Transpose Additions
From ZBrush Info
TransPose and its Action Line – a ZBrush feature dedicated to mesh manipulation, deformation and poses -- has been enhanced in ZBrush 4R2.
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Quick One-Touch Masking of Polygroups
Masking out particular parts of your models can be a tedious process – especially when it’s a complex model. However, if your model has PolyGroups this can become a very quick and easy process. Simply press W or click the Move button and then Ctrl+click on any PolyGroup. All other groups will immediately be masked.
Extruding Topology with Transpose
When you need to add more topology by creating an extrusion, use the TransPose line combined with masking. Activate Move mode to turn on the Action Line and then hold the Ctrl key when clicking on the line’s center circle. This will extrude all non-masked parts of the model..
This operation will only work with a model that does not have subdivision levels. However the Freeze SubDivision Levels button (explained elsewhere in this documentin the Added Functions and Changes chapter) can be used to temporarily drop to the base mesh level and extrude the mesh, then return to the highest level and re-project its details.
To create an extrusion, follow these steps:
Ensure that your model is a Polymesh 3D or a DynaMesh. This function will not work with primitives or ZSpheres. Create a mask on your model. These masked areas will remain unaffected while the unmasked areas will be extruded. If you wish only to extrude a small area, a good tip would be to mask the area you want to extrude, then invert the Mask before performing the next steps. Activate the Move TransPose mode (W hotkey) and draw an action line out from your unmasked area. While holding the Ctrl key, click and drag the white circle located within the Action Line’s orange middle circle. This will move the entire Action Line in the direction of your movement and at the same time will extrude the unmasked polygons. When you release the mouse button (or lift the tablet pen), ZBrush will update the mask to include the new geometry created by the extrusion. This allows you to continue the extrusion without needing to manually update the mask. When done, clear the mask.
Note: If you wish to create symmetrical extrusions on both sides of the model you must first activate the Local Symmetry mode. This is done by pressing the LSym button located in the Transform palette or on the right Shelf next to the canvas.
Duplicating a Mesh with Transpose
When no portion of the model is masked, holding Ctrl while using the TransPose Line in Move mode will duplicate the mesh. An example where this is quite useful is when using the Insert Mesh brushes.
This action requires a polymesh or DynaMesh with no subdivision levels. (The Freeze Subdivision Levels feature can be used to prepare models that have subdivision levels.) When duplicating with the TransPose Line, ZBrush will simply add the new mesh to the already selected mesh. It will not create a new SubTool.
If your SubTool is an assembly of different independent meshes, you must first fully mask any meshes that you don’t wish to be duplicated.
To try an example of this mesh duplication feature, follow these steps:
Start with the Dog Project or a DynaMesh. Activate the TransPose Move mode (W hotkey) and draw an Action Line. While holding the Ctrl key, click and drag the white circle located within the Action Line’s orange middle circle. Simply move the TransPose line anywhere across the screen’s working plane to duplicate the current mesh.
Working with Duplication and the Mesh Insert Brushes
While a polymesh or DynaMesh is in Edit mode, select one of the Mesh Insert brushes. Use the Brush >> Modifiers >> Mesh Insert Preview to select the object that you wish to insert into your SubTool. Click and drag on the model to insert the new mesh onto the original one. To duplicate the inserted mesh, mask all elements which you do not want duplicated. Using the option explained above for quickly masking by PolyGroups is an easy way to mask everything except the newly inserted mesh. Switch to the TransPose Move mode (W hotkey) and draw an Action Line. While holding Ctrl key, click and drag the white circle located within the TransPose Line’s orange middle circle. You can freely move the TransPose line to duplicate the unmasked mesh and position its copy. Upon releasing the mouse button (or lifting the tablet pen), ZBrush will update the mask to leave only the new copy unmasked. This allows you to continue creating and positioning duplicate instances of the inserted mesh without needing to manually update the mask. When done, clear the Mask.
Notes: Be very careful when masking your model to perform this action. If any portion of the model is missed -- like a part hidden by another mesh -- performing the copying action will instead create an extrusion. We strongly recommend using the new way to easily mask by PolyGroups. This will ensure that no points are missed.
Duplication and Negative Meshes
In addition to the standard method mesh duplication using TransPose, it is possible to tag the duplicated mesh as a negative mesh. This additional function is specifically for use with DynaMesh and will not have any effect without remeshing your object. The negative mesh’s volume will be subtracted from the mesh it was inserted into. An example of this feature’s use is to create a duplicate copy of the same mesh that can then be used to create a shell. (See the DynaMesh section of this documentation for more info regarding shell creation.)
The steps to create a negative copy with TransPose are the same as for duplication. The only difference is that you hold Ctrl+Alt when dragging the Action Line by its middle white circle.
