When comparing SLAB6 vs ZBrush, the Slant community recommends SLAB6 for most people. In the question“What are the best voxel editors?” SLAB6 is ranked 19th while ZBrush is ranked 20th. The most important reason people chose SLAB6 is:
While the idTech engine 1 (aka the "DooM Engine") does not support voxels, newer limit-breaking source ports have added the ability to render the .kvx voxel format designed for the Build Engine. Slab6 is currently the only well-known .kvx editor as it continues to pop up in DooM modding forums and tutorials. Even though it's not the most user-friendly editor, its support for .vox export enables the model to be edited in MagicaVoxel or voxels made in MagicaVoxel (which supports Slab6 (Slab) .vox export) to be converted to .kvx for use in-game.
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Pros
Pro idTech1 and Build engine voxel editor
While the idTech engine 1 (aka the "DooM Engine") does not support voxels, newer limit-breaking source ports have added the ability to render the .kvx voxel format designed for the Build Engine. Slab6 is currently the only well-known .kvx editor as it continues to pop up in DooM modding forums and tutorials. Even though it's not the most user-friendly editor, its support for .vox export enables the model to be edited in MagicaVoxel or voxels made in MagicaVoxel (which supports Slab6 (Slab) .vox export) to be converted to .kvx for use in-game.
Pro Plays well with others
Can transfer work between other packages via AppLink and/or Bridge seamlessly.
Pro Powerful brush system allows for lots of creativity
ZBrush lets the user sculpt an object in fine detail with customizable 3D brushes.
Pro Best for hi-poly modeling
Due to the nature of the program and how it uses high poly mesh sculpting it is best to consider this app when wanting high poly models, as that is what it aims to do best.
Pro Has low poly modelling tools with 4r7 version
Pro Can easily simplify mesh topology
Meshes sculpted with ZBrush can contain billions of polygons, but tools are provided to cleanly reduce the poly count.
Pro Always evolving and innovating
Every iteration of Zbrush has evolved beyond the last and has kept all other 3D package devs on their toes consistently.
Pro Best support
No other 3D package has had continued support from their parent company or community like ZBrush has had since inception.
Cons
Con Not very user friendly
If I asked most people to use this to draw something without reading anything about the program, a good percent would not be able to. with odd controls like 'Insert' to draw, 'L' to open, and no customization on these controls, its requires users to read how to use it. the help guide only gives you a basic understanding of how things work and requires you to search through files in order to fully understand how powerful this tool really is. If i were to rate this for how user friendly it is on a 1 -10 scale (with 1 being like binary switch panels, 3 being ms-dos, 5 being a minimal gui with a complex console command line for all functions, 8 being able to sit down and perform basic operations, and ten being no effort at all,) I would give this a 7(has a gui that is easier to navigate but even simple functions require a bit of reading).
Con UI is far from user friendly
Though, it's fully customizable. Like for any software, there is a learning curve.
Con Expensive
A single-user license for ZBrush costs $795.
But, Pixologic has not charged a penny for upgrades to licensed users since inception. Anyone who has purchased Zbrush has not been left behind.
Con An odd perspective view
Does not lend itself to cinematic or artistic renderings due to a strange perspective system found nowhere else in 3D which warps according to the relationships between models and rendering viewpoint - there is no real 'camera'.
It is sufficient for rendering your work on a sculptural piece or industrial design, but KeyShot Pro or any other PBR rendering program that uses a camera are recommended for scene rendering, at least in 4R7.
Con Open, Save, Export, Import not conventional standard UI
Authors refuse to use standard layout and the New, Open, Save, Export, Import are in unexpected positions. There will be no UI improvements.
Con Hi-poly only
Not, the case as there is now the Zmodeller Brush system which has a full suite of polygon Modelling options.