---
title: "Polypaint Essentials"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/zbp/en-us/Content/html/5_sculpting-and-painting_polypaint-essentials.html"
section_path: "Sculpting | Modeling | Painting > Polypaint Essentials"
description: "ZBrush supports vertex painting, therefore paint in ZBrush is called polypaint. Polypaint resolution quality is defined by the active points (vertices)."
---

# Polypaint Essentials

ZBrush supports vertex painting, therefore paint in ZBrush is called polypaint. Polypaint resolution quality is defined by the active points (vertices).

![Image: 2024-5-sculpting-painting-polypaint-essentials-header.png](https://help.maxon.net/zbp/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/2024-5-sculpting-painting-polypaint-essentials-header.png)\
Palettes >Tool > Polypaint menu

> **Note:** Active Points (in the selected subtool) and Total Points (all subtools) are displayed in the top-left of the ZBrush canvas.

---

## Basic Applications

Follow these instructions for essential polypaint applications.

> **Note:** This following example demonstrates using the DemoAnimeHead default file found at Home Screen > New Sculpt > 3D Meshes section.

### Steps:

1. To paint on a model with a brush, fill the model with a solid color.

> **Note:** Select a color from the left canvas toolbar, then use the **FillObject** button to apply the color to the model.

2. Choose a new color.

3. Draw on the model to polypaint with the selected primary color.

[Video: 2024-5-sculpting-painting-polypaint-essentials-basic-steps-1-3.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/zbp/en-us/Content/Resources/Videos/2024-5-sculpting-painting-polypaint-essentials-basic-steps-1-3.mp4)

> **Note:** This example demonstrates steps 1 through 3 described above.

> **Tip:** The Paint brush preset is customized for polypainting. You can assign other sculptural brushes the ability to paint or paint and sculpt simultaneously.

> **Note:** Learn more in this guide's [Brush Customization > MRGB](https://help.maxon.net/zbp/en-us/Content/html/5_sculpting-and-painting_brush-4-mrgb.html.md) section.

4. Choose a secondary color, hold the Alt/Option modifier, and draw on the model to polypaint with a secondary color.

5. Apply the following steps to customize the brush tip to polypaint with color randomness:

a.) Open the Strokes menu in the left canvas toolbar and choose the **Spray** or **Color Spray** stroke.

b.) Open the Alphas menu in the left canvas toolbar and select an alpha.

c.) Apply some brush strokes to view results.

[Video: 2024-5-sculpting-painting-polypaint-essentials-basic-steps-4-5.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/zbp/en-us/Content/Resources/Videos/2024-5-sculpting-painting-polypaint-essentials-basic-steps-4-5.mp4)

> **Note:** This example demonstrates steps 4 and 5 described above. Where polypaint quality is not desirable, increase the model's resolution/active points.

> **Important:** When you assign a texture to a brush, ZBrush prioritizes the texture color over the selected color channel.

6. Increase the **DynaMesh Resolution** setting and apply a **DynaMesh Remesh** action.

> **Note:** Hold Ctrl/Cmd and drag within the available empty canvas space, then release pressure from the screen to apply a **DynaMesh Remesh** action.

7. Apply new polypaint strokes to check the quality.

[Video: 2024-5-sculpting-painting-polypaint-essentials-basic-steps-6-7.mp4](https://help.maxon.net/zbp/en-us/Content/Resources/Videos/2024-5-sculpting-painting-polypaint-essentials-basic-steps-6-7.mp4)

> **Note:** This example demonstrates step 6 and 7 described above, where paint results struggle to capture details due to a low number of active points. DynaMesh increases the model's active points to improve polypaint quality.

> **Tip:** This example demonstrates using DynaMesh to increase the resolution of a model. Subdivisions and SculptrisPro offer difference methods to increase a model's resolution. With all methods, the model's surface must be increased to improve polypaint quality.

> **Note:** Learn more about polypaint functions in this guide's [Tool Palette > Polypaint](https://help.maxon.net/zbp/en-us/Content/html/4_palettes_tool-13-polypaint.html.md) section.

> **Note:** Learn more about using DynaMesh, subdivision, and SculptrisPro in these guide sections:\
> [DynaMesh Sculpting Essentials](https://help.maxon.net/zbp/en-us/Content/html/5_sculpting-and-painting_dynamesh-sculpting-essentials.html.md)\
> [Subdivision Sculpting Essentials](https://help.maxon.net/zbp/en-us/Content/html/5_sculpting-and-painting_subdivision-sculpting-essentials.html.md)\
> [SculptrisPro Essentials](https://help.maxon.net/zbp/en-us/Content/html/5_sculpting-and-painting_sculpting-sculptis-pro-essentials.html.md)