What are alphas in ZBrush?

An Alpha is a grayscale intensity map. It can be used to represent intensity, masking, and similar things. For example, bump maps and displacement maps (both in ZBrush and in other programs) are both alphas; the gray intensity represents the height or depth of the bump or displacement.

How do you make an alpha brush?

Creating a New Multi Alpha

1. Create your own shapes as separate PolyMesh 3D SubTools.
2. Disable Draw >> Perspective.
3. Select the brush that you wish to receive these new alphas.
4. Click Brush >> Create >> Create Multiple Alpha Brush.
5. Try your new alpha(s) on some models.

How do you change the Alpha in ZBrush?

Use Alpha:Make Modified Alpha to bake this change into a new Alpha. Press the Contrast button to increase the overall contrast of the selected alpha. Contrast is a useful way to harden the edges of alphas. The Alpha Adjustment Curve alters the intensity/depth values of the selected alpha, from the values originally defined.

How does the AA work in ZBrush Docs?

The Aa will apply an anti-aliasing to the alpha. This will smooth the transition on the alpha. The H Tiles will tile the selected alpha along the horizontal access. The H Tiles can have a different value then the V Tiles to create unique tileable alphas. The V Tiles will tile the selected alpha along the vertical access.

How does the adjustment curve in ZBrush work?

The Alpha Adjustment Curve alters the intensity/depth values of the selected alpha, from the values originally defined. The left side of the curve represents the defined portions of the alpha which are darkest (least intensity/depth); the right side represents the defined portions which are lightest (greatest intensity/depth).

How does the radial fade slider work in ZBrush?

The Radial Fade slider causes this Alpha to blend from full-intensity at its center, to transparent at its edges, in a circular radius. This effect is accomplished only when applying or converting the Alpha, and is not reflected in the Alpha’s thumbnail image.