JUXTAPOSITION

[s o u t h e r n]

Hey all,

A ZBrush and photoshop image from a pencil sketch. For reference I used a photograph of a monk taken by a friend that attended a marriage ceremony. The monk was un-armed in the reference photograph ::

Most of the basic layout and brush work was Photoshop and the weapons, belts, blurs, some textures, highlighter brush, shading enhancer, background, were made using tools found in Zb. I kept ZB and PS open all the time and kept swapping back and forth exporting and saving along the way.
http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/uploaded_from_zbc/200303/user_image-1048773301jxh.jpg

[Mentat7]

Absolutely awesome Glen!

[Frenchy Pilou]

Hi Glen
Why weapons ?
Fireman equipments should be more appropriate ;)
Pilou
Ps Your dedicace is still here. :) (http://www.pixolator.com/zbc-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=009818&p=4)

[+Lazarus+]

Hi Glen,

WOW, that's really fantastic. How'd you get the painted effect? Do you render it differently or do you go over the image with a stylus in PS? I was just wondering, cus thats the effect I would like to achieve, which is doable if I rework everything in PS but obviously takes an age to do. If I can just render everything that way, then I'd be able to whip up work 20 times faster.

Also, did you get round to ansering my email?

Lee

[MrBraun]

Simply great Glen!!!! :D :tu: :tu:

[Sarum]

once more, good job southern :tu: :tu: :tu:

[s o u t h e r n]

You don't really need photoshop at all to be honest. I have been using it since version 3 so it becomes like a third arm and it is really hard to stop it to use something else (like the amazing `Painter 7` for example)

Nearly everything I did on this image could be done in ZBrush alone without reverting to PS. To work on a 2D image in this way I either import it as a document straight into the ZBrush document window or I import it as a texture and slap it onto a 3D plane and size it into the window by hand. Usually about 2000x3000 pixels.

All the blurring, light effects, smudging, adding more paint, adding highlights etc etc etc,.. can be done just right there in ZB.

I get bored very easily. I need to try new ways to create images and models all the time or I become stagnant in my work. This piece was a bit of work flow trial and error really. Swapping back and forth just happened to be how I did it this time, next piece may be all Z or all PS or neither. The thing with ZB is it can be used in so many ways in both 2D and 3D work.

G

Laz. I just got the mail and I get to reply soon. Rebuilding my digital life/persona at this moment.

[+Lazarus+]

Thanks Glen, :D

It's nice to have a guru spend time with a nobody like me :) Not many do

[jibberish]

well, i'm impressed. i think, if it's possible, you're getting better at Zbrush Glen. you've done some pretty amazing stuff, but the painted effect you got going on here is just awesome. i love the sword and all the details and straps and all that junk around his waiste. awesome work...very nice...thanks for posting it.
very inspiring...
josh

[The Namek]

amazing work glenn.
I love the background too :)

[Doohicky]

No doubt, very nice...
The hand seems small to me though...
and the foreshortening of the forearm isn't
quite right, I don't see a turn of the ulna and radius at the elbow....maybe a little more shadow to help the forearm volume?
Plz excuse the painter in me..%)

[hitch]

i really like this image, somthing about the colour scheme, very striking. I have a quick question on your practice. Your weapons are by far the best I have ever seen, they seem completly original, but have familiar qualities about them. Do you refrence weapons and design them beforehand, or do you just see what happens when you get into zbrush? thanks in advance.
hitch

[Flycatcher]

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

[drjjwow]

a image of unforgetfullness glen.. aweosme image and render..no matter what program was used its one of my favorites to date.. thanks for posting it here.

[+Lazarus+]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> The hand seems small to me though...
and the foreshortening of the forearm isn't
quite right <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'd have to dissagree as if you compare the size of the hand to the head, it's actually quite realistic. I had problems with the proportions too at first, but mainly around the legs, as I couldn't quite make out where the lower body was formed, but if you stare at it long enough, it does all fit into place.

[Northstarr]

I don't feel the need to compliment you on your work as it is always outstanding. But I do want to thank you for sharing how you accomplish your creations. And I was particularly glad to see that I am not the only one who relies heavily on Photshop! It was my first program and I know it best so I can certainly identify with the "third arm" concept.

