Pixologic updated ZBrush4 to version R5 simplifying the process of modifying and controlling basic topology. ZBrush is a digital painting and sculpting tool widely used in the 3D industry fully loaded with powerful features and intuitive workflows. Built within an elegant interface, ZBrush offers the world’s most advanced tools for today’s digital artists. Designed around a principle of circularity, the menus in ZBrush work together in a non-linear and mode-free method. The latest upgrade to ZBrush is focused on enhancing brushes, masking capabilities, Polygrouping functions and workflow efficiently. With the addition of features like Quick Save, Mouse Wheel Support and a new See-Through mode, artists will have more time for exploring their creativity without leaving ZBrush. Between the new changes belongs „Panel Loops“. Using this function you can convert your model’s PolyGroups into panels of polygons with or without thickness, or even as extruded surfaces. Created panels have their edges defined by an editable curve with a custom bevel.
All borders will have clean polygons loops even on low resolution models. Panel loops are extraordinarily fast for creating armour, machined surfaces or anything else where a panel shape is needed. Next to this, Pixologic implement a new Posterize render features. Posterization in ZBrush 4R5 is computed in different ways depending on your needs. You can use it in 3D and build your desired effect directly onto your model, or it can be applied as a 2D effect to your renders in conjunction with BPR (Best Preview Render) filters. A lot of new changes and enhancements are implemented inside ZBrush4R5 and to know more about them, follow the link at the bottom of this article. The upgrade is free of charge for all registered users.
Additional changes:
- SubTool splitting can be based on the surface’s mask -- useful for creating a SubTool based on an inserted a mesh or a tri-part curve.
- The Smooth algorithm used in several major ZBrush functions (such as DynaMesh and ShadowBox) has been improved to preserve as much of the original mesh volume as possible.
- The Topology brush now keeps the curve segment size constant, even after zooming in or out. This avoids accidentally changing the curve density while navigating.
- Slice Curve now works on partially hidden geometry and has four Stroke options: Lasso, Curve, Circle and Rectangle.
- Micro Mesh has a new Align option, causing all replicated objects to face the same direction.
- The Render Properties now have a Vibrant slider for a global setting change. This eliminates the need to individually edit materials when you want them all to share the same value.
- Images can now be exported in PNG format with full transparency support and/or depth as an Alpha. This is especially useful with the new GrabDocAndDepth function.
- Size and Position of the Tool can now be adjusted through dedicated sliders. Unlike the deformation sliders which reset to 0 immediately, these new sliders retain their values. For example, you can simply set the Size slider to 2 and double the size of your model. To change it back to the original size you would change the slider back to a setting of 1.
- Extract has a new Double option, allowing you to extract both out from the surface and in toward the center at the same time.
More information at: Pixologic