This thread is the place to post your questions concerning ZBrush 2018.
Before posting your question, please read the FAQ as we will be continuously updating it with the most common topics.
When you do ask a question not already covered by the FAQ, we will post our answer (when we have one) as an edit to your post. That way the question and answer will stay together – both for your own benefit and for that of anyone else who reads the question.
Thank you!
Please help yourself by making use of the Knowledgebase before submitting a ticket!
Knowledgebase about ZBrush 2018
Knowledgebase about the Pixologic ID
Knowledgebase about My Licenses
FAQ
Q: Am I eligible to upgrade?
A: Anyone who has ever purchased a ZBrush license from Pixologic or from an authorized retailer is eligible for a free upgrade to ZBrush 2018.
Q: How do I upgrade?
A: Choose the option that applies to you, based on which version of ZBrush you have:
- If you already have a serial number for ZBrush 4 (any version), use [My Licenses](https://pixologic.com/zbrush/trial/) to upgrade.
- If you stopped at ZBrush 3.5 or earlier, submit a [Support ticket](https://support.pixologic.com) to upgrade.
- If you work for a company with floating licenses, the upgrade will be available through a Support ticket on or around April 11.
- ZBrushCore users can also upgrade through [My Licenses](https://pixologic.com/zbrush/trial/). Doing so provides a $100 discount off the ZBrush purchase price. This means that if you upgrade before the price change on April 19, you will save another $100 compared to upgrading at a later time.
Q: Do I need to uninstall or deactivate my old version?
A: No. This is a new installation, new activation system and new serial number. While ZBrush 4R8 or earlier are no longer supported, you don’t need to uninstall your old version. You also don’t need to deactivate it.
Q: I upgraded but didn’t get a download email.
A: First, did you upgrade right when it was scheduled to go live (or a bit before)? Anyone who tried to upgrade before we announced that it was live has created a situation that can only be resolved via a Support ticket. If you got your ZBrush 2018 serial number but did not receive a delivery email with your download link, check your junk mail folder, spam filter and places like Gmail’s Promotions tab. If you can’t find anything, please submit a Support ticket and we will resend the delivery email.
Q: How do I activate ZBrush 2018?
A: The activation system for ZBrush 2018 uses your Pixologic ID. When you first run ZBrush 2018 it will ask you to activate. You will then use your Pixologic ID to bring up a list of your available serial numbers. Choose the serial number that you wish to activate with. Simply follow the on-screen instructions. You will then be brought back to ZBrush to automatically complete the activation.
If your computer doesn’t have internet access, you will instead be able to create an activation Request File. Copy this file to a USB stick or other portable media and take to a computer that does have internet access. There, go to https://register.pixologic.com/activate to use your Request File and create an Activation File. Take this Activation File back to your ZBrush computer to complete the activation.
Q: Why do I need a Pixologic ID?
A: Pixologic understands that trying to keep track of and manage serial numbers often becomes frustrating – especially when it’s many years since your initial purchase. The new Pixologic ID system puts a number of ZBrush related tasks under a single login: License Management, Upgrading, Downloading, our online Store and also Support. This will make your life much easier!
Since the Pixologic ID system is relatively new, many of our existing users do not already have an ID registered. If you have never used My Licenses before, you probably do not yet have a Pixologic ID. To create one, go to My Licenses page and click the “Forgot Password?” link. Be sure to then enter the same email address that your license was purchased under. If you have a Pixologic ID, you will be given the option to reset your password. If you do not have a Pixologic ID, click the Register button at the upper right corner of the page. When creating your Pixologic ID, please use the same email address that is associated with your licenses.
Q: I have logged in at My Licenses, but it doesn’t show any ZBrush licenses. What’s wrong?
A: My Licenses can only display the serial numbers associated with the email address that you used to log in. If no licenses display then your licenses are under a different email address. Please log in under the correct email address in order to be able to proceed.
Q: What if my email address has changed?
A: You can still upgrade, install and activate under your old email address. All of the systems give you the necessary information in your web browser or via ZBrush itself. However, we do recommend that you update your email address with Pixologic at your earliest convenience. In order to protect your account security, we require that all email address changes by made through a Support ticket.
Q: Is Sculptris Pro coming to Sculptris?
A: This will not be possible. While Sculptris Pro tesselates models in a way that is inspired by Sculptris (hence the name) it is completely new code from the ground up. This is how it can also include the combined decimation feature (called tessimation) that is the highlight of Sculptris Pro. Because Sculptris Pro uses entirely original code, it will not be possible to add its features into the stand-alone Sculptris application.
Q: Is this a free upgrade for ZBrushCore?
A: No. ZBrushCore is not ZBrush, which is why ZBrushCore costs much less than ZBrush. While ZBrushCore users can upgrade to ZBrush, this is not a free upgrade. Upgrading gives a $100 discount off the ZBrush price. During the first three weeks following the release of ZBrush 2018, this upgrade price will be $695 USD. When the price of ZBrush 2018 changes, the price of the ZBrushCore upgrade will change as well… going to $795 USD.
Q: What does it mean that ZBrush 2018 is dual platform?
A: All ZBrush 2018 serial numbers can work on both Windows and macOS. You no longer need separate serial numbers for each platform. Single-User licenses are still allowed the “Home Use” activation – in other words, ZBrush can be activated on any two systems provided that both copies aren’t actually run at the same time. However, those two activations can now be both Windows, both macOS, or one of each. Volume license serial numbers also now allow activation on any combination of both Windows and macOS systems, with the serial number allowing a number of concurrent activations equal to the total number of seats purchased.
Q: My company has separate volume licenses for both Windows and macOS. How should we upgrade?
A: Upgrade both serial numbers, but use only one of them. For the other, submit a Support ticket telling us which serial number you are using and which you would like to discontinue. We will then merge the licenses accordingly.
Q: I previously purchased a cross-platform for ZBrush. How does this affect ZBrush 2018?
A: The cross-platform purchase was an add-on for your original ZBrush license. It was not a stand-alone license (which is why it received a 50% discount) and as such is not eligible for upgrade. Your original license will be the only one that is upgraded and will now work for both operating systems. If you wish to have two separate licenses (which would both be dual platform), you may upgrade the cross-platform add-on to a full commercial license. The price of doing this will be 50% of the ZBrush 2018 price. ($397.50 before the price change and $447.50 after.)
Q: Is ZBrushCore now going to be dual platform?
A: This will require an upgrade similar to the one that ZBrush just received. We will be switching to the new system at that time but have no information regarding when this might happen. Until then, see this Knowledgebase article.
Q: Is the ZBrush to KeyShot Bridge now going to be dual platform?
A: The change to dual platform cannot happen until the ZBrush to KeyShot Bridge undergoes an upgrade of some kind. This will undoubtedly happen eventually, but we have no information at this time as to when. If you wish to use the Bridge on both platforms before that change happens, you can purchase a cross-platform add-on at half the ZBrush to KeyShot Bridge price. ($74.50 USD) Whenever the Bridge does change to being dual-platform, this will then be handled the same way that the ZBrush licenses are being done now.
Q: Online activation gives an error about “Invalid Request Parameters.”
A: There are two workarounds for this:
- Just change your Pixologic ID password to something that has no special characters. English letters and numbers, only.
- Do Offline activation. Because your computer is connected to the internet it will take you just a couple of minutes and you won't have to change your password.