Most often the program creates models of characters and living creatures, but it can also perform many other individual 3D objects:
- character costume details;
- game accessories (clothes, weapons, equipment, etc.);
- environmental objects;
- interior objects;
- models of modern products and goods (jewelry, shoes, watches, etc.) and much more.
An important feature of ZBrush is the principle of so-called 2.5D modeling. In spite of the fact, that it is a program for three-dimensional drawing, on the technological level the process is pseudo three-dimensional. That is, the program does not calculate the location of all modeled objects in space every second of its work, and combines the principles of 2D and 3D.
This makes ZBrush easy to use in terms of computer resources. While many other modeling programs use the CPU and graphics card, ZBrush relies heavily on RAM.
With pixels, ZBrush can handle the highly detailed models that are in demand in today’s games and movies.
The 2.5D principle has another important advantage: you can draw illustrations directly on models. For example, to depict a pattern on a character’s clothes, tattoos on the skin, or inscriptions on objects.
Here is an overview of the features in ZBrush
3D brushes. The program has about 30 preset brushes for modeling by sculpting. In addition, you can create your own brushes or download them from the Internet. Each brush has a size, intensity, hardness, texture or pattern.
Illustration and polypainting. You can create 2D drawings in the program in order to put them on the model and draw directly on the surface of models.
Alphas. In simple words, it is an opportunity to create the desired relief, for example, to simulate the surface of skin, scales, stone, fabric, etc. You can download the necessary alphas directly from the official Pixologic website or other sources on the Internet.
Live Boolean. The function that handles so called Boolean operations – actions that combine objects with each other. You can use Live Boolean to make complex shapes from separate ones as well as to cut them out from other shapes.
Transpose. It’s a simple way to change the position of any part of the model (for example, to give the desired pose to a character). ZBrush does it without rigging, so you don’t have to build the whole skeleton.
Fibermesh. This is a tool for quickly “growing” fibers on the model without the need to model all of them separately. Useful, for example, for modeling plant environments, fibers or wool.
Best Preview Render. This is a built-in rendering package that allows you to adjust the location of lighting, reflections from surfaces and various effects to get a nice final picture.