Snaptrap's Sub Skins

[treblesum81]

I've also been informed that 3DSM has problems with certain video card brand when running under Vista x64. I've used it before though never was there this many problems working with it. 05-08-2008 09:51 PM

**Shudder**

Sorry... I have an aversion to Vista...

But back on topic, from what I can tell, and you can either confirm or correct this observation, ZBrush is more for organic shapes (the whole interface is designed to be like working with modelling clay) and so it doesn't have a lot of the tools you'd need to make hard forms...

I'm thinking about trying my hand at 3D modelling of subs because I've found a way to work with a 3-View so that you can take the 3 faces of the image and extrude them into a 3 dimensional object... I figure if I can get the idea down, I may be able to work on some more of the more modern subs (I play sub sims because I want to have access to those, but i play SH because I like the first person feel... so if I can bring them into here, I'll get everything I want :p), and possibly be of some use for the cold war mod.....

....Now, if I could only find a resource with a collection of 3-views of subs....

As for painting, I still wonder if there is a way to paint the texture maps directly from ZBrush, I know that its possible to import between the two programs, but unless I missed something of your explanation, I still want to have the ability to paint directly onto the 3D model and have that translate into the texture map... Sure, creating a painting mask is pretty easy, but you can't really get a good feel for the result of some time with the brush without loading up the sub in SH4.

[Snaptrap]

Originally Posted by treblesum81

**Shudder**

Sorry... I have an aversion to Vista...

But back on topic, from what I can tell, and you can either confirm or correct this observation, ZBrush is more for organic shapes (the whole interface is designed to be like working with modelling clay) and so it doesn't have a lot of the tools you'd need to make hard forms...

I'm thinking about trying my hand at 3D modelling of subs because I've found a way to work with a 3-View so that you can take the 3 faces of the image and extrude them into a 3 dimensional object... I figure if I can get the idea down, I may be able to work on some more of the more modern subs (I play sub sims because I want to have access to those, but i play SH because I like the first person feel... so if I can bring them into here, I'll get everything I want :p), and possibly be of some use for the cold war mod.....

....Now, if I could only find a resource with a collection of 3-views of subs....

As for painting, I still wonder if there is a way to paint the texture maps directly from ZBrush, I know that its possible to import between the two programs, but unless I missed something of your explanation, I still want to have the ability to paint directly onto the 3D model and have that translate into the texture map... Sure, creating a painting mask is pretty easy, but you can't really get a good feel for the result of some time with the brush without loading up the sub in SH4.

ZBrush uses pixols which are pixels that have a Z axis to indicate depth, hence the name ZBrush. The program is exactly like modeling with clay and allows you to export an object to be used as an actual 3D model. It can spray textures onto a model from a source image. For example spraying someone face from a photo onto a head model. So long as you have the angles needed from the photo to cover the head, you're set. You can take an existing model such as a sub, spray on a texture and export. I'm still learing the process, but you can get tips from the ZBrush forums on how to do this. The program is a bit complicated and works best with a tablet.

Look at these texture demos.

[treblesum81]

This one really does seem interesting, though I've not had much luck in getting the controls to do what I want, and i agree that its probably designed to work with a tablet or digital drawing board of some kind. So far, whenever i try to edit a surface, I end up pulling it in every direction but the one i want and that just won't do :p.

For the time being, 3D Studio Max seems to be my best bet, if only because its input format is something I'm familiar with (I've used AutoCAD for several years now) and because it comes with a massive and well orginized help file that lets me look things up easily by keyword (I've had a little trouble doing the same on the ZBrush Wiki). For the time being, I don't have all that much time to devote to this, but at least I've got an easy way to produce some sub skins, which was the original plan all along.

That being said, I'll need to look further into both of these programs to see which I'll be most capable of using, and, of course, which one best fits my needs. Though I'd like to see what sorts of things you come up with in ZBrush in the meantime... it is a very powerful program and I'm curious just how well it can be applied here.

[Snaptrap]

Originally Posted by treblesum81

This one really does seem interesting, though I've not had much luck in getting the controls to do what I want, and i agree that its probably designed to work with a tablet or digital drawing board of some kind. So far, whenever i try to edit a surface, I end up pulling it in every direction but the one i want and that just won't do :p.

For the time being, 3D Studio Max seems to be my best bet, if only because its input format is something I'm familiar with (I've used AutoCAD for several years now) and because it comes with a massive and well orginized help file that lets me look things up easily by keyword (I've had a little trouble doing the same on the ZBrush Wiki). For the time being, I don't have all that much time to devote to this, but at least I've got an easy way to produce some sub skins, which was the original plan all along.

That being said, I'll need to look further into both of these programs to see which I'll be most capable of using, and, of course, which one best fits my needs. Though I'd like to see what sorts of things you come up with in ZBrush in the meantime... it is a very powerful program and I'm curious just how well it can be applied here.

You're not alone. People that are accustomed to programs like Photoshop do the same thing as you and I. It's a great program and a powerful tool with gathered experience. I'm getting the hang of it and eventually when all else is done with my new mod release, I'll devote more time towards making some new skins.