Ryan’s Tools ZBrush Plugin Review: Faster Sculpting and Smarter Workflow
ZBrush is powerful, but repetitive actions such as creating primitives, managing SubTools, mirroring geometry, adjusting subdivision levels, and setting up references can slow down an otherwise creative sculpting session. For artists who want to spend more time sculpting and less time navigating menus, a well-designed workflow plugin can make everyday tasks noticeably easier.
Ryan’s Tools by Ryan Kittleson is a ZBrush plugin built around practical shortcuts and custom utilities designed to streamline common 3D sculpting tasks. The current Ryan’s Tools 2025 edition is available in Trial, Hobbyist, Pro, and Enterprise licensing tiers.
Ryan’s Tools is a collection of ZBrush workflow utilities developed from the creator’s own sculpting process. Rather than replacing ZBrush’s core features, the plugin provides alternative controls and one-click tools intended to reduce repetitive steps.
The toolkit has evolved through multiple versions since its original release, adding features for primitive creation, symmetry, subdivision management, UV workflows, reference setups, Gizmo operations, and other everyday modeling tasks.
One useful feature is EasyPrimitives, which simplifies adding geometric primitives to a sculpt. Instead of moving through several menus, artists can quickly create appropriately positioned primitives as separate SubTools.
Ryan’s Tools also includes a Trash Bin-style system for deleted SubTools. This provides an additional safety net when managing complex models, allowing artists to recover accidentally removed elements before permanently clearing them.
Mirror operations can become inconvenient when models contain subdivision levels or require repeated symmetry adjustments. Ryan’s Tools provides streamlined Flip and Mirror/Weld functionality intended to make these operations easier to manage.
The toolkit also includes subdivision-focused utilities. Smart subdivision features are designed to reduce unwanted volume loss or deformation while artists move between modeling stages, helping maintain a smoother sculpting workflow.
Extra Tools for Professional ZBrush Workflows
Later versions expanded the plugin with features such as symmetrical instancing, dynamic subdivision controls, UV viewing tools, joint-centered Gizmo positioning, reference grids, custom brushes, materials, and additional workflow enhancements.
The Pro edition also includes Ryan Kittleson’s custom Gizmo, additional brushes and materials, technical support, and lifetime upgrades according to the current Gumroad listing. Hobbyists and students can choose lower-cost versions depending on licensing requirements.
Who Is This For?
Ryan’s Tools is suitable for ZBrush sculptors, character artists, creature designers, digital sculpting students, freelancers, and professional 3D artists who regularly perform repetitive modeling operations. Beginners may also appreciate the simplified controls while learning how ZBrush workflows are structured.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Streamlines repetitive ZBrush operations
Useful primitive and SubTool management tools
Improved mirroring and subdivision workflows
Includes symmetry, UV, Gizmo, and reference utilities
Multiple licensing options
Pro version includes brushes, materials, support, and upgrades
Cons
Requires ZBrush
Some advanced features are unavailable in the free Trial
Hobbyist licensing is not intended for commercial professional work
Artists may need time to integrate the shortcuts into their existing workflow
Conclusion
Ryan’s Tools for ZBrush is a practical workflow plugin for artists who regularly encounter repetitive steps during digital sculpting. Instead of promising automatic improvements to artistic skill, it focuses on something more useful: making common ZBrush operations faster and more convenient.
For frequent ZBrush users, especially professionals working on detailed models, the expanded Pro toolkit may be worth exploring.
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