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DCC & rendering
Kerf vs Maxon ZBrush
ZBrush sculpts the organic world in polygons — Kerf models the engineered world in exact B-rep.
20/20in Kerf today
9/20in Maxon ZBrush (included)
0behind a paid tier
2026-05-24last reviewed
| Capability | Kerf | Maxon ZBrush |
|---|---|---|
| Geometry & core CAD — B-rep solid modellingD1 |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/brep
|
no source ↗ |
| Geometry & core CAD — constraint sketcherD1 |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/sketch.py
|
no source ↗ |
| Geometry & core CAD — parametric feature historyD1 |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core
|
no source ↗ |
| Geometry & core CAD — organic mesh sculptingD1 |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/mesh_sculpt_brushes.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Geometry & core CAD — STEP / IGES B-rep exportD1 |
yes
packages/kerf-imports/
|
no source ↗ |
| Structural / FEA — finite element analysisD2 |
yes
packages/kerf-structural/
|
no source ↗ |
| Machine elements — gear / bearing / fastener sizingD3 |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/gearstrength
|
no source ↗ |
| Thermal / fluid / HVAC — simulationD4 |
yes
packages/kerf-hvac/
|
no source ↗ |
| Electronics / EDA / silicon — PCB and schematicD6 |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics
|
no source ↗ |
| Manufacturing / CAM — 3D print outputD7 |
yes
packages/kerf-cam/
|
yes source ↗ |
| Manufacturing / CAM — CNC / G-code outputD7 |
yes
packages/kerf-cam/
|
no source ↗ |
| Manufacturing / CAM — retopology / mesh cleanupD7 |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/mesh_implicit_tools.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Verticals — jewelry sculpting / organic conceptD13 |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/subd_tools.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Verticals — jewelry parametric configuratorD13 |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/jewelry
|
no source ↗ |
| Verticals — dental anatomic sculptingD13 |
yes
packages/kerf-dental/
|
yes source ↗ |
| Verticals — character / creature / film VFXD13 |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/sculpt/sculpt_extended_tools.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Verticals — texture / polypaint / displacementD13 |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/sculpt/polypaint.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Verticals — hard-surface modelling (ZModeler)D13 |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/brep
|
yes source ↗ |
| Verticals — rendering qualityD13 |
yes
packages/kerf-render/src/kerf_render/pathtracer.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Cost / materials / LCA — material selection and costingD14 |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/matsel
|
no source ↗ |
- yes shipped
- partial works with limits
- paid tier present, but behind an add-on or meter
- no not available
Corrections welcome. These rows are read off published documentation on the date shown and go stale as products ship. If a row is wrong, open an issue — the source file is public/compare/zbrush.md and every claim in it carries a link.