This section covers essential Transpose Line functions and application methods.
Tap the x/y/z-axis handles to snap the Transpose Line along the selected axis.
The x/y/z-axis anchor is fixed at the start point and serves as the origin for Move, Scale, and Rotate transformations when using the Transpose Line.
The line draws from the anchor point's center to the end point's center. The line offers customizable tick marks used to measure objects.
Change Units in User Settings > Transpose > Transpose Units.
When you draw the Transpose Line from one position of the model to another, the distance factor displays at the top of the screen. The default Units measurement is in millimeters.
The outer orange circles reposition the Transpose Line without altering the model.
The start point applies various Move, Scale, and Rotate transformations relative to the position of the Transpose Line.
The red start point is visible when hovering over the point's center. Engaging the red center point applies Move, Scale, and Rotate transformations.
The start point is always linked to the x/y/z-axis anchor, which can be switched between the start and end points. Because of this functionality, the start point is also called the anchor point. The start and end circles are both red, indicate their ability to swap and act as the anchor for transformations.
The middle point applies various Move, Scale, and Rotate transformations relative to the Transpose Line's position.
The white middle point is visible when hovering over the point's center. Engaging the white center point applies Move, Scale, and Rotate transformations.
The end point applies various Move, Scale, and Rotate transformations relative to the Transpose Line's position.
The red end point is visible when hovering over the center of the point. Engaging the red center point applies Move, Scale, and Rotate transformations.
There are multiple functions for this feature, including:
a) Tap Go To Unmasked Center to move the Transpose Line anchor point to the center of the model's unmasked portion while keeping the Transpose Line's alignment.
If the model is not masked, Go To Unmasked Center sends the Transpose Line to the model's perfect center.
b) Hold Ctrl/Cmd and tap Go To Unmasked Center to align the camera with the Transpose Line.
The examples below demonstrate all basic methods for drawing and repositioning the Transpose Line without affecting the model.
1. Drag from one position of the model to another to draw the Transpose Line.
During this operation, the start and end points of the Transpose Line automatically snap to the model's surface.
2. Drag from the model's surface while holding Shift to constrain the Transpose Line movement to five-degree increments.
While initially drawing the Transpose Line, pressing the Shift key will snap its x/y/z-axis anchor to align with the global x/y/z axis. Enable the Floor Grid to visualize the global x/y/z axis.
Adjust the snapping angle in Preferences > Transpose > Rotation Steps.
3. Tap the model to align the Transpose Line along the surface normal of the selected polygons.
4. Tap the x/y/z-axis handles on the Transpose Line to snap it along the desired axis.
5. Drag the middle orange circle to reposition the Transpose Line while maintaining its current alignment.
6. Drag the outer orange circle at either the start or end point to move the Transpose Line without affecting the model.
The example above shows that when the outer orange circle at the end point is engaged, ZBrush switches the x/y/z-axis anchor to the opposite end of the Transpose Line, making the position adjustment occur from that end.
7. Tap the outer orange circle at either the start or end point to reverse the anchor point while keeping the Transpose Line path unchanged.
The x/y/z-axis anchor is always linked to the start point, serving as the reference location for Move, Scale, and Rotate transformations.
Since the x/y/z-axis anchor can be freely switched between the start and endpoint of the Transpose Line, always verify its position before applying transformations.
When in Transpose Line Move mode, the Transpose Line's points apply various movement transformations to the model's unmasked areas.
The Transpose Line is compatible with Symmetry. The examples below show asymmetrical usage.
There are multiple options for moving with the start point, including:
a) Drag the start point’s inner red circle along the Transpose Line path to clip polygons along the plane defined by the line's path.
In the example above, the endpoint's outer orange circle is adjusted to modify the Transpose Line's path for clipping.
Clipping refers to the flattening effect produced by the Transpose Line, similar to that of the Clip brushes in the brush library. Clipping retains all polygons, simply confining them to the region defined by the clipping process.
The example also demonstrates how clipping a large section of the surface can result in all polygons being confined to a small region that grows beyond the model's silhouette. Clipping large areas is not recommended if the surface is intended for further sculpting.
b) When the model is unmasked, hold Ctrl/Cmd and drag the start point’s inner red circle to duplicate the model.
The duplicate model is unmasked, and the source model is masked.
There are multiple options for moving the middle point, including:
a) Drag the middle point’s inner white circle to move the model uniformly without distortion.
In the above example, the model moves horizontally and vertically within the canvas, influenced by the camera angle. Adjust the viewing angle to fine-tune the movement direction.
b) Hold the Shift key while dragging the middle point’s inner white circle to snap and move the model along the Transpose Line path.
c) Hold the Alt/Option key while dragging the middle point's inner white circle to create a flexible move effect for the sections of the model positioned between the start and end points along the Transpose Line.
The example above shows how to reposition the Transpose Line and set the start point for moving using the described actions.
d) When the model is unmasked hold Ctrl/Cmd and drag the middle point’s inner red circle to duplicate the model.
The duplicate model is unmasked, and the source model is masked.
There are multiple options for moving with the endpoint, including:
a) Drag the end point’s inner red circle to freely stretch the model from the start point anchor.
b) Hold the Shift key while dragging the end point's inner red circle to snap the stretch effect along the Transpose Line path.
The above example demonstrates both (a) and (b) options.
c) Hold the Alt/Option key while dragging the end point’s inner red circle to move the unmasked model sections within the end point's path while keeping the model anchored at the start point.
d) When the model is unmasked, hold Ctrl/Cmd and drag the end point’s inner red circle to duplicate the model.
