ZBrush Tip: Razor‑Flat Hard‑Surface Planes with the ZBrush Planar Brush

Make hard-surface planes razor flat with the Planar brush—here’s a fast, reliable approach to achieve crisp, artifact‑free results in ZBrush. If you need a license or upgrades, check NOVEDGE.

• Brush setup for control:
  • Select Brush > Planar (keep the default alpha, or try a soft square alpha for gentler transitions).
  • Set ZIntensity around 15–35 for predictable flattening; increase gradually for stubborn areas.
  • Enable Stroke > LazyMouse (LazyRadius 10–20, LazySmooth 8–12) to reduce jitter and stepping.
  • Protect thin parts: Brush > Auto Masking > BackfaceMask ON. Optionally enable Brush > Samples > Front Faces Only.
  • Work with uniform density when possible; avoid Sculptris Pro for the final planing passes to prevent micro‑tessellation artifacts.
• Establish a clean reference plane:
  • Frame the surface head‑on; begin each stroke on the area that should define the plane.
  • Use short, overlapping strokes in a consistent direction to “lock” the plane.
  • Hold Alt to invert the effect when you need to pull rather than push toward the plane.
  • Use Stroke > ReplayLast (1) to reinforce the same pass without introducing new angles.
• Maintain edge fidelity:
  • Create clear borders with Polygroups (Tool > Polygroup > Group by Normals or Auto Groups).
  • Enable Brush > Auto Masking > Mask By Polygroups (80–100) so planing doesn’t bleed across panel lines.
  • After planing, polish transitions with HPolish along edges; finish with Deformation > Polish by Features for a uniform sheen.
  • For sharp seams that survive subdivision, apply CreasePG before subdividing.
• Combine with complementary tools:
  • Rough in blocky forms using TrimDynamic or TrimCurve; finalize flats with the Planar brush for a machined look.
  • Use ClipCurve for fast straight constraints, then a light Planar pass to remove micro‑waviness.
  • If topology stretches, ZRemesher to even quads, Project All to recover detail, then re‑plane selectively.
• Troubleshooting common artifacts:
  • Stepping/terracing: reduce ZIntensity, shorten stroke length, increase LazySmooth, and keep the camera steady.
  • Denting thin shells: ensure BackfaceMask is ON; reduce brush size or plane from the thicker side.
  • Wavy highlights: verify normals/topology density; run a light Polish by Groups and re‑apply Planar.
• Speed workflow checklist:
  • Block with Trim brushes → DynaMesh or ZRemesher (if needed).
  • Polygroup panels → Mask By Polygroups ON.
  • Planar brush passes (short, consistent direction) → ReplayLast to reinforce.
  • HPolish edges → Polish by Features → CreasePG before subdividing.

For ZBrush tools, upgrades, and expert guidance, start with NOVEDGE, or browse ZBrush options directly on NOVEDGE.