ZBrush Tip: Rapid Planarization with ClipCurve for Hard-Surface Modeling

Flattening crisp planes quickly is essential for convincing hard-surface forms. ClipCurve is the fastest way to enforce planar accuracy without interrupting your flow.

Core idea: ClipCurve collapses points to a screen-aligned plane along a curve you draw. It’s surgical, fast, and ideal for panel faces, chamfers setup, and block-out cleanup.

1. Duplicate your SubTool (SubTool palette > Duplicate) to keep a safety version.
2. Align the camera orthographically to the target plane (press P to toggle Perspective off; use Shift to snap views).
3. Hold Ctrl+Shift to open the selection/clip brushes, pick ClipCurve.
4. Click-drag from outside the mesh to draw the curve. The white side stays; the dark side is clipped toward the curve’s plane.
5. Tap Alt while dragging to insert sharp corners; release Alt for smooth bends. Spacebar repositions the whole curve before applying.
6. Release the stroke to apply. Repeat in small passes rather than one extreme clip for cleaner results.

• Use Polygroups to limit influence: Group the target panel, hide others (Ctrl+Shift-click) so ClipCurve only affects what’s visible.
• Constrain angles by holding Shift while drawing to get precise 0/45/90-degree planes.
• For bevel-ready faces: First ClipCurve to flatten, then lightly TrimDynamic to unify micro undulations.

Managing topology and artifacts:

• Understand behavior: ClipCurve doesn’t remove geometry; it projects points onto the plane, which can compress hidden-side polygons. If compression is severe, prefer TrimCurve or Knife brushes, or follow with Dynamesh/ZRemesher.
• After clipping: Run Deformation > Polish or Polish by Features with low values to stabilize edges without rounding too much.
• If the surface ripples: Mask the planar face (Ctrl+tap to blur once), then use Smooth (hold Shift) lightly, or run a brief ZRemesher pass and Project All to recover detail.

Accuracy workflow for paneling:

• Block the big planes using ClipCurve from orthographic views.
• Define borders with SliceCurve to create clean polygroups at panel lines.
• Inset or chamfer edges using ZModeler on the retopologized mesh (post-ZRemesher), then refine with Trim/Polish brushes.

Speed tips:

• Work at a moderate polygon density so ClipCurve doesn’t create dense overlaps; remesh back up after the planes read well.
• Use Auto Mask By PolyGroup (Brush > Auto Masking) to protect adjacent parts while clipping.
• Solo mode (T) reduces visual clutter and helps place curves precisely.

Clip vs Trim—when to choose which:

• ClipCurve: Best for rapid, on-model planarization where topology will be reworked later.
• TrimCurve: Better when you want a physically cut surface that removes geometry and avoids interior compression.

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Pro move: Combine ClipCurve for fast planar establishment, Polish by Features for edge fidelity, and a controlled ZRemesher + Project All to lock in manufacturable, crisp hard-surface results—then source your toolset through NOVEDGE to keep your pipeline streamlined.

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