Am i walking the optimal path?

[Falrinth]

Hello.

I have started playing with ZBrush like three days ago and i got really cranked up with it, really motivated to explore and learn the program. However its my first contact with 3d work enviroment. I have worked in my life only with 2d, particularly Photoshop and Flash for long time to earn for my living.

Then i bought tablet and wanted to start drawing and creating art with it, but it didnt quite hit the mark - felt like a chore when i doing my practise with it.

Then i have tryied 3dsmax to learn “how to 3d” but it felt so technical and i was kind of overhelmed by its interface and all.

So few days ago i have seen my friend publishing his practise work with ZBrush and they were really nice and then i felt the urge of trying that new program. So i did, watched a lot of introductions and tutorials on youtube. The 10 part tutorial by GameStarrArts was particularly helpfull to grasp how to work in ZBrush. Anyway here i am practising and playing with it, and im quite satisfied with my first fruits of learning the program (im gonna attach my first 2 practise fruits at the end).

However of course im still struggling with the technical part of the models as well as to learn all the rest of the basic stuff and then start learning advanced ones.

Now i have a bad feeling, that without knowing other 3d programs which are much more technical than ZBrush (the 3dsmax, maya or something like that) i wont be able to get any use of my sculpts, cause who would be interested in getting sculpts that have bazilion of poligons and are not good for anything else than a 2d image made of 3d model…

So as i said earlier, i know i have enough motivation to keep learning ZBrush even for months or years to come, but is it right path for me, if im aiming to evolve as designer from 2d,motion design to 3d design (im 28 years old already, so if i invest several years of my life into tthis program propably then my learning capabilities will deteriorate as the brain gets older and older)? Or knowing how to sculpts in ZBrush wont take me anywhere else but having an interesting hobby and maybe some bonus to my 2d jobs sometimes?

And another question: If i will study the ZBrush for enough time to be able to sculp efficiently, how much of learning awaits me in the “technical” 3d programs to be able to use my models in animations or games? Is there a way to not get much into these other 3d programs and succesfully “monetize” my ZBrush efforts in future - so it wont be just a great hobby that eats my time for fun? I would love to earn my living by doing stuff that i love to do, and i have already felt in love in ZBrush. (On countrary to practising my drawings, i dont have to force myself to practise in ZBrush, its just fun).

Here are my first lame learning results (the rhino is just at its beginig, i was struggling with how to make skin folds, and pretty much got them somehow proper only at the front view - the side view folds are real mess right now. Im planning to add armor and cannon on top of him, and maybe some orc/dwarf somewhere. Imp on the other side, was my just training dummy to learn the most basic brushes - hence he is kind of a war victim, dont judge him to harshly :P)

Attachments

[Spyndel]

What do you want to do? What is your level of ambition?

Do you want to become a better digital sculptor and hone your artistic ability? Zbrush is wonderful part (but far from the only part) of that. Like any other artistic skill, you must work at it every day for years. But becoming a good artist is far more difficult than gaining technical competency in any 3d program. You can gain fluency in a program over a few weeks. Becoming a better artist is something you pursue for a lifetime.

Do you want to make striking images with your digital creations? Zbrush has a rendering toolset that is constantly improving, and you can create fine images in it. For more advanced rendering tools, yes you will need a program that is more advanced in this regard, to know how to use it, and how to use Zbrush best with it.

Do you want to animate your character or put it in a game? Then you will need to learn the tools for that, and develop a working knowledge of the disciplines involved in adapting a high poly sculpt for a low poly environment.

Do you someday want a job making digital creations in the media industry? Then yes, you will need to learn the tools and trade of that industry, of which Zbrush is a part. You will need to learn how to work with Zbrush creations in other programs, which will require working knowledge of a number of different tools and techniques. You will also need to be a good artist. Again, that is far and away a more difficult goal than picking up the ins and outs of a few different 3d oriented programs.

[Falrinth]

Thank you for the reply Scott.

