3D Primitive Tools
From ZBrush Info
Following is a list of all of the 3D tools in ZBrush. You can create variations on these tools by changing Modifiers settings; the modified tool is added to the palette for the current session. Each entry in the list includes the object's tool icon and an image showing the tool used several times in a drawing, with different transforms and modifiers applied.
Whenever a 3D object tool is active, a number of sub-palettes appear in the Tool palette; these are the same for most 3D objects, and are covered in the next section: 3D Object-Specific Sub-palettes.
Note: The best way to see the result of sub-palette setting changes, including Initialize parameters, is to observe the rotatable preview in the Tool:Modifiers:Object Preview Window.
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Common Controls
Each 3D object has its own set of Initialize sub-palette parameters, which can profoundly alter the object's appearance. The following parameters are common to many of the objects, thus are not listed in the individual entries:
X Size: Relative size on the X axis, or width. Default = 100%. Range = 0% to 100%.
Y Size: Relative size on the Y axis, or height. Default = 100%. Range = 0% to 100%.
Z Size: Relative size on the Z axis, or depth. Default = 100%. Range = 0% to 100%.
HDivide: Horizontal subdivision count, or number of polygons used to create the object across its width. Default and range vary per object.
VDivide: Vertical subdivision count, or number of polygons used to create the object across its height. Default and range vary per object.
Note: Higher settings for HDivide and VDivide produce higher-resolution objects. This is particularly helpful when applying deformations and editing, but requires more memory and processing power. If you want faceted objects, reduce the HDivide and VDivide settings and, in the Modifiers sub-palette, turn off SH and SV.
Tools
Sphere 3D
Initialize Parameters:
Coverage: The extent of the “sweep” used to produce the sphere, in degrees. Use lower settings to take a “slice” out of the sphere. Use 180 to produce a hemisphere. Default = 360. Range = 0 to 360.
Sphereinder 3D
Initialize Parameters:
Coverage: The extent of the “sweep” used to produce the sphereinder, in degrees. Use lower settings to take a “slice” out of the sphereinder. Default = 360. Range = 0 to 360.
TRadius: Radius of end spheres. Range 0 to 100. Default = 25
TCurve: Curvature of end spheres. Range 0 to 100. Default = 50
Cube 3D
Initialize Parameters:
Sides Count: The number of sides of the cube. Use 3 to produce a prism, and higher settings to produce an increasingly cylindrical object. Default = 4. Range = 3 to 32.
Twist: Produces a twisted cube, with spiral sides. Default = 0. Range = 0 to 4.
Cylinder 3D
Initialize Parameters:
Inner Radius: Controls the relative size of the cylinder's inner radius; any value other than 0 produces a tube. Default = 0%. Range = 0% to 100%.
Taper Top: Controls the relative size of the cylinder's upper (closer) end; any value other than 0 produces a conic shape. Default = 0%. Range = 0% to 100%.
Ring 3D
Initialize Parameters:
SRadius (Small Radius): The size of the ring's inner radius relative to its outer radius. Use this setting to change the ring's thickness. Default = 38%. Range = 0% to 100%.
Coverage: The extent of the “sweep” used to produce the ring, in degrees. Use lower settings to take a “slice” out of the ring. Default = 360. Range = 0 to 360.
Scale: The size of the end of the sweep relative to its start. The lower this setting, the greater the change in thickness of the ring around its circumference. Default = 1. Range = 0 to 1.
I(nitial)Twist: Gives greater control over the twist effect by specifying a starting value.
Twist: Produces a twist effect around the ring by successively rotating the circular cross-sections by increasing amounts. This is most visible when you use low SDivide and LDivide settings and turn off smoothing (Tool:Modifiers:SH and SV switches). Default = 0. Range = 0 to 1440.
SDivide: The number of subdivisions in the circular cross-section of the ring. Use 3 or 4 for a triangular or square cross-section, respectively. Default = 16. Range = 3 to 128.
LDivide: The number of subdivisions along the length of the ring. Use 3 or 4 for a triangular or square shape, respectively. Default = 32. Range = 3 to 128.
Sweep Profile 3D
Creates a 3D sweep of customizable curves.
Initialize Parameters:
S Profile and T Profile: The upper part of the Sweep Profile 3D tool's Initialize sub-palette consists of two graphs that show curves for profile and thickness. To create the object, these curves are swept 360 degrees about a vertical axis at the left edge of the graphs.
