Re: XSI camera in Zbrush

[Bradley Gabe <withanar(at)stanwinston.com>]

Here's an experiment to try:

-Apply a UV map on the objects in zbrush, then export them to OBJ with UV's.
-Import into XSI with UV maps from zbrush.
-Apply a light or vector shade onto the objects from the camera's POV so that anything the camera sees changes luminosity or color.
-Bake the results into a texture map using the UV's from zbrush.
-In zbrush, assign the baked texture maps onto the tools.

If this works, then anywhere that has a color change in zbrush will tell you the camera POV from XSI.

> there is no sdk, just very limited zscript commands.
> Someone needs to hack the ztl format one day ...
> Any way there is no camera in zbrush but only active tool rotation.
> Maybe the easiest way would be to reverse the camera matrix find the 
> object transform and see if zscript provide commands to transform active 
> tool, which should be possible according to 
> http://pixologic.com/home/z2coderef.html
> *TransformSet* 
> [TransformSet,xPos,yPos,zPos,xScale,yScale,zScale,xRotate,yRotate,zRotate]
> Sets new transformation values for the active 3D object.
>
>
> Mathieu Leclaire wrote:
>
> > Hmmm… which brings me to my next question. Is there an SDK for Zbrush?
> >
> > Mathieu Leclaire
> >
> > R&D Programmer
> >
> > Hybride Technologies
> >
> > "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift and that 
> > is why it's called the present"
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > *From:* Wayne Williams [mailto:w1343(at)comcast.net]
> > *Sent:* Wednesday, June 20, 2007 6:23 PM
> > *To:* XSI(at)Softimage.COM
> > *Subject:* Re: XSI camera in Zbrush
> >
> > I would suggest adding just getting the objects subd'd up a level or 
> > two and get in the base volumes and see if those are popping where 
> > they should. Then when the cam flys close to the objects that have 
> > good volumes and such, throw the detail at them. You could also try 
> > baking out displacement maps for *quick* preview in xsi. This would be 
> > a prime candidate for Custom Display Host plugin maybe?
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> >
> > *
> > From: Mathieu Leclaire <mailto:mleclair(at)hybride.com>
> > *
> >
> > **To:* XSI(at)Softimage.COM <mailto:XSI(at)Softimage.COM> *
> >
> > **Sent:* Wednesday, June 20, 2007 6:19 PM*
> >
> > **Subject:* RE: XSI camera in Zbrush*
> >
> > * *
> >
> > *Just to add a little precision to my question. I know Zbrush has no 
> > cameras and is mostly designed for characters but like my modeler 
> > says, when you are dealing with a set, it’s hard sometimes to know 
> > where you are adding the right details or not and importing all that 
> > dense geometry in XSI can be pretty long so if their was a way to make 
> > this more interactive, it would be much more efficient. Anyone ever 
> > had to deal with such an issue? Any suggestions?*
> >
> > * *
> >
> > *Mathieu Leclaire*
> >
> > *R&D Programmer*
> >
> > *Hybride Technologies*
> >
> > * *
> >
> > *"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift and 
> > that is why it's called the present"*
> >
> > * *
> >
> > *-----Original Message-----
> > *From:* Mathieu Leclaire [mailto:mleclair(at)hybride.com]
> > *Sent:* Wednesday, June 20, 2007 6:09 PM
> > *To:* XSI(at)Softimage.COM
> > *Subject:* XSI camera in Zbrush*
> >
> > * *
> >
> > *OK first off, I don’t know much about Zbrush so excuse my ignorance. 
> > I though I’d ask you guys first before digging into the software.*
> >
> > * *
> >
> > *Is there a way to import an XSI animated camera into Zbrush? My 
> > modelers want to be able to check what part of the set is actually on 
> > screen before adding more details so I said I’d investigate the matter.*
> >
> > * *
> >
> > *I have a second question but I’ll put it in a separate email.*
> >
> > * *
> >
> > *Mathieu Leclaire*
> >
> > *R&D Programmer*
> >
> > *Hybride Technologies*
> >
> > * *
> >
> > *"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift and 
> > that is why it's called the present"*
> >
> > * *
> >

-- 
Bradley R. Gabe | Senior Creature TD | Stan Winston Studio