ZBrush Keyboard Shortcuts

Posted on Jul 4, 2018 (last modified Oct 15, 2021)

My notes on ZBrush keyboard shortcuts (hotkeys) and control. This page is derived largely from the ZBrush Online Documentation, by Pixologic, Inc. I have reproduced much of the Keyboard Shortcut documentation here for the purpose of personal study and for adding additional notes that may be helpful to others who are new to the software. Press CTRL + F in your browser to find by keyword or click a link in the table of contents below to jump to a given section.

Contents (Jump Navigation)

General shortcuts

ActionKey(s)
Open ProjectCTRL + O
Save ProjectCTRL + S
UndoCTRL + Z
RedoSHIFT + CTRL + Z
Popup selection (on PC only)
  • Tools – F1
  • Brushes – F2
  • Strokes – F3
  • Alphas – F4
  • Textures – F5
  • Materials – F6 (with cursor off canvas area)
Show QuickMenuSPACE or right-click
Show/hide floating palettesTAB
Show item description (when Popup Info is switched on)CTRL + cursor over item; When Popup Info is switched on.
Show alternative item descriptionCTRL + ALT + cursor over item
Assign custom hotkeyCTRL+ ALT + click on item; Stores hotkeys in Preferences > Hotkeys submenu
Projection MasterG

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Lightbox and Spotlight

ActionKey(s)
Show/hide Lightbox, (comma key)
load selected itemdouble-click on Lightbox thumbnail; Texture / Alphas will be loaded into Spotlight if it is active.
Turn on/off Spotlight

SHIFT + Z

Show/hide Spotlight Dial

Z

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Edit Mode Navigation

Edit Mode ON With a 3D mesh in Edit mode...

ActionKey(s)
Free Rotate
ZBrush button icon: Rotate
Click & drag background
Move
ZBrush button icon: Move
Alt + Click & drag background
Constrain to 90-degree rotationClick + drag, press SHIFT
Scale (a.k.a. Zoom3D)
ZBrush button icon: Scale (Zoom3D)
ALT + Click, release ALT, drag background
Rotate around Z-axisSHIFT + Click, release SHIFT, drag
(For best results turn off RightClick Navigation in the Preferences > Interface menu.)

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Right-Click Navigation

Turn on RightClick Navigation in the Preferences > Interface menu.

ActionKey(s)
MoveALT + right-click & drag (can be over the model)
ScaleCTRL + right-click & drag (can be over the model)
Rotateright-click & drag (can be over the model)

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Transpose

Note: Since ZBrush 4R8, the default transpose line has been replaced with the new Gizmo 3D. To toggle between Gizmo 3D and the transpose line, press Y or click the Gizmo 3D button in the topbar to turn off the 3D Gizmo.

  • With a 3D mesh in Edit mode, press W (Move), E (Scale), or R (Rotate), then click and drag to draw the orange action line.
  • Click on the mesh to reposition the action line aligned to the surface normal.
  • To align to an axis, click the end of the red, green or blue axis line.
ActionKey(s)
Move action line while drawingHold SPACE
Move action line after drawingclick + drag orange line or center orange ring
Change action line end point positionclick + drag orange end ring
Toggle between the Transpose line and Gizmo 3DY; while in Move, Scale, or Rotate mode

Quick tip: in Move/Scale mode, ALT + click + drag on the mesh (not on action line) to move or scale mesh

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Inner (red/white) ring actions

These actions apply to the inner red or white rings of the action line. The terms center or end refer to the position on the line.

ActionKey(s)
Move mode – W
Moveclick + drag center
Duplicate meshCTRL + click + drag center
Bend meshALT + click + drag center or end point
Stretch meshdrag end point furthest from mesh
Flatten meshdrag end point next to mesh
Inflateright-click + drag end ring furthest from mesh
Create Edgeloop & extrudewith partially masked mesh, hold CTRL and click + drag center point
Scale – E
Scaleclick + drag end point in line direction
Scale along axisclick + drag center point
Create Edgeloop and deflate / inflatewith partially masked mesh, hold CTRL and click + drag center point
Rotate – R
Rotate around end pointclick + drag other end point
Rotate around action lineclick + drag center
Joint bendALT + click + drag end point (rotation around same point)

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Sculpting and Painting

ActionKey(s)
Draw Size
S
Focal Shift
O
RGB Intensity
I; note that the Rgb Channel button in the topbar should also be selected for this to have any true effect.
Z Intensity
U
Increase Draw Size by set units]; set increment in the Zplugin > Misc Utilities > Brush Increment slider
Decrease Draw Size by set units[; set increment in the Zplugin > Misc Utilities >Brush Increment slider
Edit mode on/off
Edit Mode ON Edit Mode OFF
T
Draw
Q
Move
W
Scale
E
Rotate
R
Toggle ZAdd and ZSub

While brushing on a model, hold down ALT to toggle from ZAdd to ZSub.

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Sculpting Brushes

Each brush has its own keyboard shortcut combo. You can learn them by pressing B to bring up the brush palette, then a letter like C (to filter by all brushes starting with C), and then the letter indicated in the top left of the brush icon in to brush palette. Following are some key combos for some common, but not all, brushes...

