ZBrush to XNormal Pipeline

In this demonstration we go through taking a finished ZBrush model and generate texture maps from it using XNormal. Everything from exporting your models with polypaint in zbrush, to generating ambient occlusion maps in xnormal are covered.

Please consider supporting Eat 3D by purchasing a Downloadable HD version of this video. The purchased version comes with 1 HD MP4 file at 1280x720.

metalliandy

@demikiss
If you have an Nvidia GPU, xNormal will certainly be faster as it now can use Cuda to render the maps rather than the CPU (though it still is an option)
Away from that its all down to personal preference really... Zbrush, Max and xNormal are all great programs!
I suggest you render a Normal and AO from the same model in all 3 and then compare the results too see which one you prefer

@Anon,
Could you make a new forum thread and post the errors you are getting?
Michael used 2 because he did some tests before the video was recorded so he knew what setting would be best

Hope that helps

June 27, 2010 - 6:09am

demikiss

I want to know which is better to make a normal map and occlusion map? I usually normal map in zbrush and make occlusion map in 3Dsmax. do you think xnormal is better in producing those maps?

June 27, 2010 - 1:01am

Anonymous

I am using xNormal v3.17.140297 and ZBrush 3.5r3.
Using the exact settings you shown I got some TERRIBLE fragmental maps. I always unity my ZTools when I export them, so they are identical in PRS.
Can you explain why you used 2 for ray-tracing in th Bake Opinion? I'm sure that has some ways to measure them rather than trial and error.

June 22, 2010 - 9:26am

Anonymous

hi everyone!

I must say I'm very dissapointed of Pixologic... The New way of creating normals just doesn't work well (never!) and the 3.5r3 version is full of bugs and it's quite unstable. I teach digital sculpting in a animation shcool and teaching 3.5r3 it's been quite frustrating

June 15, 2010 - 10:26am

guayabeiro

hi guys, i'm a maya user. I'm new to zbrush, and i usually use it to make my normal and displacement maps, i've downloaded the zbrush documentation but it doesnt explain all the options of the displacement and normal maps. A video explaining all these options would be great.
Great DVD's
thanx

June 14, 2010 - 8:24am

Anonymous

zmapper? Don't trust them. I still recommend Xnormal. Trust me.

March 24, 2010 - 7:34pm

Anonymous

what are your ao settings?

March 11, 2010 - 12:53pm

Anonymous

so i can cut the part of the mesh that i want to add more details then use xnormal to generate normal map?

February 18, 2010 - 9:31am

Anonymous

true arbitrary mesh support.

January 17, 2010 - 3:10am

bisenberger

Super Cool!!!

The Eat 3D ZBrush training DVD's are also excellent!
The HD version of this video is included with the ZBush 3.5 Bundle http://eat3d.com/training_videos/bundles/zbrush35

January 16, 2010 - 6:32pm

Anonymous

Woot! Thanks for this. There is no more Zmapper in 3.5, and Pixologic is standing firm on its new Normal mapping system. Easy if it works, but I've been having some ugly seam issues with it.

December 23, 2009 - 10:14am

Anonymous

I was just wondering: why would you use XNormal over ZMapper since you have to do all the exporting etc. ?!?

December 5, 2009 - 12:06am

Anonymous

Very nice!

November 29, 2009 - 6:41pm

Anonymous

Nice, thank you

November 16, 2009 - 1:28am

Anonymous

Thanks.very useful...