How to Hide in ZBrush?

Understanding ZBrush Visibility Functions

ZBrush provides various methods to hide elements in your 3D models. Mastering these functions can greatly enhance your sculpting experience, allowing you to focus on specific details while keeping the rest of your model temporarily out of view.

Hiding Masked Areas

To hide areas of your model that have been masked, follow these steps:

1. Select the Model: Open your ZBrush project and choose the model you want to work with.
2. Mask the Desired Area: Use the masking brush to paint over the areas you intend to keep visible. Hold down the Ctrl key and click and drag over the desired geometry.
3. Hide the Masked Area: Once your area is masked, hold down Ctrl and Shift together, then press H. This action will hide the unmasked parts of the model, allowing you to work only on the selected areas.

Isolating Polygroups

Polygroups organize your model into distinct sections, making it easier to manage complex sculptures.

1. Select a Polygroup: Hold Ctrl and Shift, then click on the polygroup you want to isolate.
2. Hiding Other Polygroups: By clicking on the polygroup, all other polygroups will be hidden from view.
3. Returning to Default View: To bring back all the polygroups, click on an empty area of the canvas while still holding Ctrl and Shift.

Hiding Parts of the Mesh

When modifying specific parts of a mesh, it’s efficient to hide the rest of the model.

1. Activate the Selection Brush: Use the Shift + Ctrl keys and select the lasso or other selection tools from the Brush palette.
2. Select the Area: Click and drag over the parts of the mesh that you want to keep visible.
3. Hide the Unselected Parts: After releasing the mouse button, only the selected area will remain visible, allowing precise modifications without distraction.

Concealing Subtools

Managing multiple Subtools can sometimes lead to clutter. Hiding them can streamline your workflow.

1. Access the Subtool Menu: Open the Subtool menu located at the right side of the interface.
2. Hide the Subtool: Click on the eye icon next to the Subtool. This action will hide it from the canvas while retaining its place in the project.
3. Unhiding Subtools: To bring back a hidden Subtool, simply click on the eye icon again.

Group Splitting for Organization

When working with complex models, it may be necessary to separate parts into different Subtools for better manageability.

1. Remesh Your Model: First, remesh your model to create separate PolyGroups.
2. Access the Group Split Function: Go to the Tool menu and find the SubTool section.
3. Execute the Split: Use the Group Split option to divide your model into individual Subtools corresponding to the selected PolyGroups.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I hide multiple Polygroups at once?
Yes, you can hold down Ctrl + Shift and click on multiple polygroups to hide all except those selected.

2. How do I view hidden Subtools again?
To view hidden Subtools, go to the Subtool menu and click the eye icon next to the Subtool you wish to unhide.

3. What should I do if the mask doesn’t hide the expected areas?
Ensure that you’ve applied the mask correctly. You can also check your visibility settings, as other functions might interfere with the masking/hiding process.