Well im kind of in the dark right now, trying to find the optimal path for my learning. Currently im just dying to start doing something else than what i do for living. Im fed up with doing marketing campaigns, animating, reformating and doing the boring things to pay my bills. So what interests me most atm, is whats the first thing you can make money on while having fun working with ZBrush without the need of spending long time learning another 3d program. In other words:

Rendering some image to sell on internet images bank is an example that came to my mind, i could do that already whenever i spend some more time with ZBrush to hone my sculpting skills - so thats the images. What i still wonder about is the value of .obj file made in ZBrush. Will other people working with other 3d tools be interested in some nice .obj made in ZBrush or will they prefer to do similiar model from the scratch, seeing the ZBrush .obj not usefull for them?

Sorry for my incompetent questions. Im simply probing what future may bring if i choose to dedicate myself to this program’s study.

p.s.
For your first question: I have learned to not raise my ambitions to high, and carefully aiming higher and higher over time when i get the momentum. So i dont pull to high and go into stall Of course i would love working on computer games, doing models there, but to keep my motivation up i would want to see some mileston closer on my way to start monetizing my time spent in ZBrush. Im living in Poland, and as an enterprenuer here im always below the red line on my bank account, so before i lay down and just do the fun stuff while learning it i also have to keep in mind that i need to earn money with my time. So hence my question about merging fun stuff (learning ZBrush) with some occasion to earn something.

[Spyndel]

Well, if you ever seriously want to “monetize” your work in any meaningful way, you’ll need to first become an artist people are interested in hiring/buying from. So that’s probably not something you’ll be doing tomorrow. If you need a new job, best look to something more attainable for the time being. I don’t say that to be cruel, only so you’ll have realistic expectations, and to honor the people that have spent years pursuing that goal. It takes years of practice to get to the point where people value your work enough to buy it/hire you, and you’ll be competing against people who’ve put in that time.

Look at it this way. You won’t want to learn anatomy either. It’s a tedious chore that requires a lots of repetition, but if you ever want a serious shot at supporting yourself as any kind of character modeler or illustrator, you will learn it.

Compared to learning anatomy, picking up 3dsMax will be a breeze!

In the meantime, join a game modding team, take classes, read books, practice. Learn the sort of things you want to do, and the tools and disciplines you need to know to do them. Pick up Blender–it’s free, and if you can learn Blender, or at least how to work in and out of it with Zbrush, you can easily pick up any other program. Every program is intimidating at the start. After a few weeks of use, things seem much different.

When learning any program, have series of smaller technical goals in addition to larger artistic ones. Today, I’m going to learn how to import a model into this program, and take a simple render. Tomorrow, I will learn to apply a simple texture. The next day, I will learn how to export a texture from Zbrush, and apply it to my model. Etc.

Good luck, and happy Zbrushing!

[Falrinth]

Thanks Thats the plan. Right now im at the step of understunding the efficient ways of actually creating something more complex of parts. Creating these parts, giving them desired shape etc. I believe im doing with them stuff for 5 hours which could be done in 5 minutes, but damn… long time i didnt felt so much “in the right place, doing right thing” - really looong time.

Even tho you said that knowing ZBrush alone (from 3d programs) wont bring me anywhere on proffesional level the other thing you said is so true… I remember my first steps in Macromedia Flash The first program related with graphics whatsoever. Even tho i was so lame with it back then it felt as right to spend time with it as it does with ZBrush. Then i needed express lesson of Photoshop when i started working with Flash for money.
My collegues from agency told me i have learned stuff from backwards, that i should have first learned Photoshop and then Flash. I guess it might be same with 3d production - i will first learn ZBrush and then do an express lesson of the neccesary 3d software.

Anyway after real heroic battle and hours of struggling with basic stuff i have succesfully installed first plates of armor on my Rhino! Oh boy, if you would know how much effort it took me… xD (Figured i will first add him the armaments and armor and then work on details)

ps. is there a way to split some model into separate subtools other than using “clip” brushes?

