ZBrush Hotkeys

Peripherals, Stylus mapping & Navigation

For ZBrush I use a keyboard and display tablet with a stylus that has 2 buttons.
Front Stylus Button ➡️ RMB Back Stylus Button ➡️ Opens my custom ZBrush menu

Function	Key	Notes
Rotate	RMB / LMB	Not on model
Snap Rotate	RMB / LMB + Shift	Not on model
Pan	Alt + RMB / LMB	Not on model
Zoom	Ctrl + RMB

🔥 Most Important Hotkeys §

Function	Key	Notes
➕ Add SubDiv Level	Ctrl + D
⬆️Go Up One SubDiv Level	D
⬇️ Go Down One SubDiv Level	Shift + D
⬆️⬇️Dynamic SubDiv ON / OFF	D / Shift + D	If there are no SubDiv levels, SubDiv traversal hotkeys will turn ON or OFF Dynamic SubDiv.
DynaMesh	Ctrl + LMB (on canvas)	DynaMesh button needs to be toggled. Perform actions over canvas or border.
👁️ View Topology & Polygrousp	Shift + F
Polygroup Masked Mesh	Ctrl + W	Polygroups all when there’s no mask
🖌️ Brush Menu	B
💡📦 Lightbox Menu	,

General §

Function	Key	Notes
Clear Canvas	Ctrl + N
Repeat Last Action	1
View Topology	Shift + F
UI Magnifier	Shift + M
Expand Multiple Menus at Once	Shift + LMB (on menu name)
Toggle Floor	Shift + P
Hide All Side Panels	F
Center SubTool	F
Brush Menu	B
Lightbox Menu	,

Interface §

Function	Key	Notes
Open Image With Associated Image Viewer	Alt + LMB + LMB	Will Open .psd images from the Lightbox tab in photoshop

Mesh Resolution §

Function	Key	Notes
➕ Add SubDiv Level	Ctrl + D
⬆️ Go Up One SubDiv Level	D
⬇️ Go Down One SubDiv Level	Shift + D
⬆️⬇️Dynamic SubDiv ON / OFF	D / Shift + D	If there are no SubDiv levels SubDiv traversal hotkeys will turn ON or OFF Dynamic SubDiv
DynaMesh	Ctrl + LMB (on canvas)	DynaMesh button needs to be toggled. Perform actions over canvas or border

Extra Navigation §

Function	Key	Notes
Snap Rotation	Shift + LMB
Frame select	F + F
Center SubTool	F

Selecting (aka hiding) §

Function	Key	Notes
Hide selected	Ctrl + Shift + ALT + LMB
Hide everything but selected	Ctrl + Shift + LMB
Invert hidden	Ctrl + Shift + LMB	Drag on canvas
Unhide all	Ctrl + Shift + LMB	Click on canvas
Shrink visible selection	Ctrl + Shift + S
Grow visible selection	Ctrl + Shift + X
Grow To Polygroup	Ctrl + Shift + Q	Fully reveals all Polygroups that are (partially) visible
Grow All	Ctrl + Shift + A	Reveals all polygons connected to currently visible polygons

Masking §

Function	Key	Notes
Add to mask	Ctrl + LMB
Subtract from mask	Ctrl + Alt + LMB
Invert mask	Ctrl + LMB	Click
Remove mask	Ctrl + LMB	Drag on canvas
Hide masked	Ctrl + Shift + Alt + LMB
Unhide masked	Ctrl + Shift + LMB	On canvas
Delete hidden	Ctrl + Shift + LMB	Click
Split unmasked	Subtool > Split
While Using Curve Mask	-	-
Add curve point	Alt
Add sharp curve point	Alt + Alt
Expand mask over hole mesh	Ctrl + LMB	Drag in move mode

Poly Groups §

Function	Key	Notes
Group masked	Ctrl + W	Group all when there’s no mask
Group visible	Polygroups menu
Group from mask	Polygroups menu
Group by angle	Polygroups menu
Hide all other poly groups	Ctrl + Shift + LMB	(look into this, what about “Hide poly group”

Object Manipulation §

Function	Key	Notes
Transforms	-	-
Move	W
Scale	E
Rotate	R
Other	-	-
Drag copy of	Ctrl + LMB + Drag (on Transpose tool)
Symmetry	X

Brushes §

Function	Key	Notes
Invert brush	Alt
Brush Size	S

Mask Mesh project §

Function	Key	Notes
Add new plating	Ctrl
Subtract from last placed plating	Ctrl + Alt	Don’t move camera!
Add to last placed plating	Ctrl + Shift	Don’t move camera, only click shift when done with shape!
Cut with plating into underlying SubTool	Ctrl + Alt (Bool On)	Creates new SubTool
Add new plating as new SubTool	Ctrl + Shift (Bool On)	After making a new plating tool, use only ctrl (with bool still on) to add platings while being able to move camera. Then when done, ZRemesh to merge all plating of sub tool)

Mesh Ballon works the same.

Curve Insert Brush §

Curve insert brushes are insert brushes that are made in such a way to seamlessly repeat, so they can work with the curve stroke mode. Example of Curve Insert Brushes:

• Chains
• Ropes
• Scribe Chisel

More Curve Settings under:

Brush > Modifiers: Mainly to modify the way the curve behaves while being placed

Stroke > Curve: Mainly to modify the way the curve behaves in curve edit mode

Stroke > Curve Functions: This is where the real power lies with curve brushes

Stroke > Curve Modifiers: Here one can change things like taper

Function	Key	Notes
Placing Curve	-	-
Snap To Surface	LMB + Shift
Editing Placed Curve	-	-
Move Curve	LMB Hold on Curve	Under Stroke > Curve there are some options: To make movement sturdy disable: Bend Start / Bend End. To make start and end not move at all enable: Lock Strat / Lock End (For lock to work one or both of the bend settings should be on). Elastic / Liquid allow for both ends to be moved (Needs one or both of the bend settings on)
Change Polygroup	LMB Click on Curve
Extend Curve	LMB Close to End of Curve	If you hover far enough away from the curve a red line will appear
Draw new Curve any point of the Curve	LMB Close to Any Part of Curve	If you hover far enough away from the curve a red line will appear
Change Curve Size
Smoothen Curve	LMB Hold on Curve + Shift
Twist / Rotate Curve	LMB Hold on Curve + Ctrl
Snap To Surface After Placing	Stroke > Curve Snap
Confirm / Leave Curve Edit Mode	LMB Anywhere on SubTool Away From Curve, Stroke > Curve Functions Delete
Curve Functions Menu	-	-
Place Curve Around Mesh Border	Border
Place Curve Around Polygroups	Polygroups
Place Curve Around Creases	Creased edges

About curves (videos)

Curve Tutorial

Curve Brush Functionality