AbnRanger

What is different between the applied Smart Material and the Preview? The Preview does show a higher resolution, but you can either scale up the texture map resolution (TEXTURE menu > Mesh & Texture Resolution) or scale the island up in UV space, to get a matching resolution.

Did another test with a Voxel layer. I create a duplicate, so I can use one as a cutting object, to trim away the innermost part of the thin layered version. You can use VoxLayer to create a shell as one approach. Another is to RMB > Extract Shell (Voxels) > increase the resolution of the Voxel layer, so you have roughly 20-30mill polys. It needs to be pretty dense to maintain all the shape and detail of the chainmail. Use the EXTRUDE brush with RECTANGLE Lasso draw mode (or freeform lasso) chosen from teh E-Panel (make sure IGNORE BACKFACING in the E-Panel is unchecked, so it will work all the around the model) . Set your brush depth to 25 or so. Use the Stencil w/ Cube Mapping mode > adjust the scale of the stencil accordingly. Make sure VERTEX Normal is chosen for the Extrude Direction, in the Toolbar for the EXTRUDE brush. Now select all the way around the model. It will take a bit for it to calculate, but it should extrude all around the mesh. Now, you can use the original as your cutting object. I RMB clicked that layer > EXTRUDE (by -.05) this is like a PUSH modifier. It will shrink the original. It helps to use a different shader for the cutting object, so you can see where it is in relation to the shell. Subtract it from the thin shell (RMB > SUBTRACT FROM______) layer. You should get something like this.

Here is the result with the transparency applied to Layer 0

I did a quick test of the latter technique. Auto-Retopo delivers fantastic, evenly spaced quads, results when the shape is rather simple. It's when you throw a lot at it, where it can be rather fussy at times. It can still do a good job on complex shapes, but it's very reliable and good with more simplified shapes. That's why even on a very complex project, if you keep your models separated into logical parts, and if they parts are not overly complex, Auto-retopo can do a really good job, and remove the need for manual retopo in many cases. I did a quick test and here's the results...

It probably is easier to do in ZB, with NanoMesh. However, if I wanted to do that in 3DCoat, I might create a duplicate voxel layer > give it enough resolution and thickness (you can RMB the voxel layer and click EXTRUDE, to add thickness or shrink the thickness....sort of like a PUSH modifier). Then try and use the chain mail Stencil. Use the CARVE brush, perhaps. You may want to experiment with the INVERT action, so it's trimming rather than extruding. Adjust your brush depth level, to make sure it cuts out the black in the stencil. Another approach would be to AUTO-RETOPO > Quickly unwrap the UV's (just create a seam where you want to split it > hit UNWRAP and that should be all that's needed to get a clean even texture pattern). Then, in the Paint Room, you can use that Stencil to create the Chainmail, using UV Projection method. It should be MUCH cleaner than anything else...and you wouldn't have to waste time creating a tiled Nanomesh object.

3DCoat doesn't quite have an equivalent to ZB's Nanomesh, but as you can see in the video, Nanomesh doesn't always deliver the results you want, either. It will take a bit of tweaking, and extra work, regardless

I didn't mean splitting it up into that many "Subtools" (why ZBrush calls objects, tools, I still cannot figure out). Just one for the arm area and another for the torso. Can you screen record exactly where you are having trouble? It's a bit hard to go by verbal description and an image, usually.

If you haven't already, you could try to use the SPLIT tool to split the different sections onto their own layers. That way the projection is more accurate.

Yes. I don't know why that is. You can do some editing, but not much. I think Erasing the normal map pixels and maybe smoothing, but not additive painting on those maps. You have to create new layers to add new details. I really wish Andrew would change this.

Is it happening with one file or with simple files from the splash screen, too? Are you overclocking? Things like this will happen not only if you are overclocking and run something that stresses your system, but also if your RAM slots are fully populated and you are trying to run them at maximum rated speed. I get crashes too, if I try to get anywhere near the rated 3200mhz, with all slots populated. The manual for your motherboard should tell you that you have to drop the speed down in such a case, to a certain level. I had to drop mine to around 2600-2800mhz with 64GB (4x16GB). If I go with just 2 RAM modules (2 x 16GB) I can run it at full speed (3200mhz). So, just because a system crashes when a certain app is running, it doesn't mean that app is the culprit. It's probably something else, like a graphics card driver that probably needs to be updated, or a system related issue. I'm not having any such issues, so it's not 3DCoat.

I'm not sure what you mean by that, but 3ds Max is still their best selling 3D application, believe it or not. Always has been. I've heard from people who know the numbers and it's never been close. A lot of that is because of the enormity of the Arch Viz sector, compared to the Entertainment industry.

I have been a long time 3ds Max user and love it. Especially with all the cool plugins for it. But it is really expensive to rent (month to month). That's why I've been looking around and still haven't really settled on a home 3D app yet. I'm really hoping AD will come out with an Indie version of 3ds Max, but I'm not holding my breath. Corporations are all about maximizing profits for their shareholders, so that won't fly.

Very cool. Is this one of those creatures from the original Avengers movie? It has a nice organic form to it, rather than just a bunch of noise, w/ shapes and cuts.

...3ds Max has some nice retopo tools built in, but I always found 3DCoat's retopo tools more comprehensive and better able to move around in the viewport with uber dense reference meshes.

3ds Max apparently