ZBrush Tip: ZBrush Layers: Non-Destructive Workflow and Best Practices

Use ZBrush Layers to sculpt non-destructively, iterate fast, and keep options open until the very end.

• Set up: Subdivide your mesh to the levels you’ll need. Layers are per SubTool and tied to a specific subdivision level.
• Create: Tool > Layers > New Layer. Name it clearly (e.g., SHP_Primary, DTL_Pores, EXP_Smile).
• Record: Click Rec to start. Sculpt only while Rec is active. Click it again to stop recording.
• Blend: Use Intensity to dial the contribution of the layer (0–1). Toggle visibility to A/B compare.
• Iterate: Duplicate a layer to branch variations, then tweak with Move, DamStandard, or Surface noise.
• Color: If Colorize is on, a layer can also capture Polypaint—great for look-dev passes that blend.
• Finalize: Bake or Bake All before any topology-changing actions (Dynamesh, ZRemesher, Booleans, Mirror and Weld, Decimation).

Practical structuring strategies:

• Separate by intent:
  • Primary forms (low SDiv): silhouette and massing.
  • Secondary forms (mid SDiv): muscles, paneling, folds.
  • Tertiary/micro (high SDiv): pores, scratches, surface noise.
  • Variants: expressions, damage passes, costume options.
• One purpose per layer. Small, focused layers are easier to mute, blend, or discard.
• Keep editing layers at the subdivision level where they were recorded; switching SDiv stops recording and can cause unexpected results.
• Name consistently with prefixes (SHP_, DTL_, EXP_, FX_) so related layers sort together.

Performance and safety tips:

• Too many active layers can slow brushes. Mute unused ones, and bake finalized work.
• Avoid Dynamesh, Live Boolean Make Mesh, Mirror and Weld, or Decimation with unbaked layers—bake first to preserve results.
• Use Incremental Save and QuickSave for each variant branch. It’s cheap insurance on large sculpts.

Variation testing workflows:

• Expressions: Create one layer per expression; adjust Intensity to preview subtle blends.
• Damage/aging: Separate layers for dents, edge wear, pores; blend for art direction feedback.
• Hard-surface: Put bevel cleanups and panel gaps on distinct layers to quickly try different edge sharpness.

Pipeline notes:

• Maps: After baking layers, use Multi Map Exporter to create displacement/normal maps for downstream tools.
• Blend shapes: With the FBX ExportImport plugin, layers can be exported as morph targets/blend shapes to DCC apps—ideal for facial rigs and corrective shapes.
• Polypaint: Convert Polypaint to texture after you lock in blended color layer decisions.

Pro tip: Keep a “Safety” layer at Intensity 0 that stores a baseline tweak (e.g., gentle Move) to ensure the mesh has recorded data—this can make later blending more predictable.

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