Thickness: The Thickness slider defines the thickness of the mesh which is swept around an axis as determined by the Sweep Profile curve. Variations in thickness are further modified by the Thickness Profile curve. Thickness adjustments can be clearly seen if the profile is defined so the object is open at either end.
Terrain 3D
Creates a 3D terrain object.
Initialize Parameters:
V Profile and H Profile: The bottom of the Terrain tool's Initialize sub-palette consists of two graphs that show profile curves used to create the tool. You modify the extruded curves, and thus the shape of the terrain, simply by modifying the graphs. To create the terrain, the two curves are positioned at right angles to each other, and extruded to form a common surface.
- The following illustration shows the default profiles together with the resultant preview.
- TODO
- Initialize sub-palette Draw in the profile views to modify the terrain object
Arrow 3D
Creates a 3D arrow.
Initialize Parameters:
TipR(adius): Sets the radius of the arrow tip. Increase this to create an umbrella-like object, or set it to 0 to remove the tip. Default = 30%. Range = 0 to 100%.
TipH(eight): Sets the height of the tip relative to the overall height of the arrow, which also affects the angle of the tip. Lower values produce short, flatter tips, while larger values produce longer, steeper tips. Default = 60%. Range = 0 to 100%.
InnerR(adius): Sets the relative width of the arrow shaft where it meets the tip. Changing the setting results in a tapered shaft. Default = 11%. Range = 0 to 100%.
InnerI(nset): Sets the relative distance from the bottom of the tip to where the tip's inner surface meets the shaft. At 0, the distance is the same, resulting in a right angle between the bottom of the tip and the shaft. At higher values, the inside edge of the inner surface moves up toward the tip end, resulting in a concave inner-tip surface. Default = 19%. Range = 0 to 100%.
BaseR(adius): Sets the relative width of the arrow shaft at its base; the end opposite the tip. Changing the setting results in a tapered shaft. Default = 11%. Range = 0 to 100%.
BaseI(nset): Produces a concave base. At the default setting, the base is flat; increasing the setting increases the concavity. Default = 0%. Range = 0 to 100%.
Double (Sided): When on, produces a double-headed arrow. The length stays the same, so the tips and shaft become smaller than with a single-headed arrow, all other settings being equal.
Cone 3D
Creates a 3D cone.
Initialize Parameters:
Inner Radius: Controls the relative size of the cone's inner radius; any value other than 0 produces a tube. Taper top must be less than 100 for this to have any effect. Default = 0%. Range = 0% to 100%.
Taper Top: Controls the relative size of the cone’s upper (closer) end; any value other than 100 produces a cylindrical shape. Default = 0%. Range = 0% to 100%.
Plane 3D
Creates a 3D planar square. Although flat, the square is double-sided so it's visible from both sides.
Initialize Parameters:
H Radius and V Radius: These are equivalent to the X Size and Y Size settings for other 3D objects, in that they set a relative horizontal and vertical size.
Circle 3D
Creates a 3D disk by sweeping a line through an arc; by default the arc is 360 degrees. Although flat, the disk is double-sided so it's visible from both sides.
Initialize Parameters:
ORadius1 and ORadius2 (Outer Radius Start/End): To create a circle, ZBrush sweeps a radial line through an arc, starting at 6 o'clock and rotating counter-clockwise. By default, this line stays the same size throughout the sweep. By using different ORadius settings, you can cause the radius to change its length progressively during the sweep. If Outer Radius Start is smaller than Outer Radius End, the radius increases in length during the sweep, and vice versa. Default = 100%. Range = 0% to 100%.
IRadius1 and IRadius2 (Inner Radius Start/End): These settings let you create a hole in the center of the circle object. As with the ORadius settings, they define the length of the hole radius at the beginning and end of the sweep. If both settings are the same, the hole is circular. If the settings are different, the hole radius varies throughout the arc, creating an irregular-shaped opening. Default = 0%. Range = 0% to 100%.
Coverage: The extent of the “sweep” used to produce the circle, in degrees. Use lower settings to take a “slice” out of the circle. Default = 360. Range = 0 to 360. ===Helix 3D===
Creates a variety of spring-like shapes.
Initialize Parameters:
Coverage: The helix shape is formed by a shape which sweeps along a spiral path. The coverage slider determines the number of full rotations made along that path. Range = 0 to 25. Default = 8.
H(ollow): Determines whether the ends of the helix are closed or open (capped or uncapped).
Profile: The cross-sectional shape (normally a circle) can be modified using this graph. This curve defines the radius of the “circle” at each point along its edge. The left side of the curve defines the radius at the circle’s beginning, while the right side defines the radius at the circle’s end.