ActionKey Sequence
Show Brush pop-upB
Clay
B - C - L
Clay BuildupB - C - B
ClayLineB - C - L
ClipCurveB - C - C
Damien Standard (dam std)
B - D - S
InflateB - I - N
Move
B - M - V
Move ElasticB - M - E
MPolishB - M - P
Smooth
B - S - M
Spiral

B - S - A to select the brush.

Hold down ALT to spiral in the opposite direction.

Standard Brush
B - S - T
TrimDynamic
B - T - D
ZModeler

B - Z - M to select the brush.

When using this brush, hover over a point, edge, or face on a PolyMesh3D object and then press SPACE to display the ZModeler context menu.

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InsertMultiMesh brushes

ActionKey(s)
Show all meshes in brushM

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Changing the Brush hotkeys (pop-up palette)

Here is what you have to do:

  • Press B to bring up the brush palette.
  • Then click or press the letter that you want to narrow down to, in this example press C.
  • With C selected all you will see is the brushes that start with C. You will see the next letter that selects the brush.
  • At this point you can hold CTRL + ALT to change the shortcut to whatever you want by just clicking on the brush and then click your new shortcut.

NOTE: Keep in mind that when you do this ZBrush automatically replaces the shortcut of another brush if you select a shortcut that is already assigned.

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Color

ActionKey(s)
Select Color under cursorC
Switch ColorV

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Stroke

ActionKey(s)
Lazy mouseL; Toggles the lazy mouse mode.
Replay Last Stroke1; This is very handy to use after pressing CTRL, and moving a subtool to duplicate it. Pressing 1 will create yet another duplicate, moving it the same distance on the same axis as before. So, this is a great way to create an array of equally spaced duplicates.
Record Stroke3
Replay All Recorded Strokes2

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Curves

ActionKey(s)
Smooth curve6
Snapshot curve5
Delete a curveALT + draw across curve

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3D Models

ActionKey(s)
Save ToolSHIFT + CTRL + T
Frame (Fit Mesh To view)F (You may need to press it twice.)
Dynamic Persp (Perspective Distortion)P
Floor GridSHIFT + P
Activate SymmetryX
Show/hide Polyframe & polygroupsSHIFT + F
Point Selection ModeSHIFT + CTRL + P
Set Pivot PointCTRL + P
Clear Pivot PointSHIFT + P
Snapshot a version to canvas

SHIFT + S

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SubTools

ActionKey(s)
List all subtoolsN
Select SubToolALT + click on SubTool
Frame SubToolSHIFT + ALT + click on selected SubTool; Note this option can be set in the Preferences > Edit > Enable Auto Center slider; 0 = off; 1 = Alt + click; 2 = SHIFT + Alt + click
Toggle Polypaint ColorizeClick on paintbrush icon
Toggle Polypaint Colorize for all SubToolsSHIFT + click on paintbrush icon

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Geometry

ActionKey(s)
DivideCTRL + D
Lower Res

SHIFT + D

Higher Res

D

Edge LoopCTRL + E (partially hidden mesh)

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Dynamesh

Remesh Dynamesh sculpt – in Edit > Draw mode CTRL + drag Background

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HD Geometry

ActionKey(s)
Toggle in/out of HD Sculpting modeA (cursor over mesh)
Render all HD GeometryA (cursor over background)

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Masking

ActionKey(s)
View maskCTRL + H
Invert maskCTRL + I
Mask allCTRL + A
Select masking Brushhold CTRL while selecting brush from popup
Paint mask on object (alphas/strokes can be used)CTRL (hold down)
Delete or paint reverse maskCTRL + ALT (hold down)
Reverse mask (a.k.a. Flip Mask, Invert Mask)CTRL + click background
Clear maskCTRL + click + drag background
Constant-intensity maskCTRL + click, release CTRL, drag (starting off mesh)
Alpha-intensity mask (using MaskPen or MaskRect brush)CTRL + click & drag (select alpha while holding CTRL)
Blur maskCTRL + click on mesh; When a mask has been drawn on a mesh, this action blurs (softens) the edges of the mask.
Sharpen maskCTRL + ALT + click on mesh

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Topological Masking

in Move, Scale or Rotate mode – CTRL + click + drag the action line on the model

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Polygroups

ActionKey(s)
Group Masked and Clear MaskCTRL + W
(This is super handy! Basically, it turns anything you have masked into a polygroup and then clears the mask. In other words, if you want to turn the currently masked area into a polygroup, press CTRL + W.)
Make all polygroups into oneCTRL + W
(Applies a single polygroup to the active subtool; if a subtool has several polygroups and you want only one, for example)

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Partial Mesh Visibility & Clip Brushes

