Pixologic has announced the release of ZBrush 4R4 for both Windows & Mac.
ZBrush 4R4 continues expanding on creative freedom with a focus on model topology and detail creation. These new features were developed to let you be an artist first and foremost, while also helping give you ever more freedom to explore new ideas!
Major Features
IMM
Insert Multi Mesh Brushes combine entire libraries of objects into a single brush. Select from any object within the brush, then insert it into your model. Easily convert any Tool to an Insert brush with a single click. If your Tool has multiple SubTools, an Insert Multi Mesh brush will be created, allowing you to select from any of its objects at any time.
Tri IMM
Tri Part Multi Mesh Brushes advances the Insert Brush features even further, using PolyGroups to define end cap objects along with a middle segment. When you draw a curve, the end caps will be placed at either end with the middle segment being duplicated along the curve’s length. Instantly build chains, zippers and other complex shapes in full 3D. In addition to Tri IMM, the new Curve Brushes can be used to draw almost anything!
QRemesher Alpha
The new QRemesher frees you from the complex tasks of creating new model topology. QRemesher can automatically or semi-automatically clean up your mesh topology. Special automasking and other control features including curve guides let you control the retopology, when necessary, to get the best results quickly and easily.
Topology Brush
The new Topology Brush provides manual control over topology creation for those times when you wish to re-topologize your work with precision. It uses ZBrush 4R4’s optimized curve engine to let you draw new polygons on the fly, after which a simple click on the support surface instantly generates the new polygons — with or without thickness. Build form-fitting props complete with thickness or redesign a partial surface, ready to replace part of your existing mesh.
Mesh Fusion
Mesh Fusion swaps part of your model’s surface with another piece of topology, automatically bridging the polygons to maintain a seamless mesh. Simply define PolyGroups on your model and then replace those areas with a new mesh! ZBrush merges the new element into the support mesh by bridging the polygons at the insertion boundary. Read more »
Grid System
Reference Images can now be applied to the ZBrush Grids. Load your images for the front, side and top views to more easily create artwork based on references. This even works with Shadow Box. Different images may even be assigned to opposite sides of each plane, giving you the effect of a reference cube surrounding your sculpt. Additionally, your model or even a simple plan with a texture applied on it can be snapshot to the Bakckground image so that if follows your camera rotations.
UndoHistory
With over 10,000 available steps gives you virtually unlimited Undo capabilities. This History is saved as part of the ZBrush Project format, meaning that your steps will be maintained even across multiple sessions. A History slider makes it easy to scrub through your Undo History, you can play through the steps like a movie. In fact, you can even make a movie out of your History, complete with special controls to optimize (or replace) camera movement, object centering and more. The result is a far more enjoyable playback than if you had simply recorded your sculpting session using traditional video capture.
TransPose Enhancements
TransPose now provides a world axis selector so that you can switch to any working plane orientation with a single click, or snap the Action Line to your surface normal anywhere on the model. In addition, there are new Inflate and Flatten functions which are especially useful for hard surface sculpting.
DynaMesh Enhancements
DynaMesh nowprovides increased resolution (up to 2048) and the capability to combine SubTools using DynaMesh — even defining specific SubTools as negative volumes. You can accomplish amazing things simply by combining basic shapes in original ways.
While these major new features and enhancements are the most noticeable, they are nowhere near being everything that ZBrush 4R4 brings to the table. You can see a list of many more features that have been designed to make your life easier or open up new avenues for creativity here.
