Extrusion and inset are two common tools in ZBrush that allow you to create complex shapes and details on your 3D models. In this article, you will learn how to use these tools and how to control their depth and width parameters to achieve different effects.
Extrusion is a tool that lets you pull out a new surface from an existing one along a normal direction. You can use extrusion to create features like horns, spikes, or ridges on your model. To use extrusion, you need to select a polygon or a group of polygons on your model and click on the Extrude button in the ZModeler brush. You can then drag the cursor to adjust the depth of the extrusion.
Inset is a tool that lets you create a new polygon or a group of polygons inside an existing one. You can use inset to create features like holes, indents, or patterns on your model. To use inset, you need to select a polygon or a group of polygons on your model and click on the Inset button in the ZModeler brush. You can then drag the cursor to adjust the width of the inset.
The depth of extrusion is determined by how far you drag the cursor after clicking on the Extrude button. You can also use the slider in the ZModeler menu to set a fixed depth value. The depth value can be positive or negative, depending on whether you want to extrude outwards or inwards. You can also use the Alt key to switch between positive and negative depth while dragging the cursor.
The width of inset is determined by how far you drag the cursor after clicking on the Inset button. You can also use the slider in the ZModeler menu to set a fixed width value. The width value can be positive or negative, depending on whether you want to inset inwards or outwards. You can also use the Alt key to switch between positive and negative width while dragging the cursor.
You can use extrusion and inset together to create more complex shapes and details on your model. For example, you can use inset to create a hole on a surface, and then use extrusion to pull out a new surface from the hole. You can also use extrusion and inset alternately to create a pattern of ridges and indents on a surface. To use extrusion and inset together, you need to select the polygons that you want to modify and use the ZModeler brush to apply the tools in sequence.
When using extrusion and inset in ZBrush, you can use the Spacebar to switch between different actions in the ZModeler brush, such as extrude, inset, move, scale, and rotate. The Shift key can be used to constrain the extrusion or inset direction to the normal of the selected polygons, while the Ctrl key will snap the extrusion or inset depth or width to a grid value. Additionally, you can use the QMesh action instead of Extrude to automatically delete any overlapping polygons and create new connections. Finally, for more efficient selection later on, use the Polygroup option in the Inset menu to create different polygroups for the inset polygons.