[Seavannah]

Nice work on the pose you are already ahead of some beginners with that. small_orange_diamond

I answered that question about the splitting of the sub tools in one of your questions about hiding and deleting poly groups.

As far as the age old question about to ZB or not to ZB as someone recently came up with for me lol. Do you like it so far? Do you see some incredible pieces and just dream about being able to make something like that? Do you have crazy ideas running around your imagination and just crying to live in the outside world? Then yes give it your all. As with all things you have to have a passion for it, nothing else matters. You may not get a job right off the bat with it unless you are a prodigy and even those need a bit of practice in the 3D world with different software programs. Your knowledge of 2D art however will become a great asset too so don’t lose that.

The cool thing about ZB is that it can work hand in hand with other software programs including but not limited to Max, Maya, and Photoshop. You also having some knowledge of photoshop is a great thing with ZB. For those that can’t afford PS then there is Gimp that is free and sort of like PS also can help and helps the ZBrush experience to be even greater.

As far as the million polygons that ZBrush requires to make decent sculpts and how most other programs would crash if you ever dragged a model like that into them or users unable to upload them to use. Zbrush has a great many different things that can solve this. There are a few great tutorials you can google about ZBrush to 3DS Max out there and I have found many on the subject. As well as PS & ZB, Maya & ZB, Blender & ZB… I think you get the idea lol

ZBrush is in it’s infancy with the Animation and Rendering (although that is quickly growing up to be a great and cool thing) and it can be animated in other programs. Texturing, Detailing, Painting, Posing, Model Concept and Creating from Scratch (or Primitives) are some of the functions that make ZB one of the few great 3d programs out there. The Topology feature is crazy cool and the ZRemesher just made ZBrush the All time champion of awesomeness found with in a 3D program and that can only get better.

I am biased though lol ZB is the only thing I have ever bought that I never once regretted and I never will. Pixologic is also an incredible company and one of the 1st to put it’s users ahead of monetary gain by giving us free updates for so long. Other program makers have seen this and realized that maybe they should too lol…some…. They have a user for life in me… yes the program has :evil: bugs sometimes but what program doesn’t? The company certainly doesn’t have any bugs in it lol and that is good enough for me.

All I can say is take your time, learn for the other beginners, intermediates, and advanced users. One great thing about ZBCentral is most are so helpful one of the biggest sites out there geared to share the 3D world with other like artists but also a great pool of knowledge for all and on all subjects 3D even some that are about other programs that can either work hand in hand with ZB or even some that compete with ZB too lol it is all welcome.

One day, sooner than you think, those things that may, right now, take you hours, days or weeks lol dare I say more lol, will start to take less and less time until one day you will find it is an automatic thing and look back on these times with a sort of pride that you went through all that and still came out on top and maybe even those few Top Row art pieces. ZB and Pixologic are striving and will always strive for one thing to make it’s program not only easier and more user friendly than most programs but also to make it faster to get those crazy cool ideas out of your imagination and out into the world as fast as they can.

Good luck to you, and also if you want those days that may come when you need a pep talk lol or need something feel free to PM me and I will try my best. There are also going to be a lot of people that you will meet here that are going to be incredible and help you along your path too.

Good luck and can’t wait to see what you come up with.

p.s. age doesn’t matter unless you are a wine or cheese and both usually get better with age lol. There are lot of people young and older, female and male, intermediate and advanced, people that know someone or by chance a company sees and likes what they see, in the 3D world making a living doing what they love.
One thing I loved reading was how a lot of people that worked on Avatar and other movies games and things like that were people that didn’t have all the schooling and knowing of other people in the industry,and some not even a whole lot of knowledge in 3D, they were found by being on ZBCentral, doing contests here and on other sites and things like that. So you really never know.

P.p.s lol sorry lol you might also want to check out Gnomon the 2D and 3D forums both have monthly challenges that if you get placed in either the 2D or later the 3D challenge you can win some digital DVD’s that are from some of the masters within both industries. Even if you win the 2D contest you can pick some DVDs out on 3D

Good luck to you wishing you all the best life has to offer and welcome to the 3d world