PolyPaint allows you to paint color directly onto your 3D models in ZBrush without needing to create UV maps first. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use it:
Steps to Use PolyPaint
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Ensure Sufficient Polygon Density: Before you begin, make sure your model has enough polygons to capture the detail you want to paint. Low polygon counts will result in blurry or pixelated paint strokes. You might need to subdivide your mesh using Ctrl+D (Smooth Subdivision) several times.
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Activate Colorize: In the Tool palette, navigate to the "Polypaint" sub-palette. Click the "Colorize" button to enable PolyPaint. This tells ZBrush you intend to paint color onto the model.
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Disable Sculpting: Turn off "Zadd" (for adding detail) and "ZSub" (for subtracting detail) in the top toolbar. This prevents you from accidentally sculpting the model while painting. You only want to apply color.
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Enable RGB Painting: Make sure the "Rgb" button is active in the top toolbar. Then, set the "RGB Intensity" slider to 100. This controls the strength of the color being applied. Lower values will result in more subtle color application.
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Choose a Color and Paint: Select your desired color from the color palette. Then, simply paint on your model using your cursor. The active brush settings (Brush palette) will determine the size, shape, and behavior of your paint strokes. Experiment with different brush types and settings to achieve various effects.
Tips and Tricks for PolyPaint
- Shading: Use lighter and darker shades of the same color to create highlights and shadows, adding depth and realism to your model.
- Blending: Experiment with lower RGB Intensity settings for subtle color blending.
- Masking: Use masking techniques (Ctrl + Click on the mesh) to isolate areas for painting, preventing accidental painting on unwanted surfaces.
- Saving Your Work: Save your tool as a .ZTL file to preserve the PolyPaint data.
- Transfer to Textures: Once you're satisfied with the PolyPaint, you can transfer the color information to a texture map using the "UV Map" and "Texture Map" palettes. This allows you to use your PolyPaint in other applications.
Example Scenario
Imagine you're sculpting a dragon. You've finished the sculpting phase and now want to add color. You would:
- Subdivide the dragon mesh to a high polygon count (e.g., millions of polygons).
- Go to Tool > Polypaint and turn on Colorize.
- Turn off Zadd and ZSub.
- Ensure Rgb is active and set to 100.
- Pick a base color for the scales, then paint the entire dragon.
- Select darker and lighter shades of the base color and paint highlights and shadows to define the scales.
- Add details like glowing eyes using brighter colors.
By following these steps, you can effectively use PolyPaint to add vibrant and detailed colors to your 3D models directly within ZBrush.
