ZBrush Tip: Masked Inflate for Precise Local Volume Control in ZBrush

Add controlled volume exactly where you need it by combining masks with Inflate. It’s fast, predictable, and ideal for restoring form, puffing seams, and shaping soft materials without destroying surrounding detail.

Three reliable ways to Inflate masked areas

• Deformation > Inflate (uniform, precise)
  • Ctrl-paint a mask over the area to thicken. Ctrl-click on the canvas to blur, or Ctrl+Alt-click to sharpen the mask border.
  • Tool > Deformation > Inflate: nudge the slider in small increments (5–10). Repeat To Active for iterative, consistent steps.
  • Invert the mask to protect the volume and deflate surroundings when you need concavity instead of bulge.
• Gizmo 3D Deformer: Inflate (interactive, with falloff)
  • With the area masked, activate Gizmo 3D, click the gear icon, choose Inflate.
  • Adjust the deformer’s strength and falloff for soft, fabric-like swelling or tighter technical thickening.
  • Accept to commit; perfect for localized puffs with natural transitions.
• Inflate Brush (B > I > N) for painterly buildup
  • Enable Brush > Auto Masking > BackfaceMask on thin shells to avoid push-through.
  • Use low ZIntensity (5–20) and a slightly negative Focal Shift for crisper edges.
  • Turn on LazyMouse for even, ripple-free strokes along the mask edge.

Workflow recipes

• Puff seams and quilting
  • Mask seam lines (use Stroke > LazyMouse for steadiness). Sharpen the mask once for a clean boundary.
  • Deformation > Inflate by small values until the seam reads; follow with Polish by Features to tighten edges.
• Restore volume after heavy smoothing or remeshing
  • Store a Morph Target, lightly Inflate masked planes, then use the Morph brush to blend back any overshoot.
• Wear edges quickly
  • Masking > Mask By Cavity (tweak Intensity), invert the mask, then Inflate slightly to raise wear-prone ridges.
• Consistent rims with Mask Border
  • Masking > Mask By Features > Border to generate a tight ring around polygroups or creases.
  • Inflate to add even bead/rim thickness; negative Inflate creates crisp inset seams.

Control and quality tips

• Work at a mid subdivision level to avoid lumpy results; step up only to refine surface texture.
• Use Layers for non-destructive Inflate; dial the layer intensity to art-direct thickness after the fact.
• Keep silhouettes readable: toggle Polyframe (Shift+F) and test under a neutral MatCap to judge volume changes.
• For isolated parts, enable Brush > Auto Masking > By Polygroup (20–50) to prevent cross-bleed between elements.
• Combine small Inflate passes with SPolish or HPolish to retain structure while gaining softness.

Pro move: alternate between slight positive and negative Inflate on a layer to “airbrush” tension and relaxation into fabrics and skin folds—then fine-tune the balance by adjusting the layer slider.

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