ActionKey(s)
Select Selection or Clip Brushhold SHIFT + CTRL while selecting brush from popup
Show mesh portionSHIFT + CTRL + click, release keys & drag (green selection area)
Hide mesh portionSHIFT + CTRL + click, release keys & drag – press Alt (red selection area)
Grow mesh portionCTRL + SHIFT + X
Shrink mesh portionCTRL + SHIFT + S
Grow all mesh portionCTRL + SHIFT + A
Outer Ring visibilityCTRL + SHIFT + O
Move selection or clip areapress SPACE without releasing mouse/pen
Show entire meshSHIFT + CTRL + click background
Show only selected Polygroup (on fully visible mesh)SHIFT + CTRL + click
Hide selected Polygroup (on fully visible mesh)SHIFT + CTRL + click twice
Hide selected Polygroup (on partially visible mesh)SHIFT + CTRL + click
Reverse visibilitySHIFT + CTRL + click & drag background
Hide edge loopwith Lasso option selected, SHIFT + CTRL + click on edge that crosses loop
ClipCurve add soft direction changepress ALT once
ClipCurve add sharp direction changepress ALT twice
reverse clip areaALT (hold down)

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Stencil

ActionKey(s)
Stencil OnALT + H
Hide/Show StencilCTRL + H
Coin ControllerSPACE

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ZSpheres

ActionKey(s)
Preview Adaptive SkinA

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ZSpheres – Draw mode

ActionKey(s)
Add a child ZSpheredrag ZSphere
Delete ZSphereALT + click ZSphere
Add a child ZSphere at same sizeclick + drag, press SHIFT
Add a child ZSphere and scale Link Spheresclick + drag to size new ZSphere, press CTRL + drag
Insert ZSphereclick Link-Sphere
Sphere Define magnet/ break meshioALT + click Link-Sphere (with Tool > Adaptive Skin > Use ClassicSkinning on)

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ZSpheres – Move mode

ActionKey(s)
Move ZSpheredrag ZSphere
Pose (Natural-linked move)drag Link-Sphere
Move ChainAlt + drag Link-Sphere

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ZSpheres – Scale mode

ActionKey(s)
Scale Zspheredrag ZSphere
Inflate/deflate chainALT + drag Link-Sphere
Scale chaindrag Link-Sphere

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ZSpheres – Rotate mode

ActionKey(s)
Spin chaindrag ZSphere
Control twistALT + drag Link-Sphere
Rotate chaindrag Link-Sphere

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ZSketch

ActionKey(s)
Activate ZSketch Edit modeSHIFT + A (with a ZSphere armature in Edit mode)
Preview Unified SkinA

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Canvas and 2.5D

ActionKey(s)
Reverse 2.5D brush effectALT (hold down)
Crop And FillSHIFT + CTRL + F
Grab Texture From DocumentSHIFT + CTRL + G

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Document Layers

ActionKey(s)
Clear LayerCTRL + N
Fill LayerCTRL + F
Bake LayerCTRL + B
On Layer thumbnail, toggle all layers on/offSHIFT + CLICK
Select layer on which clicked pixol resides~ + click canvas (US) @ + click canvas (UK)
Move layer contents up/down/sideways (X & Y)~ + drag (US) @ + drag (UK)

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Markers

Markers will only show when Edit is turned off

ActionKey(s)
Remove MarkerCTRL + M

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Canvas Zoom

ActionKey(s)
Actual Size0
Antialiased Half SizeCTRL + 0
Zoom In+ (plus sign)
Zoom Out- (minus sign)

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Timeline

ActionKey(s)
Place a new key frameclick on the Timeline
Select an existing key frameclick on the key frame dot
Zoom Timeline in/outclick on selected key frame dot
Move selected key frameclick + drag dot to new position (dragging off end will delete)
Store new data in existing key frameSHIFT + CTRL + click on the key frame dot
Delete a key frameclick + drag dot off the Timeline
Copy selected key frameSHIFT + click on the Timeline at the point where you want the copy
Copy multiple key framesSHIFT + click on all the key frames dots to be copied, then SHIFT + click the Timeline (at the point where you want the copies)
Create Transition key frameCTRL + click on an existing key frame dot
Create Rigid key frameALT + click on an existing key frame dot
Go to Previous Camera key frameLEFT ARROW
Go to Next Camera key frameRIGHT ARROW
Play the TimelineSHIFT+click on the Timeline cursor (will play as a loop)
Stop the Timeline playingESC
Record Timeline as a MovieSHIFT + CTRL + click on the Timeline cursor (set the cursor to the start first using the LEFT ARROW)

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Movie

ActionKey(s)
Snapshot to MovieCTRL + SHIFT + ! (US) SHIFT + CTRL + PageUp (UK)

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Render

ActionKey(s)
Best Preview Render (BPR)SHIFT + R
Render AllSHIFT + CTRL + R
Cursor Selective RenderCTRL + R

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Custom UI and Configuration

ActionKey(s)
Move item to custom interface positionCTRL + ALT + drag (when Enable Customize is on)
Remove item from custom interface positionCTRL + ALT + drag to Canvas (when Enable Customize is on)
Store Configuration FileSHIFT + CTRL + I
Load User Interface Configuration FileCTRL + L
Save User Interface Configuration FileSHIFT + CTRL + ALT + I

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ZScripts

ActionKeys
Load ZScriptSHIFT + CTRL + L
Reload ZScriptCTRL + U
Show/Hide ZScript windowH

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Reference Resources