ZBrush
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|
Pixologic | |
Initial release | 1999 |
---|---|
Stable release | ZBrush 2024
/ November 16, 2023 |
Written in | macOS 10.13 and later |
Type | 3D computer graphics |
License | Commercial proprietary software |
Website | www |
Maxon ZBrush is a
ZBrush is used for creating "
ZBrush was developed by the company Pixologic Inc, founded by Ofer Alon (also known by the alias "Pixolator") and Jack Rimokh.[5] The software was presented in 1999 at SIGGRAPH.[6] The demo version, 1.55, was released in 2003,[7] and version 3.1 was released in 2007.[8] ZBrush 4 for Windows and Mac systems was announced on April 21, 2009 for an August release,[9] but was later postponed.[10] Version 3.5 was made available in September the same year, and includes some of the newer features initially intended for ZBrush 4.[11]
Through GoZ ("Go ZBrush"), available starting in Version 4, ZBrush offers integration with other 3D graphics programs such as Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, LightWave 3D, Poser Pro, Daz Studio, EIAS, Modo[12] and Blender.
ZBrush was purchased by the software company Maxon in January 2022. Since then, ZBrush has been added to the company's Maxon One subscription service. In addition, the Redshift renderer was integrated into ZBrush.[13][14]
Pixol
Like a
Features
ZBrush comes with many features[15] to aid in the sculpting of models and meshes.
3D Brushes
The initial download of ZBrush comes with thirty 3D sculpting brushes, and more are available for download. Each brush offers unique attributes while allowing general control over hardness, intensity, and size. Alphas, which are used to create a specific pattern or shape, and textures are also editable features of the brushes.
Polypaint
Polypainting allows users to paint on an object's surface without the need to first assign a
Illustration
ZBrush also gives the ability to sculpt in 2.5D and comes with several brushes for that purpose. A pixol put down when sculpting or illustrating in 2.5D contains information on its own color, depth, material, position and lighting information.
Transpose
ZBrush also has a feature that is similar to skeletal animation in other 3D programs. The transpose feature allows a user to isolate a part of the model and pose it without the need of skeletal rigging.[16]
ZSpheres
A user can create a base mesh with uniform topology and then convert it into a sculptable model by starting out with a simple sphere and extracting more "ZSpheres", until the basic shape of the desired model is created.
GoZ
Introduced in ZBrush 3.2 OS X, GoZ automates setting up shading networks for normal, displacement, and texture maps of the 3D models in GoZ-enabled applications. Upon sending the mesh back to ZBrush, GoZ will automatically remap the existing high-resolution details to the incoming mesh.[12] GoZ will take care of operations such as correcting points & polygons order. The updated mesh is immediately ready for further detailing, map extractions, and transferring to any other GoZ-enabled application.[17]
Best Preview Render
Also included is a full render suite known as Best Preview Render, which allows use of full 360° environment maps to light scenes using HDRI images. BPR includes a new light manipulation system called LightCaps. With it, one can not only adjust how the lights in the scene are placed around the model, but also generate environments based on it for HDRI rendering later on. It also allows for material adjustments in real-time. Material properties such as subsurface scattering are supported as are environmental and scan-line reflections. BPR also includes a set of built-in filters that can be used in real time to create dramatic effects and corrections without even touching another photo-manipulation program.[18]
DynaMesh
This allows ZBrush to quickly generate a new model with uniform polygon distribution, to improve the topology of models and eliminate polygon stretching.[19]
Fibermesh
Fibermesh is a feature that allows users to grow polygon fibers out of their models or to make various botanical items. It is also a way to edit and manipulate large amounts of polygons at once with Groom brushes.[20]
ZRemesher
It is an automatic retopology system previously called QRemesher that creates a new topology based on the original mesh. The new topology is generally more clean and uniform. This is a process that also helps to reduce or increase the polygon count. This process can also be guided by the user to make the new topology follow curves in the model and retain more detail in specified areas.[21]
Shadowbox
Shadowbox allows the user to draw a rough silhouette of what they want to model, onto the inside of a virtual box. In real-time, any changes to the drawings are applied to a 3D model, upon which further details can be applied. The feature can best be utilized for hard surface modeling.[22]
See also
- Heightmap
- Mudbox
- Lightwave 3D
- Electric Image Animation System
- Cinema 4D
- Modo
- Blender
- Adobe Substance 3D Modeler
References
- ^ "Pixologic :: Interview :: Rango". pixologic.com. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "Pixologic Interview - ILM". pixologic.com. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "Pixologic Interview - Weta". pixologic.com. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ Thornepublished, Brad (2018-11-30). "ZBrush at the movies". Creative Bloq. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "PIXOLOGIC INC. :: California (US) :: OpenCorporates". opencorporates.com. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "ZBrush Acquisition FAQ". Maxon. "What is ZBrush?" section. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "Pixologic :: Pressroom". pixologic.com. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "Pixologic Announcement: ZBrush 3.1 Update Information". ZBrushCentral. 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "ZBrush 4.0 Purchase and Upgrade Schedule". ZBrushCentral. 2010-07-26. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "***Announcing ZBrush 4 for Windows And MacOSX". ZBrushCentral. 2010-07-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "***Announcing ZBrush 3.5 and GoZ for Windows and MacOSX". archive.zbrushcentral.com. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ a b GoZ, Pixologic.com
- ^ "It's Official! ZBrush is Now Part of the Maxon Family". 11 January 2022.
- ^ "ZBrush Acquisition FAQ".
- ^ ZBrush Features, Pixologic.com
- ^ "Used 3D Modeling Software ZBrush". Retrieved 2017-05-14.
- ^ ZBrush Features - GoZ, Pixologic.com
- ^ BPR Enhancements, Pixologic.com
- ^ DynaMesh, Pixologic.com
- ^ Fibermesh, Pixologic.com
- ^ ZRemesher, Pixologic.com
- ^ Shadowbox, Pixologic.com
Further reading
- Skaven252. "ZBrushCentral - About the Nature of Pixols". Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - Pixolator. "ZBrushCentral - Announcing ZBrush". Retrieved 2009-04-21.[permanent dead link]
- Yetter, Matthew; Bushnell, Dave (2004). ZBrush 2 Practical Guide. Archived from the original (electronic book) on February 10, 2013.
- Lanier, Lee (2007). "Chapter 6. Texturing. Industry Tips: Rendering ZBrush Displacement Maps in Maya". Maya Professional Tips and Techniques. pp. 126–129. ISBN 978-0-470-10740-9.