ZBrush User Guide - Text 3D & Vector Shapes

TEXT 3D & VECTOR SHAPES

Create 3D text and logos with a few clicks.

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Examples of shapes created with the 3D Text and Shape Creator tool.

Using 3D text shapes or designs based on logos can be very useful when creating
models – especially when combined with Boolean operations or when using the Match
Maker brush. ZBrush provides a full 3D text creator that makes use of all fonts available
on your machine. The tool provides stylistic modifications like extrusions, bevels and
even right to left orientation.

As with ZBrush itself, the 3D text system supports Unicode fonts and text.

Because 3D text is vector based, the tool is also able to import vector files in SVG
format, allowing you to convert logos or other vector images to 3D shapes.

The 3D Text and Shape Creator tool is located in the ZPlugin palette.

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I Creating a 3D Shape Based on Text Entry or an SVG File

The process of creating a shape based on either text or a 2D vector image in SVG
format is very easy!

The 3D Text and Shape Creator sub-palette.

1. Open the ZPlugins >> 3D Text and Shape Creator sub-palette.

2. Choose your input method:
• To create 3D shape from text, click the “New Text” button. A popup will ap-
pear. Type the text of your choice and then hit Enter to validate. The newly
created 3D text will appear in the center of the canvas.
• To create a 3D shape based on an SVG file, click the “New SVG” button. A
system file selector will appear. Browse your hard drive and select the file of
your choice. After loading, the logo will appear in the center of the canvas.
3. Once your text or logo has been created, you can change its appearance set-
tings. These include the font itself (with any available styles), extrusion depth,

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spacing, bevel, or text direction (vertical or reversed). All changes are dynamic,
letting you see the results immediately.
4. It is possible to change the inputted text or replace the logo by clicking the “Edit
Text” / “Edit SVG” buttons.

The model is a PolyMesh 3D by default. This means that once you are done editing
your object using the various settings, you can sculpt or otherwise edit it as you would
any 3D model.

It is important to keep in mind that editing the model is possible so long as you don’t
duplicate the SubTool or change its name. Also, updating a style/geometry setting will
revert the model to a “clean,” freshly generated state without any edits that have been
done since its original creation.

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II Quality and Performance

To produce 3D shapes, the tool converts vector outlines to polygons. This process
can be very quick when using simple shapes that do not contain high levels of detail.
The more detailed that your font or shape is, the longer it can take to create a 3D model.

The 3D engine built for this process has been optimized to produce high quality
results with nearly any font or shape. However, this high quality can impact the speed of
the process, especially when increasing the shape’s resolution.

We strongly advise to begin by creating your text or shape with a low polygon count
and then increase the Resolution setting only if needed.

1. Adaptive mode

The vector 3D engine provides two modes to convert curves to polygons: Adaptive
and Regular. These are toggled between by using the Adaptive switch. Both modes have
their own pros and cons.

• When Adaptive is turned on, the engine creates the most even topology pos-
sible across the model. This can be a benefit for future deformation but is
slower to process.
• When Adaptive is turned off, the Regular mode is used. This creates long tri-
angles but is faster to process.

For complex shapes and fonts, it is advised to begin with Regular mode. Once you
are satisfied with the styling modifications of your choice, you can turn Adaptive on to
increase the quality of the end result.

On the left, Adaptive mode. On the right, the Regular mode. Notice the differing polygon distribu-
tion between the two modes.

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III Font Management

By default, the 3D Text and Shape Creator will look at the fonts located in your sys-
tem’s Fonts folder:

• Windows: c:\Windows\Fonts
• Mac OS: /Library/Fonts and /System/Library/Fonts

The tool supports fonts in TTF, TTC, OFT and FON formats, which are all vector
based. Fonts in bitmap format are not supported.

If you wish to use a font that is not installed in your system font folder, you can manu-
ally load the font by clicking the “Load a Font file from disk” button.

When selecting a font for your text, you can use the left and right arrows to quickly
cycle through all your fonts. An alternative is to click on the font name. A popup will open,
displaying a drop-down menu listing all your fonts. Click and drag the scroll bar on the
right to quickly navigate the full list.

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IV Working with SVG Files

Working with SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) files is very similar to working with
text, except that you need to select a SVG file.

If you want to create your own file, you must use a vector based application like Illus-
trator or Inkscape and export an SVG file. The only constraint is that the SVG file needs
to contain closed shapes with no open curves.

If you have never worked with the SVG format and its shapes before, an easy way
to understand how shapes are built is to simply download a file online and look at it with
your favorite vector based 2D software. You’ll learn the principles very quickly.

An SVG file in a 2D editor and the corresponding shape in ZBrush.

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V Text 3D and Vector Shape Functions

The visual aspect of the shapes generated with this tool can be enhanced by several
options. Some of them have a great impact on the result, such as Bevel and its Curvature
setting.

Save
The Save function lets you store all current settings as a dedicated preset file for
later reuse.

Note:
The actual text string or SVG file are not saved as part of the preset file.

Load
The Load functions allows you to open a previously saved preset. All settings like
Extrusion Distance, Bevel, selected Font, etc. will be restored.

