Digital Sculpting with Mudbox

Comparing Traditional and Digital Sculpting (Sculpting Concepts) (Digital Sculpting with Mudbox)

From the beginning, we want to draw strong correlations between traditional studio sculpting and digital sculpting in Mudbox as a foundation for the topics that will be covered in this topic and parts of this topic. So, we begin by reviewing traditional sculpting tools and techniques and comparing them with the digital sculpting tools and […]

Anatomy for Sculptors (Sculpting Concepts) (Digital Sculpting with Mudbox)

To be a successful figurative sculptor, a fundamental knowledge of anatomy is required. In this case, anatomy refers to the skeleton, muscles, and skin and fat – also collectively known as surface anatomy. There are entire topics written on this subject, so a comprehensive discourse is beyond the scope of this topic. Nonetheless, the paragraphs […]

Proportions and Measurements (Sculpting Concepts) (Digital Sculpting with Mudbox)

Proportions Along with surface anatomy, a sculptor must know human proportions. Proportions can refer to size comparison between specific parts such as an ear in relation to the face or it can also refer to known ratios between the overall size of a figure and its parts. For example, the average man is seven and […]

Form, Negative Space, and Gesture (Sculpting Concepts) (Digital Sculpting with Mudbox)

Form Form encompasses the overall shape and composition of the sculpture. The form of your sculpture is perceived by how light, shadows, and the transitions in between are created by the underlying shapes. This interplay of light and shadow is often referred to as the value. By manipulating how the shapes on your sculpture relate […]

Expression and Emotion in Sculpture (Sculpting Concepts) (Digital Sculpting with Mudbox)

It is expression and emotion that draws us to a sculpture, and capturing that emotion is an art, as well as a science. Psychologist Paul Eckman, one of the leading emotion researchers, created an entire process for documenting how the muscles in the face express emotion. This documentation is known as the Facial Action Coding […]

Interface Overview (Introduction to Mudbox) (Digital Sculpting with Mudbox)

If you are familiar with Maya, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, or any other threedimensional (3D) program, you will be right at home in Mudbox and will begin sculpting in a matter of minutes. However, if you are new to 3D and digital sculpting, Mudbox is still the perfect choice because of its artist-friendly interface, shallow […]

What You Will Need to Work In Mudbox (Introduction to Mudbox) (Digital Sculpting with Mudbox)

To get the best results from Mudbox’s sculpting tools and painting brushes, you will need a pressure-sensitive graphics tablet. We recommend that you use a Wacom tablet. In fact, Autodesk lists a Wacom tablet as part of the system requirements for Mudbox. Wacom produces a wide variety of graphics tablets for all levels of experience […]

A 3D Primer (Introduction to Mudbox) (Digital Sculpting with Mudbox)

Because Mudbox is a true polygonal modeler, it is important to understand some of the basics of 3D computer graphics. If you have experience working in programs like Blender, XSI, or 3ds Max, then you probably are already familiar with these concepts and may skip to the tutorial later in this topic. However, if you […]

Mudbox Hotkeys and Quickstart Tutorial: Sculpting a Bell Pepper (Introduction to Mudbox) Part 1

You should become familiar with the following important keyboard shortcuts referred to as hotkeys. These hotkeys increase productivity and usability by allowing you to quickly access common commands or tasks while working (Table 2.1). There are many more Mudbox hotkeys, but for now, you need to know the ones in the list below. If you […]

Mudbox Hotkeys and Quickstart Tutorial: Sculpting a Bell Pepper (Introduction to Mudbox) Part 2

Sculpting Details So far, you have sculpted a sphere into the general shape of bell pepper using the Grab, Bulge, Smooth, and Pinch tools. You have learned that some sculpting tools may be inverted by pressing the Ctrl key (Control Mac) so they push in instead of pulling out, and that the Smooth tool can […]

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