We are now going to create polygroups, and for it, we are going to use ZBrush 3's new topological masking tools.
Note: You can use these tools only if you're in Move, Rotate or Scale mode.
First, go into Preferences:Transpose, and set the Mask Blur Strength to 0. Make sure that the X Symmetry is on, go into move mode, press and hold CTRL then click on the wrist and drag towards the hand to create a topological mask that isolates the body. Release CTRL.
CTRL + Click on the canvas to invert the mask, go to the (Ctrl>Tool>Masking) subpalette, and hide the unmasked polygons, then go to the Polygroup subpalette and create a new polygroup.
Note: Always create your polygroups at the lower subdivision level.
In the same way, create another topological mask by drawing another line from the top to the bottom of the corner of the mouth, then, create a new polygroup, to separate the upper lip from the bottom lip.
The Advantages of Working with Layers :
Layers allow you to work with much more flexibility, and to easily correct many kinds of errors. You will be able to work with a model at many different stages of development simultaneously. You can add details, then turn those details off and refine the major forms underlying them. The layer submenu is in the Tool palette. All models start with no layers defined.
To create new layers, use the Tool:Layer:New button. If you wish to bake the layer into your sculpt, simply press Tool:Layers:Delete. If you want to remove the layer and the sculpting from your mesh, turn off the visibility of the layer by pressing the eye icon and then pressing Tool:Layers:Delete.
When you create one 3D Layer on a model, the following layers have to be created at the same level of subdivision as the first one. They can on the other hand be edited at any level.
Erasing Layer Information :
You can erase information in a Layer by using a morph target and the morph brush. To do this take the following steps:
- Turn off visibility for the layer you want to remove information from.
- Store a morph target by pressing Tool: Morph Target: Store MT.
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Select the morph brush.
- Turn the visibility back on for that layer.
- Paint out the area you want to remove.
This model is fairly simple in terms of the abilities ZBrush offers; it does not present big technical difficulties. The challenge to make a beautiful result is essentially anatomical. You'll visit in the next chapters some techniques which are going to allow you to work more quickly and more effectively.
Detailing the Eyelid:
Create a topological mask around the eye at subdiv level 3, and invert it. (You can create the mask only in one direction, from the outside inward of the eye, because you're working in symmetry). If the Mask is too blurred, use the Sharpen Mask tool, in the Masking Sub Palette. Create another topological mask just after the first one, so that there is no more than a simple strip of polygon which is not selected. With the Move brush, shape the eyelid, clear the mask. Select the Smooth Edit Brush and set the slider to -100. This prevents the concave polygons from being smoothed. Smooth and reshape the eye socket.
Shaping the Breasts :
The Topological masking tool will help us a lot to shape and add volume to the breasts of the model.
Go into the Preferences - Transpose subpalette, and set the MaskBlurStrength to 7. Create a topological mask under the breasts. Select the Inflate Brush, to add some volume under the breast, and then, switch between the Move and Standard Brushes to polish the shape.
