ZOO TOOLS PRO – GETTING STARTED

Follow the step-by-step instructions on this page to install and start using Zoo Tools Pro.
 
 

Install Zoo Tools Pro
Install Assets Presets
Install Zoo Hotkeys
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Assets Quick Start
UI Tips And Tricks
Change Window Colors
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Finding Help
New Features And Updates
Download Previous Versions
Known Issues
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Uninstall Hotkeys
Uninstall Zoo Tools Pro
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Note About Our Courses
Managing Subscription
Site Map

INSTALL ZOO TOOLS PRO

Download the Zoo Tools Pro installation files from the Zoo Tools Install Page to install or upgrade.

You can also upgrade and downgrade with the Drag And Drop Installer.

1. Unzip the installer into any folder on disk.
2. Drag and Drop the file dragdropinstall.py into Maya
3. Press Install or change the custom path options.
4. If in Maya 2022 click Apply To All and Ok in the security settings.

Upon installation of Zoo Tools, the shelf will automatically appear.

If you require more in-depth guidance regarding installation, refer to the Zoo 2 Install Page for comprehensive instructions.

INSTALL ASSETS AND PRESETS

You can download the Presets, Assets Zip, and Maya Scenes Zip from the Zoo 2 Install Page .

Since these packs are comprised of over a gigabyte of data, it’s best to install them separately.

1. Find the zoo_preferences folder location on your OS.
Zoo Preferences (cog icon) > General > Dots Menu > Open Folder Location

2. Copy/replace the contents of each zip into the location of the zoo_preferences\assets\.

Close and reopen any Zoo Windows. Or in a browser use: dots menu > refresh.

ASSETS QUICK START

Learn how to load and illuminate Model Assets, as well as open the Rhino Maya Scene with additional information on browser basics in this instructional video.

Please note in Maya 2022 the Color preferences have changed, to view Model Assets use:

Render (Clapperboard Icon) > Set Linear/SRGB Color Space

To change back to 2022 color defaults use:

Render (Clapperboard Icon) > Set ACES/SRGB Color Space

To delve deeper into the features of each tool, simply click on the Help Icon and proceed to the relevant help page.

INSTALL HOTKEYS

The Zoo Hotkeys are an optional yet significant feature. With the ability to switch between Maya’s default hotkeys by using the ; hotkey, you can also create custom hotkeys. Refer to the Hotkey Help Page for further details (coming soon).

To install the Zoo Hotkeys:

1. Open the Zoo Hotkey Editor (Keyboard Icon on the shelf).
2. Click OK.

Maya’s hotkey sets are expanded by Zoo Tools, but we do not alter any existing hotkey sets.

Toggle Maya Zoo Hotkey Sets
Use the ; semi colon hotkey to between the Zoo Tools, Maya and Custom hotkey Sets.

You can still access previous hotkey sets through Maya’s Hotkey Editor, as Zoo Tools ensures that they are not affected.

For more information regarding installing, creating custom hotkey sets, and uninstalling the Zoo hotkeys on the Hotkey Page (coming soon).

CHANGE WINDOW COLORS

You can change the Zoo window colors by opening the Zoo Preferences Window, it’s the cog icon on the shelf.

See Theme Colors > Theme. Be sure to hit save before you close the window.

WHERE TO FIND HELP

Overall Help
Help is found on the Question Mark icon on the main shelf. You will see a list of help topics and links to the course material too.

The main Zoo Tools Contents Help Page is here .

Individual Tool Help
Each tool features a question mark icon which links directly to its help page. Please login to see all help, some help is hidden on the pages if you are not logged in.

Tooltip Help
Zoo has extensive tooltips which describe each button and textbox when you hover over a UI item.

Make sure Maya’s tooltips are on by clicking on the top left Z Icon on any window and check Toggle Tooltips on. This is a global Maya setting and will affect Maya’s tooltips too.

USING THE WINDOWS

The Zoo Tools 2 UIs are dynamic and can be used in a number of ways.

Drag out the Z Icon to dock a window.

You can move windows by alt middle mouse clicking anywhere on the window.

Scale window by alt right mouse clicking anywhere on the window, and drag in a direction.

Zoom in and out inside the browsers with ctrl-middle-scroll.

UI TIPS

Once a tool is open, you can left-click on the top dots menu to change the toolset shelf.

Middle-mouse-click the dots menu to show all icons in a compact pop-out window with search. (recommended)

Right-click the dots menu to list all the tools in a single list with search.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT OUR COURSES

Most of our current courses have been created in Zoo Tools version 1 and version 2 is quite different. Please read our Welcome Page for more information.

We will continue the training with Zoo 2 shortly, right now we’re concentrating on updating all the individual tool training.

NEW FEATURES/UPDATES

See what’s new on the Changelog Page , this page tracks all new tools and features.

DOWNLOAD OLD ZOO VERSIONS

Download old versions of Zoo 2 on the Changelog Page .

Download Zoo Tools Pro Version 1 here (limited support).

KNOWN ISSUES

All known issues are found on the Issues and Fixes Page .

MANAGING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION

Unsubscribe and resubscribe by following this page .

SITE MAP

See our Site Map Page for a general site overview.

UNINSTALL ZOO HOTKEYS

You can uninstall the Zoo Hotkeys in the Zoo Preferences window.

Zoo Preferences Window (Cog Icon) > Zoo Hotkey Editor > Delete Default Hotkeys

UNINSTALL ZOO TOOLS

You can uninstall Zoo Tools Pro at anytime by clicking the

Zoo Tools menu > Developer > Uninstall ZooToolsPro

FURTHER QUESTIONS

If you’ve any questions, please email us at info@create3dcharacters.com or post on the Facebook Group.

This page will continue to be updated with videos.