[pr0jectZ]

I'm in awe :eek:

[travart]

woah, I just watched Seven Samurai the other day, so this is really great. all you ever see as futuristic warriors are usually caucasion males for some reason, this is really cool.

[s o u t h e r n]

The waepons are a mish mash of ideas. The gun is a warhammer type pistol taken from a model. The buckles and belts are a very poor homage to the work of steven stahlberg and his amazing females and that sword, well, thats a real **** up really. How the hell is he suposed to draw it? (thanks Neil from CGTalk for pointing that one out.)

As I said in the original text, the head and arms are taken from photographic reference taken by a friend. There was no reference for the theme as it just grew out of itself as it went along.

Although, I kind of think he looks like morgan freeman now.

G

[zzy]

:tu:

[gummie]

Blarb, Southern could you do a sum of a walkthrough on this image? I see a lot of complex elements that really go beyond 3d use, how much of this model is painted?..

Thanks, I really like this work. A shaolin monk gone future tech? But keeping traditional appearances. Brilliant.

[s o u t h e r n]

Gummie: I don't know what BLARB means but I'll try to answer you.

Nearly all of this images is painted rather that modeled. I sketch the basic outline onto a blank document in Z and started to block in colour much like I would do in any 2D program. When I was happy with the layout I detailed the head, orange sleeves, parts of the legs and hands. I saved it out as a PSD and did some PS filter work on the shoulder pads. I wanted to use PS layers to do the stitching area. Back to Z I added bits and bobs of 3D stuff like the back pack, ear piece, small gun etc. Flatened it onto a 2D plane and did some shading enhancer work, highlighter brush etc. Rendered it to get s bit of shadow effect then exproted it to PS. I did some touch up in ps abd moved soem of the 3D articles around a bit (like the pipes). Back in Z, added the buckles, straps etc...loads of smudging etc.

I did the background in Z on its own. Loads of messing, smudging, highlighter brush work for the fire effect. Then composited it and the Monk in PS. Post work in PS and that was it.

I note with interest that you ask a similar question in Z-Stevies thread here.
Z-Stevies latest image (http://www.pixolator.com/zbc-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=010659)

Are you a 3D purist? For me, 2D work is just as valid as 3D and ZBrush combines the two for me. ZStevies hair in that image would have been created using a variation of smudging techniques (I presume). The amazing thing with ZB is that you can smudge in 3D as well as 2D.

smudge.zip (http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/uploaded_from_zbc/200303/user_file-1049348821jqj.zip)

I quickly broke down the Monk image to show you 2D vs 3D. Red is 2D Green was modeled and added to the image.

Image (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/2dimg2.jpg)

And this one was Painter not PS. Teeth and eyes modeled in 3D.

Image (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/2dimg3.jpg)

[drjjwow]

sorry glen but that tex file you uploaded doesnt seem to work correctly.. can you please reload the tex.

[s o u t h e r n]

jj. Will do. 2 minutes.

g

[s o u t h e r n]

I put it in a ZIP. I tried it from the download link and it works now.

Cheers,

Glen

[gummie]

BLARB=Oh wow, what can you say to that.. :)
I really appreciate the prompt digression. That answers a lot of my questions about the composition, Glen. I am not a 3D purist, but I find it sometimes at odds to deduce which and where something is painted on model, or 2D painted. I know that Marcel achieves a lot of his wave bending effects using a model as a base so it really makes me scratch my head sometimes.

My background: several years of drawing comic book panels/characters note: of the atypical male hero. Result: ability to closely and sometimes even enhance the reproduction of an image. ResultB: Complete inability of such skill on my own.

So right now I'm trying to figure out what I'm getting into, I tend to be hesitant with all 3D or all 2D because I'm not a specialist in either. A good 2D image, for me outranks the 3D field because it is largely more appealing and engaging as an art flare but the possibilities of combining Michelangelo's sculpting with his painting are "classic".

However, my initial attempts at combining Zbrush's unique features have not been all lackluster, so there is still hope. :) Until my wacom pen gets back from the factory, I'm going to try to soak up on some knowledge.

Thanks for the smudging script. :) Tis very daring, shows you have spent much practice in the medium. I largely think of the Undo button as my third wheel. ;)
All in all, I think I've gleaned a lot, I'm sure this tutorial will come in helpful to others as well although I can really appreciate the quality of your work. :tu: