Adjusting a base mesh, or cleaning up topology, was a step that required exporting your geo to Maya or 3ds Max to fix your problems, then send it back to ZBrush to continue sculpting. This tool has given ZBrush the capability of polygonal vertex modelling, a feature it was sorely missing. ZModeler is a welcome addition to ZBrushĪ few years ago, Pixologic introduced a new brush called ZModeler. ZBrush even has a plugin for exporting layers as blend shapes to Maya.Ħ. With the slider it's easy to visualize how a blend shape will move once activated. They also can be used as a tool for creating blend shapes on objects. It can be a great tool when stamping down skin pore alphas only to discover when you look at the bigger picture that those pores are deeper than you expected. If testing out a new alpha or surface detail, why not try to use layers? Layers, while active, remember what you’ve sculpted, giving you the ability to increase or decrease the strength of what you’ve put down on your model. This can also be used in tandem with ZRemesher to create a more reasonable base geo by turning on groups.ĥ. They can be used to help add control over physically separate pieces of geometry or make it easier to manage sections of one continuous piece.

They are essentially a selection set of geometry faces, allowing you to isolate that set from others. Polygroups are a great way to organize your SubTools so that you can have an easier time sculpting.

For example, editing the curves with the flat brush can help flatten a general surface without flattening the high frequency details.Ĥ. Options in brushes can change their behaviour. Alternatively, open a 2D image package like Photoshop and paint your own.īut if you’re overwhelmed with the number of brushes, why not research two or three instead of trying to learn them all? Choose the brushes you’re using regularly and explore what each parameter does. Sculpt a couple versions of what you want to create, have ZBrush capture it in a 2D image, then scatter them all over your model. ZBrush gives you the option to create your own alphas. Alpha materials can be used for both hard surface and organic detailing and there are many to be found online. The ability to stamp down details anywhere on your model based on a black and white image is incredibly helpful. Look for your primary shapes first before starting on secondary and feel confident in your primary shapes before you even consider starting tertiary. Back up your camera every now and then and make sure everything is to your liking. Start by refining the larger forms before creating the smaller shapes and constantly check the silhouette. This makes it very tempting to add a few subdivisions and start sculpting small details right away, but small details make it more of a challenge to fix larger problems. ZBrush can handle an incredible number of polygons with ease.

Zbrush hard surface sculpting