ZBrush Tip: ZBrush Pre-Export Integrity Checklist

Before you hit Export, run a quick integrity pass in ZBrush to prevent shading, baking, and rigging issues downstream.

Core cleanup checklist:

• Mesh Integrity: Tool > Geometry > Mesh Integrity > Check Mesh Integrity. If anything is flagged, click Fix Mesh.
• Remove invisibles: Hide stray islands (Select Lasso/Rect) and use Tool > Geometry > Modify Topology > Delete Hidden.
• Seal gaps: Tool > Geometry > Modify Topology > Close Holes for watertight export (optional for baking, essential for printing/sim).
• Weld split points: Tool > Geometry > Modify Topology > Weld Points with a conservative distance to prevent unintended merges.
• Check normals: Tool > Display Properties > Double (view backfaces). If any shell is inverted, use Flip on that subtool.
• Polish safely: Tool > Deformation > Polish by Features (low value) to remove micro-frays without collapsing edges.
• Scale sanity: Tool > Deformation > Unify for consistent scene scale, or set explicit export scale under Preferences > ImportExport.

Why it matters:

• Prevents non-manifold errors that break UV unwrap, decimation, or game-engine import.
• Reduces bake artifacts (cage explosions, black triangles, ray misses).
• Ensures stable deformation for rigging and simulation.

Recommended workflow (multi-subtool models):

• Use SubTool Master to quickly show/hide batches. Clean each subtool from lowest to highest complexity.
• If you must do topology edits on subdivided meshes, use Geometry > Freeze Subdivision Levels, perform the fix, then Unfreeze to reproject details.
• After integrity fixes, run ZPlugin > Decimation Master (Pre-process Current/All, then Decimate) if you need a lighter export for DCC/engine.
• For hard-surface shells, verify symmetry before export with Geometry > Mirror And Weld (enable local symmetry if needed).

Diagnostics you can spot early:

• Shading tears or glittering in viewport = split vertices, flipped faces, or non-manifold edges.
• Dynamesh creates unexpected holes = underlying mesh defects; fix integrity first, then remesh.
• ZRemesher stalls or produces tangled loops = hidden doubles or self-intersections; delete hidden and weld points.

Export notes:

• OBJ: Tool > Export with Grp enabled to preserve Polygroups as OBJ groups; disable Mrg to avoid auto-welding UV seams.
• FBX: ZPlugin > FBX ExportImport for multi-subtool, tangent space normals, and smoothing group control.
• Maps: Generate displacement/normal maps only after a clean integrity pass to avoid bake seams and spikes.

Pro tips:

• Create a one-click Macro that runs Check + Fix Mesh, Delete Hidden, and Close Holes on the active subtool.
• Use Polyframe (Shift+F) while orbiting a turntable—dense wobbling edges often reveal integrity issues.
• Keep a “clean export” custom UI strip with Integrity, Modify Topology, and Export controls front-and-center.

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