← all parity reports
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
Grouped by discipline (D1–D14), same as Kerf's own capability list. Click a section to expand it.
D1 Geometry & core CAD
| Capability | Kerf | Maxon ZBrush |
|---|---|---|
| Geometry & core CAD — B-rep solid modelling |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/brep
|
no source ↗ |
| Geometry & core CAD — constraint sketcher |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/sketch.py
|
no source ↗ |
| Geometry & core CAD — parametric feature history |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core
|
no source ↗ |
| Geometry & core CAD — organic mesh sculpting |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/mesh_sculpt_brushes.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Geometry & core CAD — STEP / IGES B-rep export |
yes
packages/kerf-imports/
|
no source ↗ |
D2 Structural / FEA
| Capability | Kerf | Maxon ZBrush |
|---|---|---|
| Structural / FEA — finite element analysis |
yes
packages/kerf-structural/
|
no source ↗ |
D3 Machine elements
| Capability | Kerf | Maxon ZBrush |
|---|---|---|
| Machine elements — gear / bearing / fastener sizing |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/gearstrength
|
no source ↗ |
D4 Thermal / fluid / HVAC
| Capability | Kerf | Maxon ZBrush |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal / fluid / HVAC — simulation |
yes
packages/kerf-hvac/
|
no source ↗ |
D6 Electronics / EDA / silicon
| Capability | Kerf | Maxon ZBrush |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics / EDA / silicon — PCB and schematic |
yes
packages/kerf-electronics/src/kerf_electronics
|
no source ↗ |
D7 Manufacturing / CAM
| Capability | Kerf | Maxon ZBrush |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing / CAM — 3D print output |
yes
packages/kerf-cam/
|
yes source ↗ |
| Manufacturing / CAM — CNC / G-code output |
yes
packages/kerf-cam/
|
no source ↗ |
| Manufacturing / CAM — retopology / mesh cleanup |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/mesh_implicit_tools.py
|
yes source ↗ |
D13 Verticals
| Capability | Kerf | Maxon ZBrush |
|---|---|---|
| Verticals — jewelry sculpting / organic concept |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/subd_tools.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Verticals — jewelry parametric configurator |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/jewelry
|
no source ↗ |
| Verticals — dental anatomic sculpting |
yes
packages/kerf-dental/
|
yes source ↗ |
| Verticals — character / creature / film VFX |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/sculpt/sculpt_extended_tools.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Verticals — texture / polypaint / displacement |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/sculpt/polypaint.py
|
yes source ↗ |
| Verticals — hard-surface modelling (ZModeler) |
yes
packages/kerf-cad-core/src/kerf_cad_core/brep
|
yes source ↗ |
| Verticals — rendering quality |
yes
packages/kerf-render/src/kerf_render/pathtracer.py
|
yes source ↗ |
D14 Cost / materials / LCA
| Capability | Kerf | Maxon ZBrush |
|---|---|---|
| Cost / materials / LCA — material selection and costing |
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.