The duplicate model is unmasked, and the source model is masked.
When the Transpose Line is in Scale mode, each point on the Transpose Line allows for different scaling transformations to be applied to the model's unmasked portions.
The Transpose Line is compatible with Symmetry. The examples below show asymmetrical usage.
There are multiple options for scaling the start point:
a) Drag the start point’s inner red circle to uniformly scale the model along the Transpose Line path.
In the example above, activating the start point shifts the x/y/z-axis anchor from the start point to the opposite end of the Transpose Line, making that end the reference point for scaling.
b) Hold the Alt/Option key while dragging the start point to apply a taper deformation along the Transpose Line. The tapering starts from the x/y/z-axis anchor.
As shown in the example above, this action shifts the x/y/z-axis anchor to the opposite end of the Transpose Line, establishing it as the taper effect's source.
There are multiple methods for scaling using the middle point, including:
a) Drag the middle point’s inner white circle left or right to create a non-uniform squash and bulge effect on the model's unmasked portions.
The Transpose Line serves as the origin point for scaling.
b) Hold the Alt/Option key while dragging the middle point’s inner white circle to apply an inset and bulge deformation to the parts of the model within the middle point's path.
As shown in the example above, repositioning the Transpose Line away from the model's center can achieve similar effects at a different reference point, enabling diverse scaling applications.
There are multiple methods for scaling using the end point, including:
a) Drag the endpoint’s inner red circle to scale the model uniformly from the start point anchor.
b) Hold the Alt/Option key while dragging the endpoint’s inner red circle to apply a taper deformation along the Transpose Line.
Refer to the "Start Point Scale" section above for a demonstration of this behavior. The actions of the start and end points with the Alt/Option key are identical, with the x/y/z-axis anchor shifting to the opposite point.
When in Transpose Line Rotate mode, each point on the Transpose Line can apply rotation transformations to the model's unmasked areas.
The Transpose Line is compatible with Symmetry. The examples below show asymmetrical usage.
There are multiple methods for rotating using the start point, including:
a) Drag the start point’s inner red circle to rotate the unmasked portions of the model using the Transpose Line as the rotation axis.
When rotating the start point, the x/y/z-axis anchor snaps to the opposite end of the Transpose Line and acts as the rotation pivot.
Hold Shift while dragging to snap the rotation to five-degree increments.
The rotation behavior using the Alt/Option key is identical for both start and end points. See the "End Point Rotate" section below for more information.
b) Hold the Alt/Option key while dragging the start point’s inner red circle to swivel the unmasked parts of the model along the path of the Transpose Line, based on the camera angle.
The example above shows how the start point of the Transpose Line serves as a joint to rotate parts of the model at the center of the start point's position relative to the model. This behavior is identical for both start and end points.
There are multiple methods to rotate using the middle point, including:
a) Drag the inner white circle of the middle point left or right to rotate the model's unmasked parts, using the Transpose Line as the axis of rotation.
b) Hold the Alt/Option key while dragging the inner white circle of the middle point along the Transpose Line path to rotate the model's unmasked portions between the start and end points.
There are multiple rotation options when using the end point, including:
a) Drag the end point's inner red circle to rotate the model's unmasked portions from the start point anchor.
The behavior for start and end points as the x/y/z-axis anchor shifts to the opposite point is identical. Refer to the "Start Point Rotate" section above for a demonstration of this behavior.
b) Hold the Alt/Option key while dragging the inner red circle of the end point to rotate the unmasked portions of the model’s surface using the end point's position as the anchor for rotation.
Rotation occurs based on the camera angle. Orbit around the scene to create different angles for rotation.
The Alt/Option rotation effect is the same for both the start and end points. For optimal results, draw the Transpose Line along the path of the model for rotation, and position the start and end points at the center of the model's surface.
The example above shows that rotating with the Alt/Option key works best when the model is masked to isolate specific parts for posing and when the parts to be rotated are aligned along the Transpose Line. This is ideal for posing things like a character's arms, legs, and fingers, offering the ability to efficiently pose at multiple joints that follow the same path.
Transpose Line points act as anchors for transformation alignment. If the Transpose Line path is perpendicular to the model's surface being rotated, Alt/Option dragging the start or end point will rotate the part but produce a different rotation effect.
ZBrush provides intuitive controls for creating masks using the Transpose Line, which is essential for isolating parts of the model’s surface for posing.
The example above illustrates steps 1 through 3 described below.
1. Hold Ctrl/Cmd and drag along the model to create a directional mask.
The mask starts or ends at the first point clicked on the model, leaving the area along the Transpose Line path unmasked.
2. While holding Ctrl/Cmd, drag the Transpose Line farther from the start point to create a soft mask along the drawn path.
3. Release your pen or finger pressure from the screen to apply the mask, then use the Transpose Line points to apply rotations to the model's unmasked part.
The Transpose Line also offers a feature to mask specific polygroups, allowing for isolation of sections to pose and transform selected model areas.
The example above illustrates steps 1 and 2.
1. Hold Ctrl/Cmd and tap a polygroup. This action results in the selected polygroup being unmasked while all other polygroups are masked.
2. Hold Ctrl/Cmd and tap a vertex shared by multiple polygroups to isolate those polygroups together, following the masking behavior described in step 1.
ZBrush for iPad's Transpose Line works the same as in ZBrush desktop. Learn more in our external ZBrush Modeling Basics > Transpose documentation.