askvity

How Do I Delete Part of a Mesh in ZBrush?

Published in ZBrush Modeling 3 mins read

You can delete part of a mesh in ZBrush using several methods, the most common being the Clip brushes or the Visibility options with Ctrl+Shift.

Here's a breakdown of techniques:

Using Clip Brushes

Clip brushes (like ClipCurve, ClipRect, etc.) allow you to cut away sections of your mesh.

  1. Select a Clip Brush: Choose a clip brush from the brush palette (e.g., ClipCurve).
  2. Draw a Line: Click and drag on your model to define a clipping line. Everything on one side of the line will be cut away. Hold Alt to reverse which side is clipped.
  3. Adjust as Needed: The clip line can be adjusted during the stroke.

Using Visibility and Delete Hidden

This method uses the visibility properties to hide parts of the mesh, then delete the hidden portion.

  1. Hide Portions of the Mesh:
    • Ctrl+Shift + Click: This isolates the clicked polygon island, hiding everything else.
    • Ctrl+Shift + Drag: This creates a selection rectangle. Everything inside the rectangle will be visible, and everything outside will be hidden. Holding Alt reverses this, so everything inside the rectangle is hidden. This is how you can easily isolate interior geometry.
    • You can continue adding to the visible portion by holding Ctrl+Shift and clicking/dragging on hidden areas. You can subtract from the visible portion by holding Ctrl+Shift+Alt and clicking/dragging on visible areas.
  2. Delete Hidden Geometry: Go to Tool > Geometry > Modify Topology and click "Del Hidden". This permanently removes the hidden parts of the mesh.

Example: Deleting Interior Mesh

  1. Use Ctrl+Shift + Drag (dragging outside the model) to hide the exterior and isolate the interior mesh. You might have to adjust the angle of the camera to make a clean selection.
  2. Hide the interior mesh using Ctrl+Shift + Click on the visible portion.
  3. Go to Tool > Geometry > Modify Topology > Del Hidden.

Important Considerations:

  • Undo is your friend: ZBrush's undo system is powerful. Don't be afraid to experiment.
  • Duplicate First: If you're unsure, duplicate your subtool before deleting anything. This allows you to revert to the original if needed.
  • Dynamesh/ZRemesh: Deleting portions of the mesh can create holes or jagged edges. Consider using Dynamesh or ZRemesher to clean up the topology afterward.
  • Creasing: If you have sharp edges you wish to maintain, crease them before deleting.

Related Articles