ZBrush Tip: Project All Across SubDiv Levels for Accurate High‑Res Detail Transfer

Capture every sculpted pore and crease when moving detail from a high-res source to a clean, UV-ready target by using Project All across SubDiv levels.

• Prepare your meshes
  • Ensure source (high-res) and target (retopo/UV) occupy the same world space. If needed, send both through your DCC with GoZ, or carefully align via Gizmo 3D.
  • On the target, add multiple subdivision levels (Geometry > Divide) until the top level roughly matches the source’s visual density.
  • Keep only the source and target visible to avoid cross-projection from unrelated subtools.
• Project progressively per SubDiv level
  • At the target’s lowest SubDiv, open SubTool > Project and click Project All to capture big forms.
  • Step up one SubDiv level, Project All again. Repeat level-by-level, finishing with the highest SubDiv for micro-detail.
  • For polypaint transfer, enable Colorize on both meshes and have RGB active before projecting.
• Dial in projection settings
  • Dist: Start small to avoid overshooting. Increase gradually if areas fail to reach the source surface.
  • PA Blur: Lower values preserve crisp edges; higher values soften transitions to reduce artifacts.
  • PA MidVal: Nudge if projection favors the wrong side on thin surfaces.
  • SubGroups: Use when projecting from multiple visible subtools while respecting group boundaries.
• Build safety nets
  • Store a Morph Target on the target subtool before the first projection. Use the Morph brush to paint back clean geometry where spikes occur.
  • Duplicate the source as a backup before any scene-wide changes.
  • Mask thin parts (eyelids, nostrils, cloth hems) to prevent blow-throughs, then unmask and project them later with a reduced Dist.
• Troubleshooting common artifacts
  • Exploding verts or harsh spikes: Lower Dist, isolate the area with visibility, project in smaller passes, and use the Morph brush to recover.
  • Inside-out hits on thin shells: Flip normals on the offender if needed (Tool > Display Properties > Flip), reduce Dist, and try projecting from a slightly inflated copy.
  • Stray projections from nearby parts: Hide surrounding geometry, or use SubGroups and Polygroups to constrain the projection.
  • Detail not transferring: Add one more SubDiv on the target or temporarily sharpen source detail with HPolish/DamStandard before projecting.
• Finishing workflow tips
  • After the final Project All, step down SubDivs to confirm that primary forms read cleanly at every level.
  • If you plan to bake maps, verify clean UVs on the target and use Multi Map Exporter for normals/displacements once projection looks right.
  • For hard-surface pieces, crease edges before subdividing, then project to retain crisp transitions.

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