There are three major Tool types in ZBrush. Each offers a unique collection of menus and features for editing within the Tools palette.
A unique model type that offers sliders, profile curves, and deformation sliders to manipulate Primitive3D objects as needed.
Here, you'll find a unique collection of Tools palette menus and editing capabilities. Primitive3D objects primarily rely on the Initialize menu options to edit the selected Primitive3D object.
Learn more about editing these models in the following Initialize Primitive3D section.
ZSpheres are a unique model type used to create connecting chains of ZSpheres to build a base mesh for sculpting. This is one of the best methods in ZBrush for base mesh construction.
ZSpheres are commonly used to create organic figures, skeletal structures, environmental shapes, and more.
At Home Screen > New Sculpt > ZSpheres, load a variety of pre-built animal Z-Zoo ZSphere armatures. These are great resources to explore and utilize in your sculpting projects.
This document offers essential guides for editing ZSpheres. Learn more in the ZSphere Essentials section.
PolyMesh3D, or PM3D, objects are a ZBrush 3D model format that offers full access to all primary modeling, painting, and editing features.
ZSpheres and Initialize Primitive3D objects are not PolyMesh3D objects by default. Rather, they are a unique type of ZBrush format that offers a smaller, refined settings collection for editing toward a specific purpose.
PolyMesh3D objects are the only mesh type that offers a full view of the Tool palette options while unlocking the ability to use standard brushes for sculpting and painting on the surface.
The above example demonstrates using the PolyMesh3D Star. ZBrush offers this Tool by default for quick access to a pre-converted PolyMesh3D object.