ZBrush

Learning Zbrush

Danzo_tiger — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:50:00 GMT

Over the past few days I've been trying to teach myself how to use Zbrush. I've found it a very interesting program to use and everytime I open it I always seem to enjoy myself. I was hoping people could give me feedback on my work so far? I've been trying to teach myself the basics of sculpting. If more advanced users notice any bad habbits, I'd like to warned so it dosn't become a regular occurance in my workflow. At the momment I'm just teaching myself and experimenting with different tools and brushes. I really want to get into some creature designs using ZSpheres but at the momment I think its sensible to sculpt some faces and get used to the tools. My aim is to create something in Zbrush everyday in the hope of progressing =) I really want to play with textures soon!

*- If these images are too big (im unsure of forum regulations/rules) let me know so I can resize them =)

Zsphere creations

edart — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:47:45 GMT

Just experimenting with Zspheres and this is my first ever creation using them.

Tutorials in Zbrush / Maya / Photoshop / Illustrator / More

jasonpwelsh — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:13:38 GMT

Come join the fun at

www.houseoftutorials.net

Where you can find education in lots of great software packages.

enter the class and then hit the login as guest button.

Is ZBrush THAT good?

joeparis — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:56:40 GMT

I've been looking at ZBrush on and off for a year or two but as I mostly use 2D software I've not been tempted to buy it, although it looks very good.

The latest versions appear to be, on the whole, completely amazing and I'm now thinking that it might be a worthwhile investment - it's not that expensive after all. I do dabble a little in modeling and use Sketchup, Hexagon, etc. for simple architectural reference for use in illustrations. I would really like to take that further and perhaps try character sculpting with ZBrush, but the question is... will it be as eyepoppingly good as it appears in the promotional stuff? Or will it be a tough learning curve that will result in frustration? I'll almost certainly download the trial when I think I will have a few weeks with some spare time.

I know a few of you here use it and was wondering what your views on it were, especially those new to it.

crash... thud

fates_fickle_finger — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:29:49 GMT

so the software keeps crashing, the thud is my head on the desk...

I have a figure, I made a sword, saved it as a tool, now I want to append the sword tool to the figure tool, but everytime I try it crashes like a dummy in a car. frankly Im F........ P........ Off.

any thoughts as to what I might be doing wrong... cant fathom it myself, though its been one of those days.

steve

z4 sneek preview!

fates_fickle_finger — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:19:26 GMT

well I watched this video and was absolutely gobsmacked! talk about inovation... looks like z4 could blow the competition out of the water. check it here:

http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=071829

steve

its all gone black

fates_fickle_finger — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 07:15:33 GMT

I have posted this over a zbrush central, but didnt manage to get a useful response. so m posting here incase any of you bright sparks have a solution to this little conundrum.

My tool went black! scary or what. the preview still shows the poly painted version, but the main window shows it covered in a black layer, the image attached shows what mean.

colourize is on, its not masked, I have exported and reimported, turned the machine off and imported to a fresh document, the main colour is set to white, ive made sure there are no textures currenty selected.... cant find a solution. all help gratefully recieved ;)

all my other tools and models are opening as they should be, no black covering at all, and an earlier version of this tool is also doing the same, but I dont want to revert to that just yet, not without trying everything I cant, or I will lose 4 hours working on the tool. thats a lot of fine tweeking.

steve

new plugins

fates_fickle_finger — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:54:04 GMT

havnt tried them yet, but there are two new plugins available for free over at zbrush central.

Decimation master and 3d print exporter... they do exactly what it says on the tin, but for more detail head over to zbrush central to find out more.

steve

render settings

fates_fickle_finger — Mon, 25 May 2009 10:58:27 GMT

Hi guys...

Im having a few problems getting a good render off my model. I have a massive poly count, should be as smooth as a baby bottom. ish...

so I have the antialiasing on, render set to best. but they all come out small in pixel dimansion and therefore pretty rubbish up close. I have pores on my Elektra face, a lizard scale texture on some of her clothing, a nice leather texture on the bindings... but there is no way that kind of detail is rendering out... so what am I doing wrong?

