ZBrush 4R2b Launched!

Now that Z4R2 has been put to the test by ZBrush users on many different system configurations and workflows, we found some ‘rough corners’ which we would like to polish. Therefore, we have released an update patch allowing you to take full advantage of the powerful features in Z4R2 now, without having to wait until Z5 is released.

But that’s not all! ZBrush4 R2b also includes exciting new features that are designed to push your artwork to ever greater heights! FiberMesh to create true 3D fibers, fur and hair which may be sculpted, painted, UV mapped and even exported to other applications.

• New set of dedicated FiberMesh “Groom” brushes and corresponding Brush settings.
• MicroMesh support to render fibers or single polygons as another 3D object.
• New set of BPR filters and operators to greatly improve your final ZBrush renders.
• BPR Global Shadow and Ambient Occlusion settings which simplify shadow management.
• New Cavity Mixer which to define different material shaders based on the mesh cavities.
• Improved small details creation through Alpha and Mask. Alphas may be placed using TransPose.
• Surface Smoothness feature detects mesh curvature for Mask creation.
• New global deformation with Transpose Curve deformation and UnClip.
• Improved Mask operations with Shrink and Extend.
• Topology editing additions: Group Mask and Edgeloop Mask Border.
• New JPEG Exporter with Crop, Preview and adjustment settings.
• Numerous improvements such as storing shadow information based on the camera point of view, preview of mesh Extraction, Auto Adjust Mode for perspective… and a lot more.

Click Here to view the FiberMesh Preview at ZBrushCentral.

Click Here to learn more about ZBrush 4R2b’s many other features.

Last but not least… In Z4R2b you’ll find two palettes that require the use of a plugin. One of these plugins, the NoiseMaker, was previously announced and will be coming your way within a couple weeks. The other is now being announced for the first time and is code named: QRemesher.

QRemesher is result of the collective efforts of both Pixologic and Verold. As it’s name suggests, it is a remeshing solution both automatic and guided. Stay tuned, for a February pre-release Alpha version of QRemesher, available for download and preview inside ZBrush 4R2b. Once completed, QRemesher will be available for purchase and download at Pixologic.com.

More news, and exciting updates will be made available in the weeks to follow. We look forward to seeing all of your exciting new artistic pursuits on the ZBrush Central Forum.

ZBrush4 R2b is a free update for all registered ZBrush users.

For anyone who already has ZBrush 4R2 installed, an Updater is available now in the Pixologic Download Center. Please carefully read the instructions that are provided with the Updater.

If you cannot install version 4R2 (because you never upgraded to it or did not save your installer), you will not be able to use the Updater. Instead, please submit a ticket in the Support Center. Choose the “Upgrades” department when prompted. Be sure to include any information that can help us locate your account so that we can assist you promptly.

New purchasers of ZBrush will receive version 4R2b directly and will not need to update.

Floating license customers will receive an email with special upgrade instructions before the end of January.

Documentation for the new version is installed with ZBrush 4R2b. You will find a Documentation folder within your ZBrush 4R2b folder, containing PDF files covering the new features in ZBrush 4, 4R2 and 4R2b. Online documentation is available at www.pixologic.com/docs/. We will also be adding new movies to the Education section at www.pixologic.com to demonstrate the new features and their use.

Should any issues arise, we have posted an FAQ and Troubleshooting thread for ZBrush 4R2b HERE.

Happy ZBrushing!