# ZBrush

Application: Maxon

Also called z brush, pixologic zbrush

Maxon, Creative

Digital sculpting. Pixologic is now Maxon. ZBrush.exe is the process. It is not Blender.

## What you need to know

ZBrush is dedicated sculpting. Blender sculpt is a mode.

ZBrush.exe is the Pixologic sculptor, now Maxon. blender.exe is a free suite with a sculpt mode. A ZTool is this app.

- **What is it?**: Digital sculpting

  **Still current?**: Yes, see Current status

  **Official download?**: Use the vendor link in this article

Feex says

If ZBrush.exe is the process, that is Maxon ZBrush, formerly Pixologic, not Blender. I would not hunt blender.exe to explain a ZTool.

## What is ZBrush?

ZBrush is a digital sculpting application. Tools live in a ZTool / ZTL. The Windows executable is ZBrush.exe.

## If you have never used it

ZBrush is a digital sculpting app. Pixologic built it. Maxon owns it now. ZBrush.exe is the process. It is not Blender. Blender has a sculpt mode. ZBrush is the dedicated sculptor. Install from Maxon.

## What is it used for?

**High-poly sculpt**

Millions of points. Blender can sculpt. ZBrush is the dedicated tool.

**ZRemesher and maps**

Retopo and displacement. Blender has its own remesh. Different exe.

**GoZ**

Send a mesh to Maya or C4D. That bridge is ZBrush, not blender.exe.

## Who is it for?

- Character artists
- People who still say Pixologic
- Anyone who opened Blender sculpt looking for ZBrush

## Current status

ZBrush (1999) is a current digital sculpting from Maxon. The vendor still points Windows users at https://www.maxon.net/zbrush.

## How old is it?

Pixologic shipped ZBrush in 1999. Maxon acquired Pixologic in 2022. Blender sculpt is a mode inside a free suite. Current ZBrush is a Maxon product.

## Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

Current Windows build

## System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

### Minimum

| Operating system | A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the vendor |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| RAM              | 16 GB, per Maxon product requirements                                |

## Resource profile

- **CPU demand**: Follows what you open inside the app

  **RAM demand**: Follows documents, tabs, or libraries

## Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

| ZBrush.exe | Main Windows executable |
| ---------- | ----------------------- |

## Startup components

ZBrush does not need to start with Windows. Maxon App may sit in the tray.

## File locations

| Typical install | C:\Program Files\Maxon ZBrush \<year>\\ |
| --------------- | --------------------------------------- |

## File formats

ZTL, OBJ, FBX, GoZ

## Common problems

### UI feels unlike every other 3D app

ZBrush document space is unique. That is not a broken Blender keymap.

### License moved to Maxon

Old Pixologic serials need Maxon's current path. Read Maxon support.

## Getting unstuck

### Confirm ZBrush.exe

Program Files\Maxon ZBrush or Pixologic is the app. blender.exe is the other product.

### Use the Maxon App

That is the current installer.

### Reset ZBrush startup prefs

A bad UI config can block launch. This is not Blender factory settings.

## Alternatives

Blender sculpt and Maya overlap. Blender does not replace a ZBrush studio seat.

## Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

| Download      | [www.maxon.net/zbrush ](https://www.maxon.net/zbrush)Official installer or vendor page |
| ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Help          | [www.maxon.net/support ](https://www.maxon.net/support)Vendor support                  |
| Official site | [www.maxon.net/zbrush ](https://www.maxon.net/zbrush)Start here, not a random exe host |

## Related hardware

Maxon lists 16 GB RAM and 64-bit Windows for current Maxon products. Dense sculpts want RAM.

## Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

## Related

These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link.

[Blender: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/blender)[How to read Task Manager: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager)

## Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research).

- [ZBrush official site ](https://www.maxon.net/zbrush)· Vendor product page
- [ZBrush help ](https://www.maxon.net/support)· Vendor support
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

## Was this article useful?

A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note.

Quick facts

The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article.

- **Developer**: Maxon

  **Category**: Digital sculpting

  **Process**: ZBrush.exe

  **License**: Maxon subscription or perpetual, per Maxon

  **First released**: 1999

  **Official site**: [maxon.net/zbrush](https://www.maxon.net/zbrush)

  **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

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Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/software/zbrush/)

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