These shoulder pads are 3.5 million Active points. Clip curve is a problem across the axis. Mask curve is useless across the axis and a few other problems just using symmetry. Most of the time working with Symmetry in Zbrush is perfectly fine. But an alternative is to use the array feature to mirror an instance of the subtool across the axis. It has a lot of advantages. 50% of the points needed, and all the clip and slice tools work much better. You can also cross the axis without symmetry interfering.
Example 1 - 3.5 million down to 1.25 million. Clip and mask only consider the "real" object not the instance.
Example 2 - Sometimes you want to do interesting things across the axis. This is less difficult compared to symmetry mode.
Here's a Macro I now use to set this up quickly: Copy and paste this into a text file - save that text file somewhere in your zbrush macros folder. This will only work on something that is already 2 symmetrical parts across the X axis - like these shoulder pads. Gloves and Shoes?
Macro working below - red object is instanced across X by the macro:
>>>> Let me know if it helps you and any other macro ideas! Thanks. <<<<
//ZBRUSH ver 2023 - https://www.artstation.com/mattwaggle [IButton,???,"Creates a single instance in Array and Mirrors that instance on X axis. Must start on symmetrical object. If in a folder - folder must not be collapsed.", [IShowActions,0] [IConfig,2023]
[IUnPress,Draw:Perspective] [TransformSet, ,,,,,,,-90,180] [IPress,Transform:Fit] [IPress,Tool:Masking:Mask By Depth] [ISet,Tool:Geometry:SDiv,1]
// Sets up the array correctly [IPress,Tool:ArrayMesh:a.Array Mesh] [IPress,Tool:ArrayMesh:a.Transpose] [IPress,Tool:ArrayMesh:a.Lock Pos] [IPress,Tool:ArrayMesh:a.X Mirror] // [IPress,Tool:SubTool:Split Masked Points] [IPress,Tool:SubTool:SelectDown] [IPress,Tool:SubTool:Delete] [IPress,Tool:SubTool:SelectUp]
[TransformSet, ,,,,,,,0,0] [IPress,Transform:Fit]
[IPress,Tool:Geometry:Higher Res] [IPress,Tool:Geometry:Higher Res] [IPress,Tool:Geometry:Higher Res] [IPress,Tool:Geometry:Higher Res] [IPress,Tool:Geometry:Higher Res] [IPress,Tool:Geometry:Higher Res] [IPress,Tool:Geometry:Higher Res] [IPress,Tool:Geometry:Higher Res]
[IUnPress,Tool:ArrayMesh:a.Transpose] [IUnPress,Transform:Activate Symmetry]
]