I N S P I R E D

[s o u t h e r n]

Thought it was about time to come out of retirement with all this NEW VERSION hype coming along. How the hell are you all!!!
I just posted this at CGTalk and thought is sits better in here.

Here's a little of my work flow in the current ZBrush 1.55b. I do use Normal mapping in Lightwave and this method can be used to create high res meshes to be taken out of ZB and used for normal mapping in LW (but thats not why I do it, I just like the ZB output)

First off I create a mesh in Lighwave using the box method and point by point work (about 1600 polys). This is exported as an .OBJ

Image (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/2dimg117.jpg)

I import this into ZB (1) using the IMPORT button (this was new in this verison as we used to have to use a Polymesh star to get a mesh into ZB and that always seemed a weird way of working)

Image (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/2dimg118.jpg)

It is still only 1574 polys so I use DIVIDE (2) in the TOOL pallette.
The mesh now is divided to 6296 polys, then 25184 and the final mesh used here was 100736.

NOTE: I use an Athlon 2.4 with 1.5 gig of ram and a 128 Geforce4Ti (these days little more than entry level) and the mesh in ZBrush performs as well at 100,000 polys as it does with 1500. In Lightwave my machine slows considerable at this count, a million would not be usable so having a normal map created in ZB in the next version will be essential!

Image (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/2dimg119.jpg)


The mesh can be subdivied using SMOOTH (3) (or subdivision surface resolution if you hover over the button).

NOTE: This isn't changing the underlying geommtry and further just smoothing the mesh on display

With the mesh sitting in the TOOL pallette at a 100,000 plus polygons it is time to put it into the document window and edit it. The main way to working on a MESH in ZBrush is with the MOVE and DRAW POINTER. Basicaly DRAW allows you to push or pull polys in or out and move lets you drag them around. (4)

NOTE: Hover your mouse over any button and hold CTRL and you get all the info on that button. The buttons in the TRANSFORM PANEL tell you everything you could ever need to know about moving polys around. (5)


Image (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/2dimg120.jpg)

The 'amount' or 'area of effect' is defined by the size of your brush and the 'Z INTENSITY' in the DRAW panel (6)

Small Brush/Z Intensity = small effect on the polygons.

Using these tools it is possible to 'draw' (sculpt) viens, pimples, warts, creases, wrinkles, blemishes, eyelids, nipples, folds etc onto the mesh.

What I am really intested to see is a mesh of a million+ polygons that I can DROP TO CANVAS (like Texturemaster or DeepPaint for those who know it) and use the multitude of 2D tools and brushes on the model in the document window then PICK IT BACK UP retaining the detail in the mesh not for a BUMP or SPEC map. That is worth waiting for!

Image (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/2dimg121.jpg)

I rendered the image (Render settings 8.) above with the 100,000 poly mesh using 1 light,(9) 1 material (SOUTHERN GI 7) specifically made to render in a document will ZB GLOBAL ILLUMINATION and ZMODE SOFT SHADOWS

Image (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/2dimg122.jpg)

Cheers,

Glen

Image (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/sig.jpg)
I never stopped loving you I just got Lightwaved

[The Namek]

Glen !!!!
Good to see ya again :)
Been following your minder and sculpey project , great work :)

that beasty looks very detailed , let me absorb the info for a while :p

[andreseloy]

Glen thanks very much for share your technique and i want to say i have visited your homepage and is beutiful-
Congratulations.
I have a question about the way you reached the folds in your figure, at the present time a send a post to the MNC in which i was trying to get this kind of modeling aumenting # poli but scracht the program,is possible to you explain in more details this specific step...i have no formation in graphic design.
Thanks very much
http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/uploaded_from_zbc/200307/user_image-1059318921xbd.jpg

[s o u t h e r n]

HI there,

not sure how much you know about ZBrush but here goes..

-Make Standard sphere

- paint a fold on in 3d with DRAW POINTER in the TRANSFORM panel

-MOve the fold around the sphere (face) with the MOVE tool

tip: Change your DRAW SIZE and Z INTENSITY in the DRAW panel as needed.

