ZBrush Tip: Frame and 3D Zoom Workflow for Faster ZBrush Sculpting

Keep navigation invisible. Master these Frame and Zoom moves to stay in flow and sculpt faster.

• Frame what matters
  • Press F to frame the current model or all visible SubTools to the viewport. Use Solo mode first if you only want the active SubTool framed.
  • Hide what you don’t need (Ctrl+Shift isolate, or hide Polygroups) and press F to focus instantly on the remaining area.
  • Combine with Shift while rotating to snap to clean front/side/top views right after framing.
• Use 3D Zoom (not Document Zoom)
  • Right-click anywhere and drag to rotate; Alt+Right-click drag to pan; release Alt while dragging to zoom smoothly. This is true 3D camera dolly/scale.
  • Avoid the right-shelf Document Zoom slider for sculpting. It scales the canvas, not the model, and can throw off your perception of brush size and detail.
  • If the canvas looks blurry or tiny, set Document > Actual to 100% and use AAHalf only for a quick anti-aliased preview.
• Center interaction where you work
  • Enable Preferences > Edit > Rotate Around Active so orbiting happens around the last picked point on your mesh. Framing and zooming will feel “locked” to your area of interest.
  • Turn on Draw Size > Dynamic to keep your brush size consistent on screen while zooming in and out.
• Micro-workflows to move faster
  • Isolate, frame, snap: Ctrl+Shift-click a Polygroup to isolate, press F, then Shift-rotate to snap to an orthographic view for planar cuts or precise strokes.
  • Detail pass: Frame, Alt-release zoom to get close, make strokes, tap F to re-center as you move across the surface. Repeat—framing is a rhythm, not a reset.
  • Multi-SubTool focus: Toggle Solo to frame just the active part, exit Solo to evaluate in context, then F again to reframe all visible.
• Custom hotkeys that pay off
  • Assign your own keys: Ctrl+Alt+Click any UI button (e.g., Actual, AAHalf, Solo), then press the key you want. Save with Preferences > Hotkeys > Store.
  • Bind Frame, Solo, and Actual to easy-to-reach keys so your hand never leaves the stylus and navigation stays muscle-memory fast.
• Troubleshooting quick checks
  • If F doesn’t seem to frame correctly, make sure stray hidden geometry isn’t still visible in other SubTools—solo, then frame.
  • If zoom feels “steppy,” confirm you’re using Alt+Right-click (release Alt to zoom) instead of Document Zoom.

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