This is really great! I appreciate the clear explanations and guidance! I love not having to export to different software for steps like this so ZWrap sounds great.
If you're willing to learn a bit of houdini, it also has a tool for reprojection/wrapping a lower res model to a high res model, it comes in the apprentice version, so you don't need to buy the full version but you will be bound by the apprentice version export limitations
does this pipeline work for retopo as well, or is it just a way to get the subdivisions and proper topology to finish a high poly sculpt? After doing your tertiary details on the 3-5M poly head would you go back into another 3D package and retopo, or would you just use the lowest division level for UV unwrap and texture?
i've always wondered how do you go about doing the eyelids. I've seen some artists model the head with the eyelids closed....what do animators/riggers prefer when it comes time to make the character blink?
The eyelids are a huge rabbit hole haha! Every rigger is bound to have a different take on that. The great thing about reusing topology across many heads on production is that you can reuse skinning as well, as the very least as a first pass and especially if the same edgeloop is used for the crease of the upper eyelid. It speeds up production. Every rigger is bound to give you a different answer.
I was thinking about buying ZWrap. I 've seen a huge increase in many artist now using it. Do you think it would be worth it to get the full version instead of the ZBrush version for full body characters?
The Zbrush plugin and standalone version have the same wrapping algorithm so it wouldn't change much as long as you're wrapping one mesh at a time. The standalone is more for those who like node-based approaches and better suited when you have a lot of wrapping to process, like studios dealing with lots of scan data. If you only need it for the occasional mesh here and there, you're better saving your money and getting the Zbrush plugin.
I don't believe there is. If you don't have access to Zbrush I think your only other option is to get the standalone version (which is more expensive unfortunately).