I need one good image render at 300dpi to work with. preferably with layers and I want to create a turntable thats large enough to see some of the finer detail without pixelation or small image size... just cant seem to get the right combination.

links to threads, tutorials etc appreciated, or just simple answers if there are any...

cheers guys

steve

mesh troubles again

fates_fickle_finger — Wed, 13 May 2009 07:40:59 GMT

hello again.

me and meshes dont seem to get along. so I have a base mesh I created in 3dsmax a while ago (but I dont have access to 3ds anymore) It had poly groups for posing originally, though it was a contiguous mesh.

I brought it into zbrush and when I smoothed with my standard brush the seams between the polymesh groups split. see image below.

so my question is how do you join mesh groups in zbrush so I can get rid of the problem... and if you cant "WHY NOT!!!!" oooh yes I want to scream. if you cant do it in zbrush I do have blender, but its totally new to me so if there is a solution there please please explain carefully.

thanking you in advance...

steve

ZBrush to Photoshop

Scarthin Nick — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:26:31 GMT

I have pretty much decided to buy ZBrush 3.12 for the Mac - however, before I part with my 500 quid can anyone confirm that I will be able to create artwork from ZBrush straight to Photoshop(CS3) or Painter X without the need to run it through a high end 3D application, which I haven't got.

I also have some DAZ V4 figures which I would like to use as a base for character development within ZBrush, I'm guessing this can be done, but again if anyone can confirm it, it would be much appreciated.

And is it Zed or Zee?

Cheers

Nick

ZBrush 4 announced - dun dun duuuuhn!

banjaxedmdt — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:12:20 GMT

Pixologic has announced the release of ZBrush 4 (yes 4, not 3.5 - whatever happened to that?) for August 2009 as a free upgrade to registered users: http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=070082

No info yet on what will be added/removed/changed/broken/fixed in the new version.

fixing a hole in a mesh

fates_fickle_finger — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:54:57 GMT

Continuing my voyage into the unknown, and trying to get my head around Zbrush... lots to learn, but lots of fun bring had too. but I have a problem I cant get around here.

I have a hole in a base mesh, I created the mesh in 3dsmax and brought it into zbrush to sculpt it into something more realistic. but its got 2 holes in! is there a way to patch a hole in the mesh in z brush?

heres a pic of the problem

ta muchly

steve

size matters!! ;)

fates_fickle_finger — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:29:49 GMT

of course it does.

I have a copy of zbrush 2 and im loking at upgrading. but there is a good reason for this and I need an answer to this question from anyone in the know first.

is there any way to set a scale size in zbrush output? specifically if I create a figure, I need to be built by a printer (solid wax printer) how do I set the height of the figure, I need to create 26 figures for a tabletop game, normally I sculpt them at 28mm tall in an epoxy putty, but having played with zbrush I can do more in that, if, and only if I can control the size of the final model. I dont have 3ds, maya, rhino or anything else to export to if I need to adjust the size elsewhere, and the cost of getting a file changed elsewhere will negate any savings or benefits in creating the figrues in the computer rather than as practical models.

thanks guys

steve

Purchase older ver of ZBrush

kenmo — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:58:26 GMT

As an hobbyist i can not afford the latest version ZBrush. Is there a place online where I can purchase an older version of ZBrush? The good folks here on the Painter section recommended Purplus when I posted a similar query. At Purplus I was able to purchase Painter IX.5 for $50 US and I was quite pleased with both Painter & Purplus..... Sadly ZBrush is not listed at Purplus... Thanks kindly.... Ken

saved file unable to edit

jaganpon — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:25:45 GMT

I m new to zbrush i saved my file then edit option is deactivated i checked all the settings i cant find the way to enable it...

