First ever drawing! I think I'll keep this program!

[Northstarr]

I think I am beginning to get the hang of this program thanks to the tutorials some of you wonderful artists have put out here for us novices. I have to admit I cheated some. I had to make the picture in 3 parts and put it together in Photoshop. I still don't understand how to work with layers. Help would be appreciated. :D

[Northstarr]

:o OOPS! I forgot to load the picture, duh! Here it is. http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1025725923nbi.jpg

[DLee]

Layers are very confusing since they arn't like what we're used to in PSP or Photoshop. I'm not all that much help, since I just beat on it until it comes to the top where I want it. Each layer has its own depth. That's the confusing part. ~G~ I'd suggest keep checking the tut's in quicklinks search the forum for other tips. Also, remember under the layer pallet modifcations you can change the z position - number means up... + down.

I don't think you'll regret keeping Z. It's an awesome program and everyone here is great. I'm sure you'll get much better help than mine.

ADD: Ahh I was going to ask where the pic was ~G~ Very nice. The leaves look great.

[Bastard76]

It is a nice picture. You'll figure out
how to manage layers just keeping on experimenting and sharing your experiences
with us.
Keep on posting! :cool:

[robotalk]

Pretty Darn Nice --Easterner !! :D :tu:

[Tag]

Very nice for your first :tu:

[Vikki]

Wow! This is a great image and for a first it's even better. Looks like you and Z will get along just fine. :D

[Pres]

Looking good - I like the leaves too!

I just picked up Z the other day myself, so it's good to see other beginners here showing their stuff. A few more tutorials under my belt and I may even have the kintamas to post something I've made!

Pres

[aurick]

Looks good! Especially for a first ever project.

The key to understanding layers is to look at them as a way to help organize your work so that you can more easily make changes later or so you don't accidentally paint on something that you don't want to simply because it's close by.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that a layer's position within the palette has anything to do with its depth on the canvas. It doesn't. Every layer can actually have objects that go from the clipping plane all the way forward to the closest depth that ZBrush will allow!

To move a layer around (including its depth), simply use the Layer>Modifiers sliders. You can move it horizontally or vertically (the same as tilde-scrolling). You can specify whether it will wrap back onto the other side when something goes off the edge while scrolling. You can also change its depth.

I usually like to build figures on multiple layers at the same depth until I am happy with their position, orientation, scale, etc. Then I merge the layers so that I can blend seams away (since pixols will not interact with pixols on another layer, even if they are at the same depth). For that reason, eyes go on their own layer, separate from the head. That way, they can be given shadows and highlights without affecting the surrounding skin.

Now, if I want to put in a background, that layer will then get moved farther back. I like to go in specific increments -- like 100, 500, or 1,000. It all depends on the needs of the picture. But by keeping it to even increments like that, it helps me keep track of things a little better.

For the picture above, you could have used 3 layers: one for the rocks, one for the water, and a third for the tree. If you then found that your tree was trying to poke into the rocks, all you'd have to do is move that layer forward. You'd also be able to paint on the leaves to your heart's content using any stroke type or brush size that you wanted, without ever worrying about messing up your rocks or water. Same goes for the rocks: with them on a layer of their own (it doesn't matter whether it's layer 1, 2 or 3 since layer order has nothing to do with depth), you could paint extra texture, blemishes, and even moss onto them without affecting anything else in the scene.

Hope that helps you understand things a bit better!

[Pres]

Thanks for that explanation, aurick - that's actually starting to make sense...

Pres

[DeeVee]

I like this image a lot.
You have incorporated three of my favourite things, water, foliage and rocks.
Very well done, congratulations :tu: :tu: :tu:

[Northstarr]

Wow! thank you all for your responses it is very incouraging indeed! Aurick your explanation makes perfect sense and it helps more than you know... Thank you so much! And DeeVee after looking at lots of your work and using your zscripts, I feel really honoured that you take the time to encourage us novices... Thank you so much as well. Actually there are 4 things I know well; rocks, trees & water, the 4th is cold! I live in the bush up in Northern Ontario Canada. I'm surrounded by these things all the time.

[filament9]

This is a fine addition top the communtity! Excellent first image!