Polygon Targets
Polygon targets define the specific polygons affected when performing an action within ZModeler. These targets determine whether an operation applies to a single polygon, a group of connected polygons, or polygons meeting specific criteria such as surface angle, polygroup, or position relative to the viewport. Selecting a polygon target allows you to control how broadly or precisely an action modifies the model's geometry.
Polygon actions, such as extruding, bridging, or deleting, rely on the selected polygon target. For example, targeting a Single Poly applies an action to just one polygon, while targeting All Quads affects every four-sided polygon in the subtool. More refined targets, such as Behind & Polygroup or Flat & Polygroup, ensure actions apply only to polygons that meet multiple conditions. Understanding polygon targets allows you to manipulate geometry efficiently and predictably, optimizing the modeling process in ZBrush.
A Single Poly
Target the single-clicked triangle or quadrangle polygon.
All Polygons
Target every polygon in the selected subtool, ignoring polygroups and geometry divisions.
All Quads
Targets all four-sided polygons (quads) in the selected subtool.
All Triangles
Target all three-sided polygons (triangles).
Behind
Targets all polygons behind the clicked polygon based on its surface normal direction. This target also applies the action to polygons that share the clicked polygon's normal position on the direction plane. The affected polygons depend on the model's orientation relative to the viewport camera.
Behind & Polygroup
Targets all polygons behind the clicked polygon that share the same polygroup based on its surface normal direction. The affected polygons depend on the model's orientation relative to the viewport camera.
Brush Radius
Target all polygons within the current Draw Size radius.
Connected Polys
Targets two polygons (triangles or quadrangles) connected by a shared edge. When hovering over a polygon, the brush reticle displays a text prompt (Bridge Two Connected Polys) indicating this target.
Curved Island
Targets the clicked polygon and its adjacent polygons, applying the action only to those angled differently from the clicked polygon. This target behaves like A Single Poly if the adjacent polygons align at the same angle as the clicked polygon.
Facing Front All
Target all polygons visible in the viewport camera.
Facing Front Island
Target polygons facing the camera belong to the same contiguous geometry (shell) as the clicked polygon.
Flat & Polygroup
Targets connected polygons within the same polygroup that lie on the same flat surface, meaning they share the same angle as the clicked polygon.
Flat Border
Targets the edge (border) polygons that share the same angle as the clicked polygon. Adjusting the Flat Targets Tolerance in the ZModeler Modifiers changes the target detection angle.
Flat Inner
Targets the inner polygons of a clicked flat surface that share the same angle. Adjusting the Flat Targets Tolerance in the ZModeler Modifiers changes the target detection angle.
Flat Island
Targets all polygons within an island (separate geometry shell) that align to the same angle as the clicked polygon. This target ignores polygons with the same angle if they belong to a different island.
Infront
Target all polygons in front of the clicked polygon based on its surface normal direction. This target also applies the action to polygons that share the clicked polygon's normal position on the direction plane. The affected polygons depend on the model's orientation relative to the viewport camera.
Infront & Polygroup
Target all polygons on the same plane in front of the clicked polygon that share the same polygroup. The affected polygons depend on the model's orientation relative to the viewport camera.
Island
Target a connected group of polygons, known as an island (geometry shell).
Poly
Targets the clicked polygon if it is a triangle or quadrangle.
Poly Corners
Target all polygons connected to the corner points of the clicked polygon, applying the action to their respective components (points and edges). This target applies to triangle or quadrangle polygons.
PolyCenter
Target the center point of the clicked polygon.
Polygroup All
Targets all polygons that share the same polygroup, regardless of their angle or whether they belong to different geometry islands (shells).
Polygroup Border
Targets the edge polygons of a polygroup where it connects to other polygroups.
Polygroup Inner
Targets the inner polygons of a shared polygroup, excluding its border polygons.
Polygroup Island
Targets all polygons that share the same polygroup and belong to the same geometry island (shell) as the clicked polygon.
Polyloop
Target a continuous loop of polygons connected to the clicked polygon. When hovering over a polygon, an arrow indicates the targeting direction.
Polyloop & Flat
Target a poly loop of polygons on the same flat surface and at the same angle. If any part of the poly loop does not align with the same angle or flat surface, the action does not affect those polygons.
Polyloop & Polygroup
Target a poly loop of polygons that share the same polygroup. If any part of the connected polyloop does not share the same polygroup as the clicked polygon, the action does not affect those polygons.
Two Polys
Targets two polygons by clicking one polygon and then another to apply the action.