ZBrush Character Creation Advanced Digital Sculpting

ZBrush and Working with Imported Meshes (Designing a Character Bust) (ZBrush Character Creation) Part 2

Optimizing Meshes for ZBrush In this section we will import a simple mesh to show how a poorly distributed edge layout can create problems with sculpting. For this example I’ll use the model goblin in Figure 3.6. Notice the edge distribution on this character. The goblin has a concentration on edges in the face and […]

Importing and Preparing a Mesh for Sculpting (Designing a Character Bust) (ZBrush Character Creation) Part 1

To begin, we’ll import the base geometry into ZBrush as a tool. Previously we were selecting ZBrush primitives from the Tool menu. These meshes come preloaded. For the generic head, we need to import it into the program. Remember a model is an OBJ file, which is just a polygon mesh created in a polygon […]

Importing and Preparing a Mesh for Sculpting (Designing a Character Bust) (ZBrush Character Creation) Part 2

Using Polygroups to Move the Mouth The same problems with sculpting the ears also manifest when you’re trying to move the lips independently of one another. When trying to mask or move the upper lip, you will often find the lower lip is moved as well due to their proximity to each other. The brushes […]

Importing and Preparing a Mesh for Sculpting (Designing a Character Bust) (ZBrush Character Creation) Part 3

Adding Geometry Using Mesh Insert At this point let’s add more geometry to the head. You’ll add a pair of curved horns to the head. There are two approaches you can take to add geometry. You can insert new meshes and blend them together. Alternatively, you can export the model to an external application and […]

Advanced Techniques: Sculpting the Demon Beast (Designing a Character Bust) (ZBrush Character Creation) Part 1

In this section, we’ll explore the steps used to sculpt the Horned character in Figure 3.50. I designed this character from the same generic head mesh used earlier in this topic. When adding the long horns on the top of the head, I didn’t use Insert Mesh but chose a different technique: I added these […]

Advanced Techniques: Sculpting the Demon Beast (Designing a Character Bust) (ZBrush Character Creation) Part 2

Adding Geometry for the Horns In this section, you will use the GoZ plug-in to export the model from ZBrush, add geometry, and then reimport and maintain the sculpted levels. If you try to pull the horn from the existing volume of the head now, the faces stretch (Figure 3.63). This will cause problems when […]

Advanced Techniques: Sculpting the Demon Beast (Designing a Character Bust) (ZBrush Character Creation) Part 3

Refining the Character Bust At this point, you have added the new geometry to support the horns on our sculpture. Using the Move brush, shift and reshape the horns. Smooth them to help increase the tapering ends (Figure 3.71). Figure 3.71 Horns smoothed and positioned We will now make some adjustments to the bust to […]

Form and Details (ZBrush for Detailing) (ZBrush Character Creation)

So far we have been sculpting characters with a focus on primary and secondary forms—that is, the skeletal anatomy, the muscular anatomy, and the major forms of fat and flesh. The first three projects lack any kind of fine tertiary details. This was intentional because I wanted to illustrate that form is the most important […]

Alphas (ZBrush for Detailing) (ZBrush Character Creation) Part 1

Alphas in ZBrush are grayscale images that serve three major functions: they can be brush shapes, texture stamps, and stencils. You load, export, and manipulate alphas via the Alpha menu located at the top menu bar. There is also an Alpha palette on the side tray on the left (Figure 4.4). This is an abbreviated […]

Alphas (ZBrush for Detailing) (ZBrush Character Creation) Part 2

Alphas and Strokes The way the currently selected alpha is applied to the surface of your sculpture is controlled by the stroke selection. In this section we’ll experiment with various types of alpha and stroke combinations (Figure 4.11). Understanding the Stroke menu and settings opens up a world of interesting and useful alpha effects. The […]

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