3D Tool for iClone - ZBrush

Visconti — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 05:22:02 GMT

How to convert 3D objects from ZBrush to iClone through 3DXchange?

Step 1: Generate Color Texture from ZBrush Color Paint

To paint color map, turn off Zadd, use RGB only, adjust RGB Intensity for the appropriate color transparency.
Turn color paint to a texture Image, and export color map as an BMP file
Tool- Texture - Color to Texture (select GUV as default)

[img]http://www.reallusion.com/images/iclone/3dx/color-txt.jpg[/img]

Texture - Flip Texture V (all UV in ZBrush is V-Flipped)
Export color map as - BMP file

[img]http://www.reallusion.com/images/iclone/3dx/Texture-Export.jpg[/img]

Step 2: Exporting OBJ with Color Map from ZBrush

After you have z-sculpture the model and paint the texture in ZBrush, switch to the lowest subdivision level if you want to have a low polygon model as the base in iClone

[img]http://www.reallusion.com/images/iclone/3dx/Sub-1.gif[/img]

In Tool - Export menu - turn off Grp, only leave OBJ, Qud and Txr ON

[img]http://www.reallusion.com/images/iclone/3dx/zexport-02.gif[/img]

If check Grp (Group) off , the whole model will in one single mesh node
Set Export Scale to 10 in Zbursh - Tool - Export, the size will be appropriate for iClone
To export OBJ together with Color Map, Export OBJ via Tools menu - Save As , this path will contains color map in OBJ output

[img]http://www.reallusion.com/images/iclone/3dx/Tool-Export.jpg[/img]

Because the ZBrush texture coordinate is not the same as iClone, please Flip-V the Color Texture before export.
In Texture Menu, press button to toggle texture vertical flip

Step 3: Generate Noraml Map in ZBrush via ZMapper Plugin

Download ZMapper From http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=031281

Unzip ZMapper - copy all files into ZBrush\ZStartup\ZPlugs
After fine sculpturing in highest subdivision level, you can see the very fine detailed surface

[img]http://www.reallusion.com/images/iclone/3dx/hi-res-div.jpg[/img]

Now switch back to lowers resolution geometry level (Shift-D) to prepare the normal map for low-res model

[img]http://www.reallusion.com/images/iclone/3dx/low-res-div.jpg[/img]

Access ZMapper in ZPlugin - it opens a separate program

[img]http://www.reallusion.com/images/iclone/3dx/ZMapper.gif[/img]

Open Configuration - select Nvidia TangentSpace BestQuality as the normal map profile for iClone

[img]http://www.reallusion.com/images/iclone/3dx/normal-profile.jpg[/img]

Click on Projection Tab - Create Projected Normal Map , now it starts to calculate the normal map
Shift + mouse drag to move the light and preview the normal effect in ZMapper
Now - Exit from ZMapper (press top left corner Exit button)
V-Flip and then save the Normal Map as a BMP file

Step 4: Convert Color-textured OBJ Models into iClone via 3DXchagne

Load OBJ into 3DXchange, you will see the ZBrush model well displayed with texture map
However, the default OBJ model exported from ZBrush shows polygonal sharp edges, you need to smooth it in 3DXchange
Under the "Auto Smooth" button, Input a larger angle. Here we use value 120 to smooth all neighboring faces below 120 degree

[img]http://www.reallusion.com/images/iclone/3dx/x-smooth.jpg[/img]

Press hotkey F (Front View) to check the model orientation, you can rotate and align the object to the scene root ground level by pressing Align to GND button
Press Export to send VNS model to iClone content folder

Step 5: Applying Normal Map in iClone

Load the previously 3DXchange generated VNS model from ZBrush OBJ export
Load the Normal Map in iClone - Bump map channel, check "load as a normal map" ON

[img]http://www.reallusion.com/images/iclone/3dx/iclone-zbrush.jpg[/img]

In iClone, select the light number, and mouse drag to shift the light direction in 3D window, you can see surface details.

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3D Tool for iClone - ZBrush