Maxon has recently released ZBrush 2024, which is their latest version of digital sculpting software.
You can check out the new features in this Maxon livestream recording.
The key changes in ZBrush 2024 include the Repeat to Similar Feature, which is a versatile new system for making a change to one mesh and automatically applying that change to all other meshes with similar topology. Additionally, there are updates to the Anchors brush and Transpose system for posing sculpts, new DragStamp stroke type, and the option to use any stroke type with Insert Mesh brushes. Furthermore, all the native noise types from Cinema 4D have been added to ZBrush.
It is important to note that the release is only available to subscribers. Maxon has announced that ZBrush 2024 will not be available as a perpetual licence, making the new features subscription-only. The Repeat to Similar Feature system transfers changes between meshes, enabling users to make a change to one mesh and then automatically apply the same change to all other meshes with similar topology. As well as transferring sculpted details, it works with changes to Polypaint or Polygroups, and can even replace each mesh with a different mesh.
The Anchors brush added in ZBrush 2023.2 also gets an update, making it possible to use it to repose part of a sculpt without the need to manually create a mask to isolate the part. In addition, the older Transpose feature has been improved, with the option to snap the Transpose line to the center of a mask, so it stays positioned correctly when the mask is updated.
Insert Mesh brushes now support all stroke types, including the new DragStamp stroke. It is now possible to use every ZBrush stroke type with Insert Mesh brushes, making it possible to control the position of the inserted meshes more precisely. There is also a new stroke type, DragStamp, intended as a more controllable alternative to the existing DragRect stroke.
Other changes include updates to the Knife brush, masking, and new noise types from Cinema 4D. The Knife brush has been updated to make it possible to split a mesh into pieces. Other changes include new Grow All and Shrink All options for masks, and new Crease Unmasked and Uncreased Unmasked options for creasing the unmasked areas of a model. Finally, 25 noise types from Cinema 4D have been added to the ZBrush Surface Noise library.
ZBrush 2024 is compatible with Windows 10+ and macOS 11.5+. It is only available through subscription. ZBrush subscriptions cost $39/month or $359/year.
It is important to note that ZBrush 2024 is not available as a perpetual licence, according to Maxon’s new online FAQs. Perpetual licences of ZBrush 2023 will remain available until the end of the 2024 release cycle. Maxon’s website previously stated that the new features would be “reserved for the next paid upgrade”, but it confirmed that it isn’t possible to update a perpetual licence to ZBrush 2024. Therefore, holders of perpetual licences will need to switch to a subscription to get the new features introduced in ZBrush 2023.1 and ZBrush 2023.2.
