User Content

The ZBrush installation folder contains a number of special folders that can be used to customize your installation. Within the main ZBrush folder, the following sub-folders can be customized with user content.

User content folders

Folders highlighted in blue will show up in Lightbox. Folders highlighted in red – content will be available when ZBrush starts.

Lightbox folders

    • ZAlphas: If there are Alphas in this folder, they will appear in the Alpha tab in Lightbox.
    • ZBrushes: If there are Brushes in this folder, they will appear in the Brush tab in Lightbox.
    • ZDocs: If there are Documents in this folder, they will appear in the Document tab in Lightbox.
    • ZFibersPresets: If there are Fibers presets in this folder, they will appear in the Fibers tab in Lightbox.
    • ZGrids: If there are Grid files in this folder, they will appear in the Grids tab in Lightbox.
    • ZMaterials: If there are Materials in this folder, they will appear in the Material tab in Lightbox.
    • ZNoiseMakers: If there are NoiseMaker files in this folder, they will appear in the Noise tab in Lightbox.
    • ZProjects: If there are ZBrush Projects in this folder, they will appear in the Project tab in Lightbox.
    • ZSpotlights: If there are Spotlight files in this folder, they will appear in the Spotlight tab in Lightbox.
    • ZTextures: If there are Textures in this folder, they will appear in the Texture tab in Lightbox.
    • ZTools: If there are ZTools in this folder, they will appear in the Tools tab in Lightbox.

ZStartup folders

    • ZStartup\Alphas: You can put your own alphas in this folder, and they’ll automatically appear in the Alpha palette the next time ZBrush starts. Note: Be sure to use only 16-bit grayscale PSD files in this folder. Although ZBrush can import BMP and some TIF files, only PSD files will show up in the palette at startup.
    • ZStartup\BrushPresets: Brushes in this folder will appear in the Brush palette the next time ZBrush is started.
    • ZStartup\Materials: Material files put into this folder will appear in the Material palette the next time ZBrush is started.
    • ZStartup\Textures: Textures put into this folder will appear in the Texture palette the next time ZBrush is started.

Important!

Don’t overload the ZStartup folders. Too many user files will impact on ZBrush performance. Keep the numbers below 250 maximum and if performance is affected reduce the number of files in these folders.