ZBrush Tip: Solo Mode — Precision Isolation & Performance

Solo Mode is your fastest way to reduce visual noise, isolate the current SubTool, and keep sculpting fluid. Here’s how to make it a precision instrument in your daily workflow.

• Toggle quickly: Click Solo on the right shelf (or Transform palette). Assign a custom hotkey via Ctrl+Alt+Click for muscle memory.
• Solo from the SubTool list: Alt+click the visibility “eye” of a SubTool to show only that item. Alt+click again to restore the previous visibility set.
• Stay focused while navigating: With Solo on, frame the active SubTool using F or Frame in the Transform palette to keep your camera tight on target.
• Combine with PolyFrame (Shift+F): Solo + PolyFrame helps you read edge flow and density without distraction from neighboring parts.
• Speed gains on heavy scenes: Solo limits viewport draws to one SubTool, improving interactive performance on dense kits or scan-heavy meshes.
• Sculpt precisely near intersections: Hide everything but the active piece to sculpt tight seams, panel gaps, or eyelids without accidental strokes on adjacent geometry.
• Kitbash cleanup: When using IMM, NanoMesh, or Live Boolean, temporarily Solo a piece to polish or decimate it, then rejoin the full context.
• Projection discipline: Disable Solo before using Project All, ZProject, or Spotlight sampling if they require data from other SubTools. Re-enable Solo for micro cleanup.
• Use with Transparency/Ghost: When Solo is off, Transp + Ghost offers context with soft visibility. When you need absolute focus, flip Solo back on.
• Pose and rig checks: In Transpose Master sessions, Solo specific parts (e.g., hands) to fine-tune finger splay and knuckle volumes without arm/prop clutter.

Workflow suggestions

• Two-state rhythm: Work “in Solo” for shaping, then “out of Solo” to evaluate silhouette and inter-part read. This cadence reduces overworking areas that only look good in isolation.
• Macro a visibility pack: Record a simple macro that toggles Solo, PolyFrame, and your favorite matcap. One key = instant focus environment.
• UI docking: Drag Solo into a custom shelf near your brush switchers. The fewer cursor miles, the more you sculpt.
• Render sanity checks: Before BPR, exit Solo to verify shadows/AO cast between parts. Re-enter Solo to troubleshoot artifacts on a single SubTool.

Common pitfalls

• Hidden dependencies: If a brush/operation references other SubTools (projection, booleans), Solo can hide the required sources. Toggle off, perform the action, toggle on.
• Scale perception: Solo can mislead read of proportion. Regularly exit Solo to validate relationships across the whole asset.

Pro tip: Pair Solo with Polygroups. Use quick groupings to isolate logical parts, Alt+click to Solo the SubTool, then Ctrl+Shift isolate polygroups for laser-focused edits.

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