What follows is a full list of the FBX ExportImport plugin functions. The plugin settings are found in the Zplugin>FBX ExportImport sub-palette. Click the sub-palette title to reveal the buttons.
Selected, Visible, All
The Selected, Visible and All buttons let you choose how you want your model to be exported.
- Selected will export just the currently selected SubTool.
- Visible will export the visible SubTools.
- All will export all SubTools.
FBX 2014
To select between different FBX versions, click the FBX 2014 button repeatedly.You can choose between 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009.
bin (Binary), ascii
The bin and ascii switch buttons let you choose between binary and ascii FBX format.
Binary will usually be the best choice and has smaller file size.
Layers
The Layers mode lets you export 3D layers as Blendshapes if you wish to.
Tris
The Tris modeTurn on this option for meshes to be exported as triangular polygons. Leave off if you want polygons to remain as quads.
MayaYUp – Axis systems selector
To select an axis system, click the MayaYUp button repeatedly . Choose between MayaYUp, MayaZUP, 3DS Max, Marmoset Toolbag, Unity, Motion Builder, OpenGL, DirectX and LightWave. If in doubt then MayaYUp is a good choice.
Embed Maps
The Embed Maps mode lets you embed maps into the FBX file. If turned off then all maps will be exported as separate files to the same location as the FBX file.
SNormals (Smooth Normals)
The SNormal mode, when activated, exports smoothed normals. Turn it off to export hard normals. Smoothing is automatically calculated based on these normals.
TGA – Image format selector
Click the TGA button repeatedly to choose between different 8bit image formats for texture and normal maps. The choice is between TGA, PSD, PNG, BMP, TIF, JPG low, JPG med, JPG high.
16Bit TIF – Displacement maps image format selector
Click the 16 Bit Tiff button repeatedly to choose between different 16bit formats for displacement maps. You can choose between TIF and PSD.
Export
The Export button exports your model as an FBX file. Enter a file name in the file dialog.
Import
The Import button imports an FBX file into ZBrush. Select a file through the file dialog. A new ztool will be created in the Tool palette.
?
The “?”button displays the Autodesk FBX license information.
Options>
Click the Options button to show the FBX plugin options.
Export Polygroups as Mats
Export polygroups as different materials in the FBX file. The material colors will be the same as the polygroup colors in ZBrush.
Export Polygroups as SSets
Export polygroups as Selection Sets.
Import Mats as Polygroups
Import materials as polygroups.
Import SSets as Polygroups
Import Selection Sets as polygroups.
Import Mats as SubTools
Import materials as separate subtools. This can be useful if the fbx file has texture maps assigned per material, so that the model displays correctly in ZBrush.