Thumbnail or Silhouette View
Visualize a model’s thumbnail or silhouette in the ZBrush canvas
Being able to clearly visualize a model’s thumbnail or silhouette is essential for making refinements while designing in 3D, as well as for visualizing new shapes.
Thumbnail view is a small window located at the top left of the ZBrush canvas that allows you to view a mirrored thumbnail image of the model with its selected colors and materials, or to optionally use a Silhouette Mode to view the pure forms.
Thumbnail View at top left of image
Thumbnail in Silhouette Mode at top left of image
How Thumbnail Works
Draws a thumbnail window at the top left of the ZBrush canvas. This view uses the same dimensions as the ZBrush document. As you rotate and move the model around the canvas, the Thumbnail View model will update in real-time.
The Thumbnail View will have Silhouette Mode enabled by default. This assigns a black silhouette to the model, with a white background. This mode’s purpose is to let you see how the model’s overall shape reads, without any surface details getting in the way.
When Silhouette Mode is disabled, Thumbnail View will simply displays a miniature version of the model, complete with whichever colors and materials are currently assigned to it, placed against a white background. This mode is especially useful for seeing how the model’s details read from a distance.
Thumbnail Functions
All thumbnail settings can be found in the Preferences >> Thumbnail sub-palette.
Thumbnail
Turns Thumbnail view on or off
Silhouette Mode
Turns Silhouette Mode on or off. When Silhouette mode is off, Thumbnail View will switch to using color and materials.
Size Slider
Controls the size of the thumbnail view.
Magnify Slider
Increases the pixel zoom in the thumbnail view.
Export Thumbnail
Exports the thumbnail view.
Import
Imports an image into the background of the silhouette allowing for silhouette matching to reference.
Background
Controls the background color of the view.
Thumbnail Hotkeys
Thumbnail Magnify
Shift + click + drag thumbnail window to adjust magnification.
Import Thumbnail Background Image
Click once on thumbnail view to open the texture import window. In this view an image can be imported and will be assigned to the thumbnail view background.
Move/Pan Thumbnail Background Image
Alt + drag on thumbnail background to pan/move the image.
Scale Thumbnail Background Image
Alt + drag, while holding cursor down, let go of Alt key to enter image scale mode.
Assign Document Snapshot to Thumbnail Background
Ctrl + click on thumbnail view to take a snapshot of the ZBrush canvas and assign as a background to thumbnail view.