3D design software developer Maxon has launched ZBrush for iPad, the new tablet version of its digital sculpting platform.
The design suite brings many of the same features and capabilities of the desktop version to the handheld electronics market, allowing users to create 3D designs on the go. With over 200 digital sculpting brushes, ZBrush for iPad incorporates several advanced design tools like ZRemesher, Sculptris Pro, and DynaMesh.
Significantly, designers will not need to sacrifice polygon count when using the new tablet-based software. The latest M4 iPad with at least one terabytes (TB) of storage can reach up to 92 million polygons per mesh.
A new customizable user interface (UI) has also been added to ZBrush for iPad. This expands the desktop QuickMenu, allowing users to arrange their sculpting tools and personalize their workflow.
ZBrush for iPad is now included with all ZBrush and Maxon One subscriptions, or available as a stand-alone product for an annual fee of £89.99. A free plan is also accessible, offering an introductory set of the 28 most popular brushes and limited features for tools like Dynamesh, SculptrisPro, ZSpheres, and ZRemesher.
The software requires iPadOS 17 or later and is compatible with iPad models with the A12 Biobic chip or newer.
Maxon’s September release also features new updates across its Maxon One products, including Cinema 4D, Redshift, Red Giant, Cineware, and capsules. These enhancements seek to streamline workflows and enhance precision and control for designers, compositors and video editors.
Maxon’s new ZBrush for iPad software
ZBrush is a computer-aided-design (CAD) software launched in 1999 by LA-based graphic software developer Pixologic, Inc., which was acquired by Maxon in 2022. Designed to meet a range of 3D sculpture needs, the platform is ideal for professional and hobbyist makers wanting to produce detailed and artistic 3D printable designs.
ZBrush is widely used by those wishing to improve 3D scanning data. It allows users to import incomplete or defect-riddled 3D scans, which can be cleaned and finished by filling holes or adding missing parts.
The software has also been adopted by toy and figurine developers such as Hasbro, Gentle Giant Studios, Kotobukiya and Mattel, to generate 3D printable designs. Similarly, special effects firms have leveraged ZBrush to create props and costumes for the film industry. For instance, Iron Man’s armor and the combat suits of Jaeger pilots in Pacific Rim were sketched in ZBrush before being 3D printed by Legacy Effects.
Following popular demand from Maxon’s customer base, users can now access ZBrush with the iPad’s intuitive touchscreen capabilities. The Apple Pencil double tap or Pencil Pro squeeze functionalities can be used to complete design actions, like framing a mesh in the document or turning on PolyGroup.
Additional ZBrush for iPad features include ZRemesher, which generates a new mesh with an even distribution of polygons. This preserves the essential details and flow of the original surface.
Sculptris Pro allows users to control triangle tessellation with each brush stroke. Lowering the barrier of entry to inexperienced users, this feature unlocks 3D sculpting by removing the technical restraints of other software.
Mesh can be retopologized while sculpting with the DynaMesh feature. Here, it is possible to stretch digital clay or add volume while retaining basic details. Array Mesh can create duplicate instances of geometry in varying patterns and shapes. Moreover, the Dynamics system can enhance sculpts by draping 3D surfaces over each other.
ZBrush for iPad also features Live Boolean, which allows designers to combine, subtract, and use intersections to achieve unique results. Additionally, PolyPaint unlocks the ability to paint and sculpt simultaneously. As such, it is possible to paint on the surface of a model without first assigning a texture map.
Maxon has incorporated File exchange capabilities, with ZBrush and Maxon One subscribers able to freely ZTool (ZTL) and ZProject (ZPR) files between iPad and desktop. GoZBrush (GoZ) can move files between versions in a single click.
New 3D design platforms hit the market
ZBrush for iPad is one of the latest 3D design software offerings to hit the market, following a growing trend to increase the accessibility of CAD platforms.
Earlier this year, 3D printing materials producer polySpectra launched neThing.xyz. This offering leverages artificial intelligence (AI)-driven generative design to make the process of creating 3D CAD models easier.
Designed with simplicity and user-friendliness in mind, the software can be accessed for free. It includes an AI function that can generate a 3D model based on a written prompt, as well as augmented reality (AR) preview functionality. neThing.xyz supports various file formats, facilitating the download of creations as STL or GLTF files for further use or sharing.
Elsewhere, on the more industrial side, 3D CAD software provider Dassault Systèmes unveiled SOLIDWORKS 2024, the latest version of its 3D design and engineering software.
Designed to enhance efficiency and collaboration in product development, the release introduced new features allowing users to store their SOLIDWORKS data in a previous release. This seeks to foster easier collaboration with individuals running older versions of the software.
Nominations are now open for the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards.
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Featured image shows ZBrush for iPad. Image via Manox.
