ZBrushCentral

Please Help Me Decide

Community
#1

Hey, I’m in quite a mess. It’s summer and all I’m doing is working and then coming home and doing nothing. I want to learn a new program but i’m not sure which. I just saw Z Brush and I tried it out and it’s amazing but I’m not sure if there is better programs out there. Also all I could find was tutorials and no books or videos for Z brush. Anyways, It’s between these…

Photoshop Cs
Cinema 4d
Z Brush
Avid Xpress Pro

Alot of these programs have 2nd and 3rd party cd/dvd’s of actual movie tutorial. I’m just not sure if there is anything out there better than Z Brush? Or if anyone has any good advice? Thanks.

#2

the list you show is amazing … i mean these programs are all meant for different purpose … for example photoshop is for painting, and image editing in general … cinema is a 3d package with animation possibilities, good modeling tools and you can buy additional a texturing tool … zbrush is imo an illustration tool with good to very good modeling tools and good painting tools. and nice texturing tool, but not a real 3d surrounding, and no animation tools … and if iam correct, avid is for video … so i guess your first qestion is, what do you want do ? if you know that the choice will be easy :slight_smile:

#3

Thanks for your insight dude. Let me ask this, is Z Brush going to take a long time to learn? Would I be able to pick up on the basics in a couple of weeks, or is this a program where I’ll have to pick up a few books. I was just messing with the 1.55 demo and it’s alot of fun but theres so many things on the screen and it’s kind of overwhelming.

#4

Hi Gumpiss,
as a 3D beginner it took me some time to get the hang out of it but then I work full time and can only devote an hour a day to Z. There are a few stumpling stones you have to master but once you got past them it is a smooth ride. Zbrush is lots of fun. You don’t need books, at least I didn’t. You got all the help you’ll ever need right here at ZBC. There is the Practical Guide, the FAQs, the Quicklinks, and most of all the tremendous amount of knowledge of the ZB community. All these guys out there are keen to help, show you how its done, share materials, textures, alphas, zscripts etc etc. You couldn’t find a better place to learn a program.

#5

ditto on what drmapl said. I don’t know where you are in the learning process of the aforementioned programs, but Z2 is a pretty easy to learn software…at least to get the basic hang of things…Once you learn the interface there is so much support in the tutorials, zscripts etc…things these days couldnt be any easier for the average user imho. Take the demo for a good hard spin…and then you will be hooked at the end of the demo period and somethign tells me you will buy the full version at that point. Haven’t met too many people that didn’t like zbrush. The ones that I have were just biased towards more traditional packages and more expensive programs…My bet is on Z2…it really does rule!!

#6

Echo all the above comments and stress the one question, what would you be trying to
accomplish?
Also money is a good criteria.
In this environment(3d) Photoshop is the program you go to afterwards.
In Photography and image manipulation it has
no peer.
Regarding 3d creation it should not even be
on the list.
Prioritize and relist.
Must add, of the programs you listed and including a few others, zbrush
is absolutely the most fun at whatever level.
You have already seen one of the biggest advantages, the people here.
Luck

#7

I hate to do this in a ZB forum, but the most used application in that list is by far Photoshop. Photoshop is probably the most widely used application in all fields. The training for Photoshop is second to none. Total Training for Photoshop CS, or Photoshop 7 (8 DVD set) will turn anyone into a photoshop expert in a matter of weeks.
Photoshop user Magazine is also full of great tips, but you wont need more than the Total Training DVD set. Scott Kelby (From Photoshop user Magazine) also makes Photoshop Training DVD’s that are not total coverage of the application, but he takes you through techniques for particular areas that are useful throughout any project, that are equally as good as total training DVD’s, but are not the same thing.

If you really have to ask that question I would say you should start with a package like photoshop. Most other interfaces for other applications take many things from photoshop. You always here people say something in tutorials like “If you know photoshop, this part will be easy”.
Another thing about Photoshop is you’ll still use it with every one of those applications on that list when your ready for more. Sometimes you don’t actually need it with ZB, but it’s just such a great application you want to.

It all has to start somewhere, and if you want to lay a great foundation in your digital skills, or have skills in an application that is used throughout many industries world wide Photoshop is the best place to start.

That’s my opinion, and an honest answer.

#8

Hey thanks alot guys for all your replies. I’m not really sure what I want to do, but I have to admit that Z brush is the most entertaining. It’s just that I have all of the programs except Z and I’m just debating on which to master. I’m probalby going to stick with Z for a while and see what I can do after a few tutorials. Again, thanks alot for all the opinions and help.

#9

Take the three last :slight_smile:
Pilou