Video: MudWalker Zbrush interface

[Wayne]

My 'internal' build of Mudwalker


LINK to Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsYk7IUXhdE)




Mudbox to Zbrush to Mudbox

Zbrush to Mudbox to Zbrush

Without doubt the most asked for feature peolpewant added to MudWalker has been an interface wiht Zbrush and back again. watch the video for the complete story on it.

will it ever see release .....I really do not know.

[bizarr0]

Bet that's going to put the kid amongst the wolverines ?

are you going to release 1.5 without the zbrush stuff any time soon ?
maybe go the Radiohead route and make it donate what you want ware

[Shawry]

Awesome plug-in, what have mudbox said about it? u kinda sounded a little apprehensive on your video..? People should be happy to have the flexibility mudwalker gives them.
Interested to see what happens with that version..

[Wayne]

Bet that's going to put the kid amongst the wolverines ?

are you going to release 1.5 without the zbrush stuff any time soon ?
maybe go the Radiohead route and make it donate what you want ware


I tried the donation thing and although some of the biggest companies in fx were using it..it raised about 75 quid lol. So it'll remian free as its always been.



Awesome plug-in, what have mudbox said about it? u kinda sounded a little apprehensive on your video..? People should be happy to have the flexibility mudwalker gives them.
Interested to see what happens with that version..

I'll be raising it with them probably after the weekend and see if they are still talking to me lol. This could (if they want to play it that way) cause a whole giant boat load of crap for me if I release it. The trouble is its not just one set of people that could be problematic...like all companies there are 'factions' and factions within factions. There could be ramifactions from either side or none at all.

I took a BIG risk releasing MudWalker in the 1st place as traditionally companies do not want to make it to easy to use compeitors software. So MudWalkers '1 click' solution was a nightmare for some. its also why I kept MudWalker 'need to know' before release.

I know of one company that about 4 years back wanted to write a total max to maya scnene file convertor..lets just say the suits were not happy. Luckily MudWalker went down SO well it changed a few minds..but there are limits to what is deemed acceptable.



One thing is clear ....users WANT this juding by the comments made to me and emails sent today so far. I

But its also worth beaing in mind that pixo 'could' patch the 'hole' I'm using to do this very easily. But there always more than one way to skin a cat. ;)

But think of the possibities it would open up to be able to transfer between any supported app for any job you feel like. To me thats massive.

Wayne...

[Shawry]

Well.. i guess you should just hold off for a while to release it, untill u know how they feel about it.. its best not to create problems for yourself unnescessarily.

If pixo n mud had any brains they should see that your only trying to help Artists n the packages we all use evolve to make things easier, they'd be stupid to kick up a fuss.. I'd put it down to the suits not being able to cash in on it.. but i guess there isn't much one can do when your facing an entire company or two..

Let it lay low for a while, see how the game pans out.

Well, i hope it all goes in your favor..
Best of luck lol

[RobinB]

If Autodesk or Pixologic have problems with people using the software they paid for however they want they're off their heads. They sell software and people use it. Their job is to make the lives of their customers as easy as possible, not make them jump through hoops to get work done. If they do make it as easy as possible, their customers will be happy and continue to use and pay for the software. What do they think they're achieving by trying to prevent their customers from transfering data between whatever programs they want? I already have a license for Mudbox, if I want to transfer data between that and Zbrush, for whatever reason, then what business is it of theirs if I do?

Making the process as easy as possible just means the customers will spend less wasted time messing about, save money and both companys benefit. No-one loses out.

However, saying that, I'm still a bit confused about what exactly Mudwalker gives us. All it looks like it does is save the base level mesh to a temp folder and reload it in the other app. I just prefer to do that in my own folder structure. Is there more to it than that? What I'd find really useful is if it could transfer level data and layers between the apps.

[bizarr0]

To get into a pissing contest with Autodesk and Pixologic
as i am sure they could break the functionality of the SDK
to work with Mudwalker for any future revisions.

keeping it free
most Generous of you sir
Well free is a good price for raising a user base
hook em and then charge em for magical treats :P

75 Quid wow that's a Shitter
well its one reason i subscribed figure a drip feed of subs is better than nowt

While personally it would be nice to see the zbrush to mudbox stuff
what i really want is one click mud to max import-export ,export import with all layers.
and remappable paths.