Any one tell me how to edit my previously worked file plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Simple ZBrush inquiry... I think

Chaot-Stick — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:04:16 GMT

I've been messing about with ZBrush far a while, achieving some great effects; however, the one little detail that seems to beat me down is selecting objects. For example, you click on an object/mesh in 3DsMax to select it. So, in ZBrush, if I click on a new tool and subsequently deselect the current mesh, how in hell do I reselect it to continue modding it? :'(

zbrush tutorials on IFX

carly801 — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:53:42 GMT

hey where can I find ZBrush Tutorials? on this site? anyone? Bueller...anyone?

ZSpheres

Shokk — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:31:09 GMT

I'm on the trial version of Zbrush 3.1 atm, and I'm trying to figure out how to keep my Zspheres straight, IE. trying to line them up so my character or whatever ends up symmetrical. and is it possible to make two zspheres at once on different sides of something? Like how you can mirror a brush when you're working on the bust of something.

If anybody can direct me to an easy guide for Zbrush that would be great, all I can find are these video tutorials that go pretty slowly. And I can't find most of the buttons, all of the acronyms are confusing me.

EDIT:what does it mean if a zsphere turns transparent-ish and looks almost concave?

ZBrush 3.1 help

Airbrush — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 00:15:56 GMT

Hi, I've just downloaded the new Trial of the new ZBrush 3.1. And I have a few questions I can'r really figiure out..

1. When I'm sculping, and I try to add a new Sphere to make as eyeballs for the creature I'm working on, then the creature get's locked, as I can't edit it anymore, just the sphere what can I do? I've tried to make a new layer and then put the sphere there, still doesn't work.

2. How can I make the model more smooth? As making it more detailed and less "jaggy" and rough looking.

Please help and/or give me a link to where the solution is.

EDIT: I found out Nr.2, CTRL + d

ZBrush Demo

Piru — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 07:17:55 GMT

Hi everybody!

I'm looking for a ZBrush Demo. In fact I'm quite sure there isn't any Demo available, but I'm hoping that IFX would drop their eves on the doorstep of Pixologic. I'd very much like to try the program before I decide to buy it! Maybe you guys could try to get one on the DVD of the next issue?

Cheers,

Piru

Alpha Import??

colrouphobic — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 09:29:42 GMT

Okay, so I want to see what I can do with zBrush (I have zBrush2) and so I open up a new dokument and start using the decotool. I want to make a few basice shapes and weird forms just o play around with it a bit.
Then I make aan alpha image in photoshop, black on white, and import it.

I set the front colour in zBrush to black and backcolour to white...and I get squares on the screen...

I should only get the "black" of the alpha displaying, but I get also the "whie" of the alpha... what am I doing wrong?
I imported bmp's, psd's, jpg's and tif's... all the same resault...

Help?

Zbrush lesson Videos

iamjasonwelsh — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 23:13:07 GMT

Hello everyone my name is Jason Welsh and I have been a long time fan of this magazine. So I'm going to share a few videos I have produced for a Class I teach called commercial Art and media in Jackson Michigan. There I teach everything From Maya to Zbrush and Now Digital Painting. I use the videos to run workshops or just use them as a backup incase a student misses a lecture.

So I will post these in the forums under the software used.

Not all videos are free but ya enough to help the beginner break into digital art.

www.houseoftutorials.com has the lesson files look for the links at the top of the page.

For Zbrush

http://www.veoh.com/series/houseofZbrush

http://www.veoh.com/series/houseworkflow

ZBrush tutorials

kenmo — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:59:14 GMT

I read in issue #18s that the next issue will have ZBrush tutorials... Is that still true? Issue 18 is the current issue in Canada as of today's date (June 25)...

Z3

pixmaker — Thu, 17 May 2007 14:55:24 GMT

man, i cant wait to get Z3. i have to wait longer cause i got a mac. anyone know when z3 for mac comes out. i went on their site, but cant find it.