Archive notice: This article was originally published on January 4, 2013. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
An overview of the new features:
Panel Loops
Panel Loops convert poly groups into “panels” (with or without thickness) and even into extruded surfaces—their edges are then given a custom bevel, which in turn contains an editable curve. According to Pixologic, this is intended to complement the Extract Mesh feature wonderfully. This allows edges to have clean polygons, even in low-poly modelling. These panels could be particularly well suited to armour and machinery —that is, hard surfaces—and work well there with ZBrush’s auto-grouping features.
Delete Loops and Align Loops
The “Delete Loops” command analyses the topology using a user-defined setting and, according to Pixologic, removes “with one click” polygons that do not contribute to the design of the model and are therefore unnecessary for games or similar tasks with a limited polycount. “Align” is also intended to make it easy to align the loops with one another without deleting polygons.
Posterize and Step Curves
ZBrush 4R5 is also intended to further simplify cel shading—the new Posterize functions are intended to enable the cel-shading look during modelling or as a 2D effect in rendering. With BPR Posterization, the model is intended to merge dynamically with the background and be adjustable for still images, for example.
This look can also be embedded using a material or curve with the “Curve Modifier”. This then makes it possible to set different Posterize settings depending on the material and control the effect separately in the Specular, Diffuse or Environment Color channel.
Workflow and Usability
Pixologic has also given saving new functions—“Quicksave” stores individually named backups of the various work steps, each with or without project history. Each Quicksave therefore creates a new project with ascending numbering. Depending on the setting, ZBrush also creates these Quicksaves automatically, thus preventing data loss when saving is forgotten—which should prevent quite a few grey hairs in the user community.
Dynamic Brushes
If desired, the brush size is now also dynamically adjusted to the camera setting, allowing faster work, particularly when creating alpha patterns and scales.
See-Through Mode
Anyone working with reference images can also make ZBrush itself transparent—here the entire interface is intended to make the image underneath it (that is, the desktop with the image viewer) visible, which should be helpful for both realistic modelling and tutorials. More information and example images at www.pixologic.com/zbrush.
