ZBrushCentral

Smooth brush doubts

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Before anything, thanks for the patience with a newbie here.

I’m a little confused about Smooth brushes in 4r5.
(a) Shift key is associated to Smooth brush, but sometimes it seems to acts without many power, even when z intensity is = 100. Isnt be a way to increase the power of Smooth brush, so that it can “erase” (for example) all the peaks and valleys sculpted on a surface? If not, which brush usually can be used to this?
(b) What is exatcly the funcion of Alt+Shift combo? It seems to apply some alpha here, but better observing it seems it is making the opposite of Smooth brush, crisping/sharping the polygons over the surface: is it for this?

Thanks in advance

#2

The smooth brush should always work the same. It will average out the surface of your mesh from point to point.

If you mesh is very dense then it will not have as “strong” of an effect. It is working correctly, just probably not in the way you are intending.
If you lower your subD level to give your mesh fewer points to average than it will appear to have a stronger effect. You should always smooth from your lowest subD to your highest.
You can use the flatten brushes, polish brushes, etc to erase your mesh back to default if you choose.

holding alt with any brush does the opposite/alternative action. Brushes that pull out, will push in. Smooth brushes will sharpen.