ZBrush Tip: Solo Mode: Isolate Active SubTools for Precise Sculpting

Solo mode keeps only the active SubTool visible so you can sculpt, select, and transform without distractions.

Access and setup

• Transform palette: Toggle Transform > Solo (also on the right shelf).
• Assign a custom hotkey: Preferences > Hotkeys > Enable Customize, then Ctrl+Alt-click the Solo button and press your desired key. Store with Preferences > Hotkeys > Store.
• Pro tip: Place Solo in your Custom UI for one-click access (Preferences > Config > Enable Customize, then Ctrl+Alt-drag the button to your UI; Store Config).

Why Solo matters

• Focus: Eliminates visual noise so primary forms and silhouettes read clearly.
• Precision: Prevents accidental strokes on other SubTools, especially with wide brushes like Move and Inflate.
• Speed: Fewer visible meshes can improve viewport responsiveness on dense scenes.
• Framing: Press F to frame the active SubTool instantly when in Solo.

Everyday workflows that benefit

• Sculpting passes: Toggle Solo before sharpening edges with Dam_Standard or polishing with HPolish so you don’t catch neighboring meshes.
• Transforms: With Gizmo 3D, Solo makes pivots easier to see; combine with Transform > Local Transform and Local Symmetry for off-center parts.
• Polypaint cleanup: Hide other SubTools to judge true color and material response without spill or contrast bias.
• Silhouette checks: Solo + MatCap Gray and a small rotation quickly reveals proportion issues.
• Hard-surface paneling: Use Solo while QMesh/Extrude in ZModeler to avoid snapping to unintended geometry.

Combine Solo with other visibility tools

• Polygroups + visibility: In Solo, use Ctrl+Shift-click on a Polygroup to isolate regions within the active SubTool for ultra-focused edits.
• Ghost/Transparency: When you need context, disable Solo and use Transform > Transparency and Ghost to see through adjacent parts rather than hiding them completely.
• Frame and outline: Shift+F toggles PolyFrame; in Solo this provides clean topology feedback without clutter.

Avoid these pitfalls

• Projection and baking: Project All, Live Booleans, and multi-SubTool operations rely on visible geometry. Turn Solo off before projecting details, boolean unions, or baking passes.
• Export checks: Solo only affects viewport visibility, not file export selection. Verify SubTool selections and export settings explicitly.

Micro-workflows to try today

• Quick retouch: Alt-click a part on the canvas to make it active, tap Solo, F to frame, make your edit, then toggle Solo off to review in context.
• Pose refinement: In Transpose Master, Solo individual parts while fine-tuning weights and masks, then disable Solo to validate interpenetrations.
• Material look-dev: Solo the SubTool, FillObject with a test material, evaluate highlights, then revert to your production material and un-Solo.

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