Thickness: Defines the thickness (the relative size of the Profile “circle”) of the helix path at each point from beginning to end.
Radius: Defines the outline shape of the helix object. The curve represents the outer edge’s distance from the helix centerline.
ZOffset: Defines the displacement along the Z axis of each point of the Helix3D object – how tightly compressed the coils of the spring are.
Twist: Determines how much the Profile shape rotates as it travels along the helix path. It defines the amount of twist at each point along the helix.
Spiral 3D
Creates a variety of snail-like shapes that can be described using sliders.
Initialize Parameters:
Coverage: Determines the portion of a circle that is formed by the spiral shape. 360 equals one full circle. Range = 1 to 9000. Default = 1440
H(ollow): Determines whether the ends of the spiral are closed or open (capped or uncapped).
S.Thick: Specifies the starting thickness (or cross-sectional radius) of the spiral at its outermost point. Range = 0 to 100. Default = 80.
E.Thick(ness): Specifies the ending thickness (or cross-sectional radius) of the spiral at its innermost point. Values greater than 0 result in a helix shape. Range = 0 to 100. Default = 0.
S.Radi(us): Starting Radius determines the radius of the spiral at its outermost point. Range = 0 to 100. Default = 100.
E.Radi(us): Ending Radius determines the radius of the spiral at its innermost point. Range = 0 to 100. Default = 0.
S.Disp(lacement): Start Displacement defines the distance along the Z-axis at which the spiral begins its path. Range = -5 to 5. Default = 1
E.Disp: Ending Displacement defines the distance along the Z-axis at which the spiral ends its path. Range = -5 to 5. Default = 0.
S.Twist: Starting Twist defines the angle in degrees at which the cross-section is twisted at the spiral’s outermost point. Range = 0 to 360. Default = 0.
E.Twist: Ending Twist defines the angle in degrees at which the cross-section is twisted at the spiral’s innermost point. Range = 0 to 360. Default = 0.
Gear 3D
Uses both profile graphs and sliders to create a limitless variety of gears. In most cases, gears look best with Sh and Sv turned off.
Initialize Parameters:
Coverage: The gear forms a circular shape or outline. This slider determines how many degrees out of a circle are formed. Range = 0 to 360. Default = 360.
Width: Determines the Z-axis thickness of the gear. Range = 0 to 100. Default = 20.
IRadius: Determines the size of middle hole or “hub” of the gear object. Range = 0 to 100. Default = 50.
Skew: This slider specifies how much the gear object twists around the Z-axis. Range = -100 to 100. Default = 0.
Tilt: Tilt Angle allows you to define a gear object that is not flat, but bowed so that the outer edges point to one side. Range = 0 to 360. Default = 0.
OuterS: Determines the percentage of the gear’s radius which composes its teeth. If set to 100, the inner hole is reduced to nothing. A negative value causes the hub portion to extend beyond the teeth. Range = -100 to 100. Default = 50.
OuterRC: Outer Repeat Count specifies the number of teeth that the gear will have. It is usually beneficial to set the LDivide slider to a value that is evenly divisible by the OuterRC to ensure that all teeth are constructed with the same number of polygons. Range = 1 to 100. Default = 8.
Outer Profile: This curve determines the profile shape of each tooth when viewed along the Z-axis.
Outer Section: This curve specifies the cross-sectional shape of the gear’s radius when viewed from the side. The center of the curve is the centerline of the gear cross-section.
InnerH: Inner Height determines the radius of the inner teeth which are cut into the inner hole on a gear object. Range = -100 to 100. Default = 35.
InnerRC: Inner Repeat Count specifies the number of hub teeth which are cut into the inner hole on a gear object. Range = 1 to 100. Default = 3.
Inner Profile: This curve defines the profile shape of each hub tooth which is cut into the inner hole on a gear object.
Inner Section: The Inner Section Curve specifies the cross section of each tooth that is cut into the inner hole on a gear object. Like the Outer Section, it represents the tooth when viewed from the side, with the center being the centerline of the gear object. Polymesh 3D
Polymesh 3D
The Polymesh 3D tool, also known as the Star tool, can create a six-pointed 3D star, but its main purpose is to import geometry. Polymeshes are a major aspect of ZBrush, and are discussed in detail in other sections of the document.
ZSphere
The ZSphere is a very powerful modeling tool that allows you to easily create multi-limbed creatures, trees and other objects. You can quickly create a kind of skeleton from chains of linked spheres and move limbs to place the model in a variety of poses.
See ZSpheres for more details.
