Zbrush 4 now has MDD export!!!!

[Mark Johnston]

HI just was looking at the info about ZB4 it has some animation features and MDD export and single click export of all maps. Any way I was waiting to down load my update till the rush is over. So I went to look at the videos they have of the new features,and saw this info. Now I return to watch those videos.

Mark

[monday1313]

It actually only imports MDD. Unless you found a hidden button somewhere

[Phungus]

No, it exports MDD too. I have yet to get it to work with EIAS though. Must be doing something wrong, because it exports fine, but I get an error message when I try to use it in EIAS. The "magic button" is the ExportName button found in the Movie-Timeline tab. Pick a location/filename (here you will see the .mdd file extension) and now when you preview your animation in ZB it will bake out and save.

[monday1313]

Well, my apologies and thanks to all involved...

:)

No, it exports MDD too. I have yet to get it to work with EIAS though. Must be doing something wrong, because it exports fine, but I get an error message when I try to use it in EIAS. The "magic button" is the ExportName button found in the Movie-Timeline tab. Pick a location/filename (here you will see the .mdd file extension) and now when you preview your animation in ZB it will bake out and save.

[Phungus]

The error message that pops up in EIAS says "Invalid time values in MDD file". Will have a look in ZB if there is any ways to adjust the time settings. Any clues as to what is happening?

[monday1313]

maybe Zbrush starts at frame 1 instead of frame zero like EIAS? or it could be a frame rate issue if they look at frames as a percentage of a second instead of frames per second.

[Tomas Egger]

Ola Phungus,

Are you export OBJ from first Zbrush frame? and MDD too?

Is it a single group or several?

Thanks

Tom

[Phungus]

Used a basic sphere, and made a quick sculpt on one layer, exported it on the first frame. The MDD is exported automatically by running the preview....

[Tomas Egger]

Ola Phungus,

How are you converting the model?

Thanks

Tom

[Phungus]

I am using Silo to convert the model to FACT

[Tomas Egger]

Ola Phungus,

Could you export the OBJ from ZB4 in the sub-d zero and the MDD file? And post it?

Thanks

Tom

[Phungus]

Here is the OBJ and MDD exported from ZB: http://www.mediafire.com/?cu9jj5acok2xaqw

[Tomas Egger]

Ola Phungus,

Im having the “Invalid Time Values” error, I will take a look with Igors, maybe Zbrush changed a bit the MDD file format or have some trick to export, time to research.

Phungus, When I convert the “SPhere”, it asks a Texture, Zball.bmp, Could you send to me?

And What it happens in the animation? some increase of displacement over time? I need to take a look.

Thanks

Tom

[Phungus]

I did not have any texture on it, but I made one (just plain grey) and attached it just in case. As far as the animation goes, I just sculpted a few quick strokes with radial symmetry on a layer. It should work in the same manner as a morph target. Will be interesting to see what you guys find out....

[AVTPro]

I got the same time value error as Tomas did. I used a couple of layers.

Interesting that ZB can import MDD as well.

I did a softbody animation into EI from Maya and that worked but export out ZB into EI seem to have a problem.

Here's my work files.

https://files.me.com/avtpro5/wgzicm

[gyroo]

just bought zBrush yesterday... nice thread to come across. :)

DaveW

[AVTPro]

I have a animation that has bunch of parts to it...like a shirt, head, arms shoes,

Is possible to import all the MDD to each corresponding part or from the socket folder automatically?

[Tomas Egger]

Ola AVT,

Sure you can, you will need to use only one MDD plug-in with all groups as children, then place all MDD files in a unique folder inside EI Folder, like "FBX" for example.

Then you will set the Folder "FBX" and set MDD plug-in to read all MDD files at once, you will write something like "BBallPlayerFBXASC03228_*.mdd", "*" means the part of the MDD files which change the name to represent the exact group.

With this feature, you can easily read scenes with hundred of groups ;)

Hope that helps

Thanks

Tom

[AVTPro]

That's pretty great Tomas.

So if I introduce a wild card character it will read all the MDD files in my in my EI Socket and apply the corresponding MDD to the appropriately named child of the plug.

very cool. Glad I ask.

Thanks Tomas. Yes, then this is truly production worthy.

I have down several test it's very clean.

Softball

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150167201164108&oid=129350023766105&comments&ref=mf

Baller

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150169399294108&oid=129350023766105&comments&ref=mf

PaperChase

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150170027719108&oid=129350023766105&comments&ref=mf

[Tomas Egger]

Ola AVT,

Your tests are working really great..

Are you exporting from Maya using Point Oven?

Thanks

Tom

[AVTPro]

Ola AVT,

Your tests are working really great..

Are you exporting from Maya using Point Oven?

Thanks

Tom

Hey Tomas, sorry for the slow response. I need to put notification on this site.

Yes, I'm using PointOven to export from Maya to EIAS but I just realized that I haven't imported MDD into Maya. And I am haven't used PO on shattering effects. It can't bake objects that change point count.

[Tomas Egger]

Ola AVT,

MDD dont work with mesh which change the number of polys over time., its a format limit.

Thanks

Tom