But its nice to see the envelope being pushed in all kinds of interesting directions
kudos for that.

Hopefully they all play nice and we can be one happy family in a digital utopia


May you live in interesting times

wow the verifcation system on here is allmost a frustrating as the lenslock
that came with Elite.........

[Wayne]

It seems I'll be in the clear if I release this. Which I think is good news for all interested in it.



Wayne...

[Shawry]

awesome, thats good to hear.. =)

[rintintin]

So exactly what advantage does Mudwalker have over just exporting an obj and importing it in the aplication of choice?

I currently have the zbrush doggy in my Mudbox viewport just by importing the obj of it...

[Wayne]

So exactly what advantage does Mudwalker have over just exporting an obj and importing it in the aplication of choice?

I currently have the zbrush doggy in my Mudbox viewport just by importing the obj of it...


MudWalker speeds everything up to 1 click. But remember some apps have compatibiltiy problems that may mean you have to flip on the z axis etc... Its about the old maxim 'time is money' which is why a lot of firms use MudWalker now to seed up the transfer from one app to another.

MudWalker handels textures (where the host app supports their export and import) and will retain animation data (again unless an app it passes through strips that out..ironically mudbox does that.)

You'd be amazed how much time you can save from switching apps using. However if you only use one or two and time is not important to you then you may not need it.

It allows you to use basicaly any tool from any app that you want to that you feel is best for the job in a single click. (Count how many it takes to export a model and import into another app by standard methods...) MudWalker always has been free, always will be free so its up to each person whether they want to use it or not. But the videos on the main site from back in version 1 show what it does (or did then) and how it can speed things up.

It may interest some that mudwalkers fbx is not 'autodesk fbx' export but a 'wayne fbx' which fixed a few bugs and prblems to allow it to work far more reliably. Plus the 1 click to start up AND import moels and textures saves a shed load of anyones time.

Wayne...

[Arathrax]

Hi Wayne,
First off thanks for the Mudwalker plugin.

Say a couple questions about Mudwalker.

1. If I create my base mesh in Max 2010 (sp1) and send it over to MB2010 sp1...nothing happens.
Is that pipeline not functioning in this rev. of MW?
MB ---> Max works but not Max ---> MB.

2. If I select MW OBJ exporter in Max, since nothing seems to happen, where is the OBJ located? Currently there is no way to define the path where it gets exported to.

Please inform...thanks much.

[Hulahuga]

i must say i really liked Robins idea about the layers :)

That would make a flow between MB and ZB a lot smoother :) And create awesome opportunities.
Users could utilize both apps' strengths on the same mesh, whilst keeping the levels intact. Think of it...

And please modify the frigging image verification!:)

[Wayne]

all obj imports and import as layers are lockedout of the current sdk.....I've been trying to get them to change that for a year.


Wayne...

[Hulahuga]

Keep trying ;)

Ps: just as I keep trying regarding this verification thingy.... :p

[Wayne]

Ps: just as I keep trying regarding this verification thingy.... :p

There seems to be no way to shut the damn thing off afer the last forum software update! Either that or I've missed a big red button somewhere lol.

Wayne...

[Hulahuga]

There seems to be no way to shut the damn thing off afer the last forum software update! Either that or I've missed a big red button somewhere lol.

Wayne...

Lol? Well well, couldn't the devs help you out? (of vbulletin).

[Wayne]

Lol? Well well, couldn't the devs help you out? (of vbulletin).

No...I think they are too busy counting huge piles of money lol.


Wayne...;

[Hulahuga]

No...I think they are too busy counting huge piles of money lol.


Wayne...;

Hehe ;)

You could still try their support area...

[Shawry]

so have there been anymore updates with this wayne? do u think it will ever see the public light of day once 2011 is released? I for one would definately pay for this cause it would save my arse.. =)

[Wayne]

so have there been anymore updates with this wayne? do u think it will ever see the public light of day once 2011 is released? I for one would definately pay for this cause it would save my arse.. =)


Yes it will come out..... probaby at first a simple version while I sort out the more complex version. but like everything else in my life at the moment...time is a premium and something I'm having less and less of.

Wayne...

[Shawry]

yeh, can definately understand where ur comming from, ive got 3 jobs at the moment, and its becomming a mission to try n keep organised.. nothin compared to what ur doin tho.. lol
was just curious :)

thanks for the update.