Keeping Surface Detail When Decreasing Z Of An Object

[Fleming]

In the PDF below I describe a technique I developed to keep surface texture intact when reducing the Z depth of an object. Hope it helps. Happy Carving

KEEPING DETAIL WHEN LOWERING THE DEPTH OF AN OBJECT IN ASPIRE.pdf

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Be glad to answer any questions and if someone has a less involved method I would welcome knowing.

[zeeway]

Hmmm, that is very interesting. I am still thinking about how this is different than taking a .25 slice off the back, and I am not sure. Perhaps the model you subtract goes to zero value at the edges, so that the sum of the two models still has the original edge detail...am I close to correct in my thinking?

Angie

[PaulRowntree]

Thanks Paul, that is very interesting.

[mezalick]

I agree,, a very unique approach...
I followed your directions to the same results.
Very nicely written.
More way are always positive...
Thanks.
Michael

[tmerrill]

Excellent work Paul. Thanks for taking the time to document the process and post it.

Tim

[Fleming]

Thanks for the kind comments..

Angie, the general shape stays the same, you do not lose any more detail using this method than in the proportion technique.

Paul, I bet you could write a Gadget that would automate the process and make it easy for all of us

[CraigW]

Excellent tutorial. Very simple and straight forward.
Thanks so much.
I am learning Z-Brush and prefer modelling in full 3D and then bringing the 3D model into Aspire to make a relief sculpture by flattening it. The details always take a beating.
Although this sculpt is nowhere near finished, I followed your tutorial and the results are quite promising. With just a few tweaks and experimenting, I think this will solve my problems.
Cheers
Craig

[Fleming]

Craig you do amazing work. Keep me informed if the method works for you as intended.

[mezalick]

Nice work Craig.
Can you email me,,I have a question to ask...
The PM does not seem to be working.
Thanks.
Michael
mezalick@nni.com

[cac67]

That's clever. I wish I'd thought of it.

[jonnie]

A really interesting and imaginative technique!

I think I can find a use for it.

Actually sounds very much like a bandpass filter - in the Z direction you are tuning in to fine ( high frequency ) detail whilst discriminating against broad (low frequency) detail but the subtraction of the smoothed version is a master stroke!

Software could do all this automatically and of course it would be fast but I suspect it would be quite a tough assignment to give the user the same level of intuitive and easy control that you have formulated here. The creation of the smoothed off version is the real beauty in the method as the user can experiment in an intuitve way to get exactly the right effect and they understand exactly what they have done rather than relying on a black box with knobs on it.