gardens of babylon

[jelee]

This has been a work in progress for a while but it hasn't been until the release of 1.5 that it got some much needed momentum. Could it be true? The ability to create polymeshes from already existing polymeshes? This image definitely benefited from the unexpected new feature. It was almost an accident that I grabbed a polymesh mistaking it for a 3DTool to be multimarkered. I was happily surprised when I saw that it was 'adding Polymesh' as I waited. What does this mean?
I think it means that we will soon be able to make images in Zbrush that won't look like what we are used to seeing in Zbrush before.
A very welcomed improvement.
jelee
http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1030734343pqx.jpg

[Stonecutter]

Fantastic Joe!!!
Without doubt the BEST landscape I've seen done in ZBrush yet...!
Congratulations...I think you just raised the bar!!!

A topologically folded :tu: to this one!

[banez]

:eek: that looks Goooooooooooooooood :tu:

[MrBraun]

This garden look like perfect Jelee!!
Good work !!! :D :tu:

[wenna]

wow, I thought this was from a travel brochure!! This is sooo realistic! Every detail is perfect!

[DMerchen]

Wow! That looks great! :eek: :eek:

[DeeVee]

Very well done. I like the look of your leaves, especially the palms. Most of what I have seen so far have been round which a palm frond is not. These look like the real thing. I would be interested in learning how these were done. Excellent :ex: :tu: :tu: :tu:

Edit: I have been looking at this image a lot and am confused about the thickness of the platform, it appears to be OK on the right side where your initials are, but I cannot understand the front edge, as it appears very thin. Is there a reason for this? This image is so impressive that I am trying to learn as much as posible, so I hope you do not mind me asking these questions.
DeeVee

[Ion_Image]

wow awsome scene hey where r the belly dancers?! lol

[[ Vincent ]]

:confused: How do you make these fantastic leaves??? :eek:
:tu: That's wonderful!
:tu: Really good work! Congratulations!

;) Step by step for we??? :p

[JOHNVQ3]

:) Gorgeous :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu:

[Mentat7]

What a breath of fresh air! A fantastic job superbly executed! :tu: X 1000 !! The only quibble I have is the water could use some surface noise/movement. This is damn good!

[KingSalami]

the plant life is out of this world, too good!

The platform structure has a strange tilt

[Grub]

Beautiful work Jelee :eek: :tu: :tu: :tu:

[Karasuando]

Very impressive render!. Dare I ask if you modelled the foliage in Zbrush?, or is it modelled somewhere else?.

I have never been able to get those shapes in Zbrush myself so if these are Zbrush it would be VERY interesting to know how you did it.

:tu: :tu: :tu:

[DLee]

This is stunning. Photo perfect. Like DeeVee I sat here and studied it, trying to figure out how you did it. ~s~ Super job.

[juandel]

revolutionary hall of fame stuff - why? you opened new z-dimensions and a completely new z-tyle with this one, thats why! :D absolutely excellento painting, once again, jelee... i cant wait for insights shared :D + :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: y kudos to no end

- juandel

[jelee]

Thank you for your comments. I took the liberty of correcting the tilt that was in the picture which really didn't work well with the feel of the picture. I appreciate the fresh outlook , KingS. The image is really pretty much all Zbrush in the raw. I did no post work to the scene outside of the sig (and well, now the corrected tilt.)
The foliage was made of 3DTools that were all applied either with the DragRect stroke or the Colorized Spray stroke with the color turned way down. Allowing slight color to come through helps break up the continuity.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1030733759drw.jpg
Some of the 3DTools were multimarked to be made into more complexed polymeshes. Once you create a new tool it is helpful to remember to:

Make sure it's double sided when needed. This applies mostly to tools made with Plane3D or Circle3D after they are made into a polymesh.

Reposition the pivot in the preview window to the end of the stalk. This is so when you use the DragRect stroke, you can "grow" it from it's location.
http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1030733814ldf.jpg
Store the new orientation and save your new tool.

It helps to save different variations of your tools with deformations added such as TWIST and SBEND or GRAVITY. Workflow is increased when you use the snapshot command, Ctrl-S while in edit mode and then using Alt key (PC version)to reposition the new branch.
When using the Spray stroke, sometimes it's helpful to create a separate layer to place a dummy object such as a sphere. Then switch back to your prefered layer and build up your spaystrokes on the sphere. This gives the leaves something to cling to until they start 'growing' off each other adding the depth you want. You can later turn off your dummy layer when you render.
Hey DeeVee, It's hard not to think of you when making palm trees. I had to get a picture for reference but you can just look outside your window.

The floor plane is just a Plane3D tool used AlphaCentury style.
http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1030733971eak.jpg
An alpha selection was applied and displaced on the Z axis under the Offset Deformation. That thin edge on the left is the side where the alpha slid on me. Shoddy work on my part.

jelee

[Stonecutter]

Thanks for the walkthrough Joe!
I'll have to get tropical in an image now just for the change of pace...Thanks for encouragement to try something different which is what an artist should do for growth!!!

:D ;) :tu: :cool:

[DM]

Really first class work. :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu:
Dave

[robotalk]

Stupendous !! :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu:

[Codexus]

I wouldn't have thought that possible with ZBrush. Amazing!

:tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu:

[Karasuando]

I had a feeling wicked foliage like this would be possible with the spray brush, I will try this out for sure. Thanks alot for the tips Jelee!.

[KingSalami]

thanks a million for the good info, it is a huge help!

[DeeVee]

Thanks Joe, I also appreciate the information. I just about figured it out when I saw your excellent walk through. I have not used the colourspray tool as yet for foliage. I just keep adding the image with the draw rectangle and orienting it as needed. The results are similar. I am quite pleased that you posted this as it proves that there are several ways to skin the cat, something I have never done as a Vet. :D
:tu: :tu: :tu: :tu:
Joe
DeeVee

[Q-qeo]

:tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :cool:

[Flycatcher]

Absolutely stunning image, Jelee, so precise, light and airy. It may have had a long gestation, but it was well worth the effort. Beautiful.
:tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu:

And many thanks for the "how to" details - very helpful.

[Muvlo]

Fantastic image Jelee, very realistic. Thanks for the walkthrough as well, something good to try! :)

[Jaycephus]

Awesome!!!

[Tag]

Looks like I'm late getting home today and commenting, but I agree with everyone else. This is one of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen with ZBrush :tu:

[cneofotistos]

someone has been playing Serious Sam..

indeed, top notch work. :tu:

[Slosh]

Please forgive me for thinking "Surely, he did the foliage and sky and water in Vue" or something similar. Until you posted the foliage tools, I didn't believe it. It's just phenominal to think the was done in ZBrush. This one should definitely go on Pixologic's website. Un-fu@%ing-believable. Sorry, this one deserves the swearing.