

The user can then pose the low-res proxy using the standard sculpting tools and have ZBrush transfer the pose back to the original high-resolution model. ZBrush first decimates the high-resolution model to generate a low-resolution proxy with clean topology, with the user controlling the geometry count via a Reduction Amount slider in the new Proxy Pose sub-palette.

Nevertheless, there are some interesting new features in ZBrush 2023.1, including Proxy Pose, a new system for posing characters using a low-res proxy of a sculpt. Proxy Pose lets you pose characters cleanly, even those with poor topology The new features generates a low-resolution proxy version of a high-resolution sculpt that can then be posed cleanly using ZBrush’s standard sculpting tools. In this case, the timing has been dictated by Maxon’s Spring 2023 release, which features updates to most of the company’s other software. Whereas original developer Pixologic tended to release new features in large updates spaced six to twelve months apart, Maxon is opting for smaller, more frequent updates. Timed to coincide with Maxon’s other Spring 2023 updatesįor artists used to the previous ZBrush release schedule, ZBrush 2023.1 is a fairly small update, but also an unexpectely sudden one, ZBrush 2023 itself having been released just two months ago. The changes were announced during a livestream yesterday, the recording of which is embedded above.

The new features are only available to users with active subscriptions, Maxon having announced that users with perpetual licences of ZBrush 2023 only receive bugfixes and feature enhancements from the update. The update also introduces Drop 3D, an interesting new way to detail low-poly models that uses ZBrush’s Dynamesh system to increase mesh density automatically around 2.5D brush strokes. Maxon has released ZBrush 2023.1, the latest version of its digital sculpting software.Ĭhanges include Proxy Pose, a new system for posing characters whose topology means that they don’t perform well when posed directly, with users working instead on a clean, low-res proxy of the sculpt.
