I apologize if these questions have already been answered. I don’t currently own ZBrush but would like to buy it soon. My problem is I don’t want to buy ZBrush only to find out I cannot finish a model form low poly to final sculpted and painted model…
Q3) What is missing or not working in ZBrush 3.12 that you cannot live without?
A search of the forums should give you more details, but I’ll offer my input, based on my personal use.
Q1) Yes, you can paint, sculpt, import & export in ZB3.12 for Mac. A very useful tool, “Subtoolmaster” is still being developed as well as another one “Zapplink”. I don’t deem either critical, but they are useful features. A critical feature missing right now is the ability to directly export displacement maps from ZB3.12. Normal maps seem OK, but displacement maps (especially for micro-poly displacements in other packages) is definitely broken. For me, this has not been a big deal because I generate my maps from object files in other tools (such as xNormal, for example); for others, this is deemed as an unacceptable problem. You’ll have to make your own call on that. 
Q2) I work exclusively with Macs, though I have a Dell PC at the shop that is never on anymore. I keep Parallels 4.0 and a copy of Windows XP running on my systems. Others use Bootcamp (to run things like Softimage). VMware is another good alternative, but right now parallels has the edge in 3D graphics support. (Their site will show you all the apps like Rhino, ZB, etc. they have certified for their emulator.) Performance is not as good as a dedicated PC except in Bootcamp, but it isn’t bad either for the occasional use I need a PC-only application. It’s a personal preference, but there are successful artists with either platform.
Q3) For me, nothing. I just work around a number of the “lumpy” elements in ZB 3.12. ZB has been a cutting edge app in many ways for a long time and you just get used to getting cut yourself every now and again. I have use most of the tools on the market, including Modo, Mudbox, 3DCoat, etc. and so far ZB is the best sculpting solution for my needs, despite some of its shortcomings. I use Modo heavily for creating and retouching base meshes, and building UV maps. I use ZB for sculpting. I use C4D for scene making and animating. I like Maya, but it’s too pricy IMHO for the full kit. XSI is fun, but it pretty much is a Bootcamp app, so it’s not as handy.
All-in-all, I use ZB for its sculpting. It’s renderer is OK, but I can do more in an outside package with materials and lights. IMHO, you’ll need a good Polygon modeler to complement ZB for doing mesh work beyond what zSpheres and ZB can do. This can be anything from Wingz to Silo to Modo, depending on your needs.
All of the above is solely my experience. YMMV,
-K
Thanks Kerwin, I am also a C4D user and unless I’m mistaken, I’ve seen you over on the CGTalk C4D Forum 
Sorry, I should have been more specific. I was wondering if ZBrush 3.12 Mac could use the most important features that the Windows users are using like: Zapplink, Subtools, Displacement, and Transpose, for example or if these are still not functioning at all in the mac version?
I personally don’t want to have to use workarounds when I am paying $$$ full price for a software package so it is important for me to have the features listed above working before I will purchase ZBrush… Sigh how long will that take??
Unfortunately, I don’t know when a lot of these features will be available on the mac side but I have heard rumours about the end of December. I was only asking about the PC or Windows version of ZBrush because I may end up buying a cheap PC just for using ZBrush.
It seems like the PC version of ZBrush will always have a priority over the mac version due to the fact that there are a lot probably a lot more individuals and Studios using the PC version.
So does anyone know where I can find a list of what is and is not working properly in ZBrush 3.12 Mac version? It would be really helpful if someone could post this information so I could see what exactly is missing.
Thanks
Buy a cheap Mac Mini, run bootcamp and WXP on it for ZBrush… that way you’ll always have the OSX option. That’s something a cheap PC will not give you.
Thanks, for the reply I do have a mac mini and a mac Pro Tower with 12 GB ram so I am just waiting for ZBrush 3.5
Well it’s quite frustrating not having “ZBrush displacement working for mac” I have a project right now where I could really use ZBrush but without displacement and Zapplink I won’t touch ZBrush for mac.
I lost trust in Pixologic when they failed to release ZBrush 3 for mac when they said they would. At least they were descent enough to give me my money back.
STILL no demo version. I really thought it would be here by now! It’s been 2 months since 3.12 came out AARGH! At this point with so many features still missing or not working I will wait to see if they release mac/pc concurrently before I drop any $$$$ again.