Hi all . . . I’m new to ZBrush, and I love this program so far.
Can anyone tell me how I would create a clean mask, and then use it to extract a mesh from let’s say a torso - for something like clothing or armor?
I’ve seen it done in one of the introductory tutorials, but I couldn’t catch extraction step.
Thanks!!!
This is a further clarification of my earlier posting . . .
On the ZBrush home page, there is a link called “2.5 Overview” under “Products” at the top.
When I navigate to that page, there is a demo movie called “MESH EXTRACTION”. It has a blurb as follows:
“Simply mask an area of the model that you would like to extract as a separate object, and press Extract. The geometry you masked will be extracted out and added as a separate SubTool.”
I am really looking forward to using this feature, however, I am unable to locate the “Extract” button/command mentioned above.
When I watch the demo, I can see what is occuring, but when the actual commands are being entered to “Extract” the mesh from the mask, the cursor is going too far to the left of the screen, and I can’t tell what commands/buttons are being pressed/entered.
Well, the thing is that those movies are previews for ZBrush 2.5 which is not yet available.
ZBrush 2 does have a featured called Difference Meshes which compare the current state of a model to a stored morph target and create a new model based on the differences. There is a tutorial built into the Help system which shows how this is done, and it has a parallel in the Practical Guide.
To get clean edges, though, you need to keep the edges of your hidden areas following the edges in your model. Don’t cut across polygons when you’re hiding parts of the mesh.
One thing you overlooked…simple mistake… 
2.5 is the upcoming version…and we are currently using 2.0…we don’t have that yet…but…
But…you can mask areas of your model…painting armor on…and then inverse the mask and inflate the unmasked parts…I will make a short zscript for you for that…
Now dont laugh at my deformed hand…lol…but it hopefully will show what I am talkign about…
good luck
Ron
Thank you both!!
I thought I was going crazy.
This helps me accomplish what I was looking for! Looking foward to that “extract” feature in 2.5.
Thanks again!