Sculpting in ZBrush Made Simple: Explore powerful modeling and character creation techniques used for VFX, games, and 3D printing

Jumpstart your sculpting career by learning the industry’s most effective modeling and sculpting tools used by professionals to create AAA-quality characters, props, and lifelike portraits

Key Features

• Master the basics of ZBrush through practical projects in this illustrated guide
• Explore organic modeling, concept sculpting, and character creation workflows
• Discover tools and techniques employed by professionals from the games, VFX and collectibles industries
• Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook

Book Description

Embark on a creative journey with ZBrush, the leading software for creating characters, creatures, and props in films, games, and 3D printing. This guide will take you through its powerful yet user-friendly workflows, allowing you to explore its dynamic organic sculpting, painting, and hard-surface modeling tools.

The first part of this book is dedicated to helping you become familiar with ZBrush’s user interface and learning the very basics, from sculpting brushes and painting the model with Polypaint to setting up lights and rendering images. You’ll also create a demon bust with the help of ZBrush’s concept sculpting tool, DynaMesh. In the second part, you’ll get to grips with the creation of a humanoid character that is optimized for 3D printing. Focusing on anatomy, poly-modeling, and preparing the model for 3D printing, you’ll acquire the skills essential for sculptors. The final part delves into portrait sculpting, where you’ll learn everything from basic facial anatomy to hair creation with FiberMesh.

By the end of this book, you’ll have developed the expertise necessary to succeed in the ever-evolving world of 3D character modeling, complemented by portfolio and social media tips for showcasing your standout work.

What you will learn

• Enhance your sculpting skills to craft a variety of organic and hard surface objects
• Create humanoid characters, focusing on basic anatomy and proportions
• Explore sculpting techniques for intricate details in human heads and hair
• Sculpt objects such as armor, clothing, and accessories
• Create custom brushes to enhance your sculpting workflow
• Develop skills in detailing and surfacing to add texture and depth to your sculpts
• Use Polypaint and Materials to add color and enhance your sculptures
• Render and export your sculpts to share them with others

Who this book is for

This book is for 3D artists, digital sculptors, modelers, and anyone looking to learn the ZBrush software. It’s a valuable resource for professionals switching to ZBrush or looking to broaden their skill set.

While prior ZBrush experience and artistic abilities will prove beneficial, they’re not prerequisites to understand the content covered. The book covers common and essential ZBrush workflows, making it ideal for both beginner and intermediate artists looking to explore the extensive capabilities of ZBrush.

Table of Contents

1. Getting Started with ZBrush
2. Sculpting a Demon Bust with DynaMesh
3. Exploring the Gizmo, PolyGroups, and Masking
4. Exploring Brushes and Alphas
5. Creating an Optimized Mesh Using ZRemesher and ZProject
6. Texturing your Sculpture with Materials, Polypaint, and UVs
7. Lighting and Rendering Your Model
8. Sculpting Human Anatomy
9. Creating Costumes, Armor, and Accessories with Classic Modeling Techniques
10. Preparing and Exporting our Model for 3D Printing
11. Sculpting a Female Head
12. Adding Skin Detail, Sculpting Hair, and Using FiberMesh
13. Building a Portfolio and Leveraging Social Media