They are HARD to model!
Any Help?
This is my first try…dont laugh lol
There are a couple of hand modelling scripts and tutorials in the quick links section. You can check those out.
I may work on a Zscript later demonstrating how I do a hand where the figures are bent as if grasping something.
I had similar problems modling a hand LWTB. I recommend starting with a very low mesh density. Now position each poly evenly over the surface. Then, as you divide and add detail, the mesh will not get so stretched and hard to work with. Another option is building the basic shape in another program, and then adding detail in ZBrush.
Hey LWTB
Yes hands ARE very hard and if I had another 3D application readily available, I would make them in it and import them myself. Here is an old hand I had abandoned a way back but I thought I’d pull it out since you brought back “memories” of MY hand experience.
I went ahead and ran the z-axis of the sphere through the thumb to the edge of hand in hopes of getting rid of that pinching of geometry that polar areas of the sphere tend to do. Then I squeeze it like a hamburger and pulled points. When areas get all kinked up or pointy, I paint a selection/inverse selection and then smooth it. The drawback I had was that I had a hard time getting the necessary amount of mesh in the fingers to make them bend in a convincing way like for a grip.
Le Discot had mentioned in his Little Sirena posting that he modeled the fingers separately and hid the seam by using the Glow brush which I thought was interesting because I would have thought the Blur but I tried the glow brush tool and it had a cool effect. Might be a worth while to check out.
If you are thinking of this method, I’d suggest making your fingers with the 3DSweep profile tool since you can make the finger shape profile in the S-profile window when in the Initialize section.
I have a strange feeling that hands are going to get easier in the next Zbrush version.
Anyway I empathise with your hand plight so I just thought I’d share.
goodluck,
jelee
Hi! My response got deleted, so I’ll try again…First there isn’t one way to do a hand. It depends on what the hand is doing…
Here’s an example based on my ‘Troll King’ image, which is still in progress…
The hand on the left of the image is holding a bone, since with added meat…The hand on the right of the image is holding a tankard. Since the one on the left required it, I made the back of the hand, and made the fingers seperately. The one holding the tankard was modelled from a flattened sphere. The best thing to remember, is an old animators’ trick…Observe your own hand, using a mirror if necessary, and use it as a reference, doing what the hand in your image will be doing. You have two hand models available all the time, on the ends of your arms…There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all hand. The appearance is a function of the particular image… 
jolee i love your hand ex… maybe you could post a script on this …
Here’s a script I did demonstrating the technique I used to get bent fingers. I used this technique for the hand in my “Two Hunters” image.
It’s a little simplified, however, to keep the file size down.
Stonecutter you brought up a good point with the hand being modeled for the task it’s performing. This would definitely add more to the character it’s attached. I like the fist on the troll king that would be holding the bone. I’d be interested in seeing the finished rendering. Thank you for the insight.
Dr.JJwow, thank you. I did that model before I knew anything about scripting in Zbrush so that’s why there is no script. The hand above was the high resolution hand that was saved, optimized in steps of 10. I thought it showed the progress just the same but in reverse. I think after seeing the Wingedone’s script, I may have to return to try hand modeling again. That was a cool approach to the bent fingers that illustrates Stonecutters point well. Thanks for posting.
jelee
Thanks, Jelee…I think there are a lot of people who ask questions such as ‘How do I model a hand’, or ‘How do I make a nose’, without thinking that there is no clear-cut answer. I have a mirror in my studio, (actually I have two…A small one to check expression, and a large one for poses…), and they are probably the most useful tool I have. I’m doing a ‘Karrot’ version of the Mona Lisa as I write, and the only way I can work out the expression, aside from study of the painting, is to use the mirror, exaggerate the expression, and follow what my eyes tell me. Also, one of the more useful tips posted here comes from Southern, who once wrote in a post, ‘Don’t model what you can’t see…’
If you email me, I would be glad to send you a JPG of the image in progress…My email isn’t blocked.
heres my try
Thanks for everyones help!
Heres the script of me struggling to model them.hands.txt They arent as good as the other ones here but i tried and this is the best i could do. I need to add more detail too.
