Brush Manager
From ZBrush Info
Contents |
Introduction
When using brushes in ZBrush 3 there are many settings that interrelate to create the type of stroke you make. Below is a list of some of the features that are important to keep in mind when using brushes in ZBrush 3:
- Alpha
- Stroke
- Z Intensity
- Zadd or Zsub
- RGB
- Brush Type
- Advanced Controls like Gravity, Wrap, Tile, Roll...
- Advanced Directional Controls in the Picker Palette
- And many others
The Brush Manager allows the user to save a whole range of these settings. You choose the settings you want to save per brush. The brush is then saved as a Macro and becomes accessible in the Macro: Macro: Brush sub-palette.
Anatomy Of A Brush
There are many brush controls in ZBrush 3. Visit the Brush Palette page, the Stroke Palette page and the Picker Palette page for a look at many of the settings that go into creating a brush.
Brush Type
The most important part of your brush is the brush type. Here is a brief list of some brush types:
- Standard
- Move
- Flatten
- Clay
- Snakehook
To learn more about each brush visit the Brush Palette page.
Alpha
The alpha is one of the most important aspects of a brush. The alpha defines the physical shape of your brush. It works in conjunction with your Stroke which we will look at next.
Stroke
The Stroke defines the way your brush moves over the surface of your model. It can be a Freehand Stroke that creates nice, smooth lines or it can be a Spray stroke that creates randomized brush dots along your stroke. Along with Brush Type and the Alpha, Stroke is one of the principal elements of your brush.
How To Use The Brush Manager
To use the Brush Manager:
- You must first create a brush that you like. Experiment with Brush Type, Alpha, Strokes and so on. Then simply press Save Brush in the Brush Palette.
- Choose the settings that you are interested in from the dialog box. It may take you some time to figure out which settings you want to store so just be mindful that you may not get all the right settings in the beginning.
- Press Save Brush in the Dialog box and make sure to save to the ZBrush root directory in the ZStartup/Macros/Brush folder. This will ensure that you are able to reload them later.
- Finally, go to the Macro palette and press Macros to open the sub-palette. Your new brush will be in the Brushes sub-palette.
If your new brush is not there, press Macro: Reload All Macros.
Custom UI
ZBrush 3's interface is extremely customizable. You can create your own palettes with Brushes created using the Brush Manager or move them to the interface for easy access.
Learn more about UI customization here.
