How to Delete Masked Area in ZBrush?

Understanding Masking in ZBrush

Masking in ZBrush allows artists to protect specific areas of their model while making changes to others. When you want to delete a masked area, you need to understand how to effectively navigate through this process. This guide will walk you through the steps to delete a masked area in ZBrush efficiently.

Step 1: Create a Mask

Before you can delete any area of your model, you need to create a mask. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Select your model from the SubTool list.
2. Activate the Masking tool by holding down the CTRL key.
3. Click and drag your cursor over the area you wish to mask. You’ll notice that the selected area becomes darkened, indicating it is masked.
4. If you need to adjust the mask, you can hold CTRL and drag over the areas to remove parts of the mask.

Step 2: Invert the Mask (if necessary)

If you only want to delete the visible part of your model rather than the masked area, you will need to invert your mask. Here’s how to do it:

1. While still in the masking mode, press CTRL + I. This shortcut inverts the selection, making the previously unmasked area dark and masking the originally masked area.

Step 3: Delete the Masked Area

Once the correct area is masked or inverted, you can proceed to delete it:

1. Navigate to the top menu and go to Tool.
2. Click on Geometry.
3. In the sub-menu, find and click on Modify Topology.
4. Select the Delete Hidden option (often labeled as “Del Hidden”). This action will remove everything that is not currently masked.

Step 4: Clean Up Your Mesh

After deleting the masked area, you may want to tidy up any irregularities in your mesh:

1. Use the Smooth brush to even out the remaining geometry.
2. You can also use Dynamesh or ZRemesher on your model if you need to create a better topology for the remaining mesh.

Additional Tips

• If you mistakenly delete the wrong area, you can use the Undo option (CTRL + Z) to revert the last action.
• Experiment with the different masking brushes (like Mask Lasso or Mask Rect) to achieve more intricate masking patterns.
• Always save your work before performing major operations like deleting geometry to avoid irreversible changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can I mask multiple areas at once?
Yes, you can use the masking brushes to define different areas separately. Just switch to another masking brush or hold CTRL to mask additional areas.

Q2: What should I do if I don’t see the changes after deleting a masked area?
Make sure you have the correct area masked and that you have deleted the hidden areas properly. If needed, check your visibility settings for the SubTool you’re working on.

Q3: What happens if I delete too much geometry?
If you find that you deleted excessive geometry by mistake, you can use the Undo function to recover your model to its previous state before the deletion. It’s best to save your progress regularly to avoid permanent loss.