ZBrush Tip: Convert Polypaint into Production-Ready Stencils

Turn any Polypaint into production-ready stencils for fast, consistent detail application across multiple assets.

1. Prepare clean Polypaint
   • Subdivide to a density that supports crisp color transitions. Polypaint resolution is polygon-dependent.
   • Block in clear value separation (grayscale or strong color contrast) where you want mask boundaries.
   • Keep Colorize enabled so the mesh displays its Polypaint (Tool > Polypaint > Colorize).
2. Generate a mask from Polypaint
   • Tool > Masking: use Mask By Color to target specific hues or Mask By Intensity for grayscale-driven masks.
   • Adjust Color Tolerance to catch just the intended range; lower values = tighter selection.
   • Refine with SharpenMask, BlurMask, Grow, and Shrink to define clean edges.
3. Convert the mask to a texture
   • If you don’t have UVs, create quick UVs with UV Master for a distortion-free output.
   • Tool > Texture Map > Create > New From Masking to bake a black/white map from your active mask.
   • For Polypaint-driven stencils without a mask, use New From Polypaint first, then convert that texture to an alpha.
4. Make an alpha and build a Stencil
   • Texture palette > Make Alpha converts the current texture to an alpha.
   • Alpha palette: select your new alpha.
   • Stencil palette > Make St to turn the alpha into an interactive Stencil, then toggle Stencil On.
   • Use the on-screen Stencil controls to move, rotate, and scale the Stencil over your model.
5. Apply detail through the Stencil
   • Use Trim Dynamic, DamStandard, Inflate, or custom brushes; the Stencil constrains sculpting and painting.
   • Combine with Lazy Mouse for smooth, consistent passes on panels, seams, pores, and logos.

Production tips

• Work in grayscale Polypaint when the final stencil is purely height/opacity; it simplifies Mask By Intensity.
• For ultra-clean edge fidelity, paint on a Layer and keep a Morph Target to restore or blend selectively.
• If edges look stair-stepped, increase mesh density before masking or generate a higher-resolution texture (2–4K) before Make Alpha.
• Create Polygroups From Polypaint (Tool > Polygroups > From Polypaint) to iterate quickly: mask by Polygroup, adjust paint, and regenerate.
• For tiling patterns, build a tileable source texture first, then Make Alpha > Stencil for repeatable, seamless application.
• Store a small library of Stencils per project—logos, panel breaks, fabric weaves—to ensure visual consistency across assets.

Troubleshooting

• Soft or bleeding masks: lower Color Tolerance and use SharpenMask; paint with harder transitions.
• Distorted stencils: improve UVs (UV Master with Control Painting) or generate the alpha via GrabDoc from a planar projection.
• Loss of fine microdetail: switch to 16-bit grayscale texture/alpha where appropriate and avoid over-blurring.

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