to actual geometry. It is only necessary to perform the final step of double-clicking the Sub button if you wish to have physical holes that you will sculpt with.
QuickSketch
ZBrush Artist: Martin Krol
QuickSketch is a new 2D sketching feature designed to allow you to quickly rough out ideas inside ZBrush, just as you would sketch on the back of an envelope.
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Launching QuickSketch
To get started, all you need to do is click the QuickSketch button. ZBrush will set up the canvas and pick a brush ready for you to start drawing. Symmetry is switched on by default but you can turn this off by pressing the X key or through the Transform palette (where you can also change the axis if you wish).
There are several new brushes especially designed for use with QuickSketch: you’ll find them in the Brush palette and their names all begin with ‘Pen’, such as Pen Shadow, Pen Sketch, Pen Fur and so on. Experiment to find out which best suits your style.
Erasing in QuickSketch
Select the PenSoft brush and paint over. Use the 'v' key to switch between dark/light colors.
Saving QuickSketches
QuickSketch is based on polypainting a 3D plane. This means that when you come to save your sketch, you have a couple of options. You can save it as a ZTool by pressing Tool>Save As; this method means you could load the sketch again to continue work on it later. Alternatively you can simply export the drawing as an image file by pressing Document>Export.
Note: You can also use the Pen brushes for polypainting your model, or even for sculpting (for which you will need to turn on ZAdd).
Leaving QuickSketch
When you have finished using QuickSketch you can quickly switch back to sculpting by:
- Select a model in the Tool palette.
- Switch to the Material of your choice (such as Matcap Red Wax) in the Materials palette.
- Set the active color to white in the Color Selector.
- Press ‘F’ or Transform>Frame (the Frame button on the right of the UI) to frame your model in the canvas.
- Select a sculpting Brush and continue sculpting.
Alternatively you can initialize ZBrush to its startup settings by pressing Preferences>Init ZBrush - but be sure to first save any files you wish to keep!
PaintStop
PaintStop is a sketching and painting plugin for ZBrush. The PaintStop brushes are designed to feel as natural as possible, and the interface to be simple and intuitive, speeding your workflow and unlocking your creativity.
With PaintStop you can quickly sketch concepts for a new sculpt, work on illustrations for print or web, or simply have fun painting.
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