This section covers essential Masking brush features and basic applications in ZBrush for iPad.
Canvas > Brush Library > Masking collection
Mask brushes require using the Ctrl/Cmd modifier and utilize the Alt/Option modifier to change masking behavior. Learn the basics for using the Modifier Wheel in this guide's provided section.
Masking brushes work with Symmetry.
There are two ways to choose a mask brush.
1. In the left canvas toolbar, tap the Brushes library and open the Mask collection to choose a brush.
After selecting the brush, hold the Ctrl/Cmd modifier to activate and use the mask brush.
2. Hold Ctrl/Cmd and tap the Brushes icon in the left canvas toolbar. Choose a desired mask brush.
The MaskPen brush works like a paint brush to apply masks to the model.
MaskPen is the default masking brush.
1. Press Ctrl/Cmd to draw an additive mask shape on the model.
2. Press Ctrl/Cmd + Alt/Option to draw a subtractive mask.
3. Press Ctrl/Cmd and tap on available empty canvas space to inverse the mask.
Tapping on the model's surface applies a Blur action to the mask. Tapping on the canvas inverses the mask.
4. Press Ctrl/Cmd and drag on available empty canvas space to clear the mask.
The default behavior for the MaskPen brush offers two application methods:
Ctrl/Cmd while dragging on the empty canvas draws the Rect selection.
Ctrl/Cmd while drawing on the surface applies the FreeHand stroke.
1. Hold Ctrl/Cmd and tap on the Alphas icon in the left canvas toolbar to choose an alpha.
2. Hold Ctrl/Cmd and draw a mask on the surface with the assigned alpha shape.
These mask brush types each use a different stroke to define how a mask is drawn.
1. Press Ctrl/Cmd and draw a mask shape over the surface.
2. Release pencil or finger pressure from the screen to apply the mask.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 and release Ctrl/Cmd modifiers while keeping pressure on the screen to hold a mask selection in position.
4. Hold Spacebar and drag to move the mask.
5. Hold Alt/Option to convert the mask to a subtractive mask.
5. Release the pencil or touch pressure from the screen to apply the subtractive mask.
6. Hold Ctrl/Cmd and tap in the available empty canvas to inverse the mask.
Ctrl/Cmd and tapping on a masked surface applies a Blur action.
7. Press Ctrl/Cmd and drag in the available empty canvas to clear the mask.
The Square stroke lets you draw an alpha at the center of the stroke shape for precise application to a centralized location on the surface.
1. Select the Mask Square brush, then hold Ctrl/Cmd to activate the brush.
2. Tap Alphas in the left canvas toolbar to choose an alpha.
3. Hold Ctrl/Cmd and drag the square shape from a central position over the surface.
4. Release pressure to apply.
The MaskCurve brush uses the Curve stroke to create precise masks along curved and straight lines.
Curve strokes are available when you press Ctrl/Cmd or Ctrl/Cmd + Shift modifiers.
1. Hold Ctrl/Cmd and drag across the screen to begin drawing a curve line.
2. Release Ctrl/Cmd while keeping pressure on the screen to hold the curve line position.
3. Hold Spacebar and drag to pan the curve position on the screen.
Keep pencil or touch pressure on the screen to keep the curve line active.
4. Tap Alt/Option to create a soft curve point at the end of the curve, then drag farther to extend the curve line.
Curve points are locked in space.
5. Double-tap Alt/Option to create a hard curve point to straighten the curve. Drag farther to extend the curve line.
After creating a hard curve point, the curve line remains straight until you create a soft curve point.
6. Release pencil or touch pressure from the screen to apply an additive mask.
7. Draw a new mask curve line and hold Alt/Option to convert the drawn curve line into a subtractive mask.
8. While holding Alt/Option, release pencil or touch pressure from the screen to apply the subtractive curve mask.
9. Hold Ctrl/Cmd and tap in the available empty canvas space to inverse the mask.
Where a subtool is unmasked, Ctrl/Cmd + tapping on the canvas applies the MaskAll feature, which masks the entire surface.
MaskAll is a button offered in Tool palette > Masking options.
10. Hold Ctrl/Cmd and drag in available empty canvas space to clear a mask.
When you apply a mask to a model's surface, follow the steps below to apply a Blur mask action.
The Blur function is in the Tool palette > Masking options.
1. Hold Ctrl/Cmd and tap the mask or the model's surface to apply a single Blur action to the mask's edges.
Where a subtool is unmasked, Ctrl/Cmd + tapping on the canvas applies MaskAll, which masks the entire surface.
MaskAll is offered in Tool palette > Masking options.
A mask Blur action softens mask edges and recedes from the mask borders toward the mask selection's center.
2. Hold Ctrl/Cmd and tap on the canvas to inverse the mask, then repeat step 1 to blur the mask in the inverse direction.
3. Repeat the Blur effect as needed.
Masks are applied to vertices. The mask blur's strength depends on the subtool's active point count.
Blur applied to a lower-resolution mesh produces a stronger blur effect and softens more due to fewer vertices holding the mask shape in place.
Blur applied to a higher-resolution mesh softens less due to more vertices holding the mask shape in place.
With a mask applied to a model, follow the steps below to apply a Sharpen mask action.
Sharpen is a function offered in the Tool palette > Masking options.
1. Hold Ctrl/Cmd + Alt/Option and tap a mask to apply the Sharpen mask action.
2. Repeat the action until maximum sharpening is achieved.
Masking options to create and edit masks.
Palettes > Tool Palette > Masking
Options provide the ability to edit a mask already applied to the selected subtool.
When a model is unmasked, these options have no effect.
Masking features are commonly used for sculpting and painting. You can add masking buttons to the customizable Quick Menu accessible with the Spacebar modifier. Learn more in this guide's UI Customization section.
Reset masking brushes from the left canvas toolbar in the Brushes options menu.
Reset All Brushes applies to sculptural, selection, and masking brushes.