New Text
The New Text button opens a popup window where you can enter your text. The tool
supports full Unicode characters. Multi-line text is not supported and needs to be created
as separate 3D models for each line.

If the generated 3D model includes empty squares or unexpected characters, it may

be because the selected font doesn’t include the character you are looking for. This most
often happens if you use a special character like an accent (é, à, ñ, etc.) or Asian char-
acters not supported by the selected font.

Edit Text
The Edit Text function reopens the text input popup, allowing you to change the
input. Upon validating the change, the 3D object will be updated. All style settings will
remain unchanged.

With detailed fonts you may find it beneficial to start with only a few characters for
faster performance. Once the other settings are just the way you want them you can edit
the text to its final output.

The Edit function can only work if the selected SubTool was created using the 3D
Text Creator and the SubTool hasn’t been renamed. This editing is also only possible
within the current ZBrush session. After restarting ZBrush or opening a saved Project, it

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will no longer be possible to change the entered text.

Note:
Duplicating the SubTool will break the name structure.

Font Selector and Font Style

The Font Selector and its associated Font Style (Bold, Italic, Thin, Strong, etc.) let
you select the font of your choice, based on the fonts installed on your operating system
font folder.

By clicking the left and right arrows, you can quickly switch between your fonts and
see the result applied to the 3D model in (nearly) real-time. You can do the same opera-
tion with font styles, if they are available.

To quickly look for a specific font, click the current font name. A dropdown menu will
open, listing all your system’s installed fonts. Click and drag the slider located at the right
of the list to scroll. Find the font of your choice and click its name to select it.

Notes:
Some fonts take a long time to compute if they have a lot of complex details. Please read the
Quality and Performance chapter above.
It is not possible to apply forced styles like “Bold” if the style is not natively included in the
font.

Load a Font File from Disk

If you need to use a font which is not installed on your system but rather is a separate
file, click the “Load a Font file from disk” button and browse your computer to select the
file. When validating, this font will be used.

ZBrush supports TTF, TTC, OFT and FON formats. Fonts in bitmap format are not
supported.

New SVG
The New SVG function lets you load an SVG file to be converted to geometry, re-
specting its outline and openings. After loading your file, use the settings like Extrusion,
Resolution, and Bevel to refine the shape.

Settings specific to text are greyed out when working with an SVG file.

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Edit SVG
Edit SVG lets you replace the current SVG file with a different one. All styling options
currently applied to the previous SVG file will be preserved.

The Edit function can only work if the selected SubTool was created using the 3D
Text Creator and the SubTool hasn’t been renamed. This editing is also only possible
within the current ZBrush session. After restarting ZBrush or opening a saved Project, it
will no longer be possible to change the SVG source.

Note:
Duplicating the SubTool will break the name structure.

Extrusion
The Extrusion setting defines the depth of the shape. When set to 0, only a surface
is generated rather than a volume.

Resolution
The Resolution slider defines the quality of the outline/silhouette of the text or SVG
shape. Higher settings produce smoother edges. With some complex fonts or SVG files,
increasing this slider can dramatically increase the computation time. This is especially
true if you already have Bevel styling applied.

It is strongly advised to increase the resolution slider only as a last step, when you
are happy with the results from the other styling options.

Spacing
The Spacing setting defines the distance between each letter in the text string. This
value can be positive or negative.

The same text, with different spacing settings.

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Adaptive
When Adaptive is turned on, the engine creates the most even topology possible
across the model. This can be a benefit for future deformation but is slower to process.
When Adaptive is turned off, the Regular mode is used. This creates long triangles but
is faster to process.

Bevel
The Bevel function adds a bevel effect around the cap of the created shape. It has
no effect Extrusion is set to 0.

Increasing the setting will increase the radius of the bevel around the entire edge.

Note:
Because fonts or shapes can have strongly concave or convex angles, some parts of the
bevel can overlap in places. While this doesn’t have an impact on how the shape appears visually,
it can affect some functions such as Boolean operations or 3D printing. It may be useful to convert
the generated model to DynaMesh to create a clean volume with no overlapping surfaces.

Bevel Resolution
Bevel Resolution defines the density of tessellation (the number of edge loops) along
the beveled edges. This setting functions in tandem with the Curvature settings, allow-
ing you to produce more rounded chamfers (at a higher Resolution) or faceted chamfers
(with a lower Resolution).

Curvature
The Curvature slider defines the roundness of the bevel applied to the text or SVG
shape. Values can be negative or positive, producing a negative (concave) or positive
(convex) chamfer.

The quality of the curvature can be improved by increasing the Bevel Resolution
slider.

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Two different curvatures.

Replace
The Replace setting specifies whether to replace the current SubTool when creating
a new shape from text or an SVG file. When it is disabled, a new SubTool will be created.

Auto Update
When enabled, the current model will automatically be updated to reflect the chang-
es applied via the styling or other settings. This is true for both text and SVG files.

On fonts or shapes which are complex, disabling Auto Update can improve perfor-
mance while adjusting the settings.

Vertical
The Vertical function changes the text direction from horizontal to vertical.

Reverse
The Reverse function writes the current text from right to left. This is needed for
languages like Arabic or Hebrew, to name a few.

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