Tutorial: Stencil-Based Deformations

[aurick]

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http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1043390405nbi.jpg


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<h2>Stencil-Based Deformations</h2>
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Have you ever used the Stencil to try and control your sculpting? Have you wished that you could use the Stencil to control deformations? Have you ever wondered what you might use the Stencil for?

This tutorial was written to show a way that you can apply a deformation such as Inflate to a model through a Stencil. While it shows how to emboss the cover of a book, it can also be used in a variety of other ways.

Enjoy!

:b4: :b3: :b2: Click here to Download (518 KB) (http://www.aurickle.com/downloads/Stencil.zip) :b2: :b3: :b4:
Note: You must have Acrobat Reader installed to view the tutorial.

[Mik]

Thanks Aurick, amazingly i've only just started to reaslise how cool the stencil tool is.
This info is most helpful.
:tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :)

[havran]

Cool, thanks Aurick :) ... just in time for a project I have in mind for the weekend, textures and fonts already gathered

[Belleski]

Thanks Aurick! You know I just love these
tutorials. There is so much to learn and master with Zbrush that these little lessons really come in handy. :tu:

[gummie]

Thank you Aurick for this nice tutorial. :)

[Northstarr]

Now this I can use! Great timing for this, it will help loads for a project I am working on. Thank You :D

[Flycatcher]

I shall read this with interest. I've seldom used the stencil tool, so this may open my eyes to its power. This is a great series of tutorials - keep 'em coming guys, and thanks once again. :tu: :tu:

Edit: Oops - fooled me! I thought from the layout this was another Ken/Aurick collaboration - I now see it's all down to you this time, Matthew.
:rolleyes:

[Schbeurd]

Thanks Aurick
I was just about to send a question on how to use the stencil to protect areas while painting a mask on a 3D object. I remembered just in time that there is a "search" option in ZBrush Central.
I was able to find an answer to my questions, especially this topic with your tutorial.
First opportunity for me to thank you for your many answers and your dedication to ZBrush users.
Keep up the good work :tu: :tu: :tu:

Schbeurd

[Frenchy Pilou]

Yes, the Stencil is a very powerful tools !
You can with it deform on every directions and size and rotate and wrap any form on every portion of screen!
Just use the Space barre for manipulate it :)
Pilou

[Game Master 770]

are there any tutorial scripts demonstrating this type of using stencil to deformation?

[Sebcesoir]

The big limitation with stencil, is that you often need a creazy number of polygons...
but its very powerfull...

[Frenchy Pilou]

Hi Game
There is no script inside the Zb2 ?
Something like "Stencils" :)
Pilou

[Game Master 770]

I've seen scripts use it as a mask only, but I guess the leap to deformation isn't much. I just wanted to see a script use it like the post does.

[Zeddicus]

The stencil is great for doing deformations via projection master in Z2. I've used it to model details like scales, veins, etc. Just create an alpha (in ZB or other app like Photoshop if you want, or use the ones already in ZB), make it a stencil, drop the mesh (high poly works best), and paint away with colors, materials, and deformations via the many tools available when in PM. Don't like the final effect after picking the mesh back up? Just hit CTRL-Z and drop the mesh again. :)

Edit: Here (http://www.pixolator.com/zbc-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=015400) is a thread with a great example of stencil based deformations.

[Game Master 770]

That skin sample demonstrated alot of diferent things. Thanks.

Now that I understand stencil better, I'd like to add my own point.
There are 2 different ways to use the stencil.
1 way is with standard scupting in Edit mode.
2nd way is with PM. PM seams to produce smoother results at the edges than Edit mode.

Also, Stencil has something called Wrap Mode, which contours to your zdepth, and this works in both Edit mode, and PM.


Is there a way to transfer stuff like that to the mask? that way I can use Deform modifiers from the Tool menu? With stencil on, it doesn't seem to affect the mask brush.

[aurick]

That's the purpose of my technique, actually. Since the stencil does not affect deformations, you would use it to paint a grayscale texture for use as a mask. Once you have painted that texture, you can then convert it to an alpha, apply it to the model as a mask, and do your deformations.

[proiben]

Please make mirror , I get 504 error.

[Frenchy Pilou]

Retry, that link works perfectly!
Pilou

[Aeneas]

I tried to download the zip, but couldn't. So I tried to go to your site's main page and got the message IE cannot download it. (cannot find server)
So somehow there must be a problem...perhaps a server problem at your site host's?

[Aeneas]

Tried from home with Firefox, and everything worked flawlessly. !?
Thanks!

[cpharles]

It´s bad, the link to download isn´t work:td: :evil:

[Tiger_Michel]

Hello,

I too can't download this tut (and I would need it so much)! :cry:
Could you upload it anew Aurick?
Does someone have more links to Stencil Tutorials?

Thank you :)

[bls]

I have problem too.I can download it but I can't unzip it it gives me an error(file corrupt).

[Atwooki]

Here's the PDF, along with another one that includes some stencilling info :)

http://www.custom3d.co.uk/zb/stencilPDFs.zip

Merry Xmas :)

Chris

[Tiger_Michel]

What a nice gift from Santa Atwooki!
Thank you so much and merry Christmas to you too...:D

[aminuts]

Ditto the thanks Atwooki...can't wait to take a look at the pdf.!

[Moni-Poroni]

Seems like this tutorial is no longer available... ?
Also Atwooki´s link doesn´t work.
If I try to dowload the file - I end up on this page: http://www.aurickle.com/handcrafted2.asp?run_init=1
hmmmm...any connection? :) ... I´m just wondering about the name...lol..
Anyway... if somebody knows where I can find a tutorial about stencils - please let me know. Thanks!




Edit:
Found something in the online documentation... didn´t see the palette page. :o
http://www.pixologic.com/docs/index.php/Stencil_Palette (http://www.pixologic.com/docs/index.php/Stencil_Palette)

[juan osorio]

what is aurickle.com?
If I try to download the tutorial it takes me to a weird website...:td:

[aurick]

Well, this tutorial was written six years ago. :) It's more than a little out of date, and is therefore no longer available.

[Moni-Poroni]

I saw that it´s 6years old. Even so -- I wanted it. :)
Speaking for myself -- I´ve learned a lot from all of these "little out of date" tutorials and infos. :)
They were all really informative -- although I also try to learn as much as I can by the online docs of course.
Well, I think the oldest info I´ve read so far is 8 years old.
http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=10276 (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=10276)
And it really made things "click" for me. At least -- I hope so. :)

[Hunger]

http://www.digitaltutors.com/digital_tutors/samplevideo.php?v=1283

Practical Stencil Use.

Cheers.

[bohemond]

Thanks a ton for the video! I didn't know this tool !:tu:

[juan osorio]

Thanks for the reply Hunger. Very useful!