I have a little brush ZScript written into my default ZScript that allows me to change DRAW sizes with Z and X keys and intesity with A and S keys. Ace little tool.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/uploaded_from_zbc/200307/user_image-1059321380oei.jpg

[Mentat7]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>What I am really intested to see is a mesh of a million+ polygons that I can DROP TO CANVAS (like Texturemaster or DeepPaint for those who know it) and use the multitude of 2D tools and brushes on the model in the document window then PICK IT BACK UP retaining the detail in the mesh not for a BUMP or SPEC map. That is worth waiting for! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Me too! :tu:

[s o u t h e r n]

Hey Lonnie,

Where is everyone? The old place feels cold and lonely right now? I only turned my back for a few days, no wait! weeks, no wait...

When's that site of yours gonna display them master pieces for us??????

G

[andreseloy]

Thanks Glen for your quickly and didactic help. Yes..is a question from a beginner one and i really thanks for your answer.
I will try to learn from you.
Thanks very much.

[Mentat7]

Hey Glen!

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Where is everyone? The old place feels cold and lonely right now? I only turned my back for a few days, no wait! weeks, no wait...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Lol! Try months :D But seriously, lately it has gotten quite here on the weekends. I suspect things will pick up once we get nearer to the next release.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>When's that site of yours gonna display them master pieces for us??????<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

"Master pieces"....that could be questionable... but one of these days I will get off my unmotivated, uninspired, lazy keester and finish it. :D In the meantime lets see some more of that cool modeling of yours! You've been working in LW for quite a while now...how bout a tut or two on box modeling with edge loops etc? (Mentat ducks for cover as Southern realizes he's just been painted into a corner...) hehehehe....

[TVeyes]

I saw these over at CGtalk, great walkthrough of the workflow :tu: And cool end product too :tu:

[Ron Harris]

Hey Glen, nice work as always!! And I have been also loving your real world modeling. You are quite the sculptor. Gives me a major case of the droolies when I take sneak peaks. Great to see you back posting. And the guy you have rendered here for us and explained quite in detail is just marvelous.

[sadicus]

greetings Southern,
Thanks for sharing! your tutorials are always really helpful and great to look at!

i am curious about the "stone texture" from your images, was that painted in ZB, or is it a light setting? i have seen a few "stone, or Statue" type textures but have not had much luck getting that effect.
thanks :D

[DMerchen]

Whew, nice poly shot! Very nice modeling. How much time do you usually take on a piece like this? Nice to see a post again Glen. Hope to see more soon. Don't be such a stranger! :D :tu:

[Mahlikus The Black]

Hello Southern!
Amazing modeling man!
Thanks for the Screenshots too! :tu:

[Muvlo]

Nice to see you here again, Southern! :)

Same amazing style! :tu:

The new stuff on your site looks great too. :)

[MrBraun]

Nice to see again Southern!! Great !!! :D :tu:

P.S.
Great sculputure Southern!! I have seen your site and the post on CGTalk!!

Tnx for sharing !!

[drjjwow]

good to have you back glen,.. were all here just. everybody is just waiting for the upgrade to come out... very cool model and texture.

[Mahlikus The Black]

Oh and as Lonnie said...a box modeling tut would be cool. Too bad C4d doesn't support N-gon...*pout*. In the year that I have been here, there has been a big change in the forum. But I too agree that it will pick up in the next few months. Especially considering that the CGTalk post has enlightened a few.

One more thing...glad to have you back in here. :)

[DeeVee]

Welcome back Glen, the old group are still here but mainly lurking. Fantastic work as usual! :) :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu:

[juandel]

gosh! what a neck and what fantastico return :D! hope to see glenachievements on a more regular basis over here again :)

- juandel

[Belleski]

Hi Southern! Thanks very much for the detailed step by step of your working style. Very inspirational. You have been missed. ;)
No need to feel lonely, your home now. I sincerely hope that means that we will be treated to more of your creations.
( All these rumours of a new version and I have yet to get a handle on 1.55! Sad really.) :)

[akhromov]

Thanks for the info Southern.

Quick question: Can you show the script for doing the Draw Size increase/decrease using the Z/X A/S keys please? It is very much like the procedure I use in Photoshop brush sizing, but I have no idea how to do such a ZScript yet.

Thanks in advance,

Andre