The “Arena”. It was a tryout of Cinema (for lights and rendering-stuff).
The second pic where Poser was involved, sorry! The rags of both male and virgin, the spear and the shield are from ZBrush, as well as some minor changes to the meshes of the figures.
I trying to figure out if ZBrush can do all what you did… great work… but if I need more software geeeeeeeee $$$$.
This could all be done in ZBrush Afraidofthedark…It would require planning, but it can be done, since there is nothing here that precludes using ZBrush. There are lighting things that would have to be ‘tweeked’ by hand in post production, but since ZBrush is a wonderful paint program, that’s no prob…
If you do a scene in ZBrush, and render it, you can open ZBrush, import the image you just made, and fill a layer with it by importing as a Texture…Now using the 2D, AND 2.5D tools, you can adjust lighting and other things. Also, you could use this as a backdrop, and add NEW 3D components… 
I like this image.
As the SC says, when you learn more of ( no one ever does) the tricks and nicks of ZBrush most things become possible. 
Yes, I think it could perhaps be done using nothing but ZBrush. I am not sure in what version you might do the lightning 
as well as proper AA, but: yes, I think it could be possible.
But - besides of the challenge in doing so - MUST it be done in ZBrush alone?? Just think of the difficulties in drawing something perspectively right under ZBrush.
For me, I want my pics now, as long as I can imagine them (you tend to forget the one or the other thing at 50+!!). If it would be easy, well there would be sure a lot more of those kinds of pics around here, don’t you think??
For the people who know the program or promote it that is fine… but for someone like me… it can be very difficult to know where to go or buy, my impression is that I just dont see one program being able to do all…just a tought. I was looking at Poser program and saw some great picture and work “Flash” for ani., and the price that they show is 1/2 what ZB is… am so darn confused. …See this picture is to me
@afraidofthedark:
Aside of those mainstream-proggies (just look at WORD >> the only thing it does not is making coffee :D) we are fortunate to have some specialists. Each a kind of master in it’s own field. Now, there always will be purists which are almost sworn in to one piece of software. But, just like art should not be fenced in we should be free to use whatever tool is needed to acchieve our goals. You don’t have to spend a whole lot of money in getting software - not sure if you did choose the “right” one.
My version of Painter is almost as old as I am , those walls in the above pic can be done in Wings (free!!), and for Poser and the rest >> the companies often sell older versions at very low prices. If you take a bit of time to look around you might find even used software at reasonable prices, and you can complete your toolbox this way.
I am not southern (or brilliant or any of those masters) - but even they are using Painter, Wings, PS, etc to finish their pics.
No use to get frustrated just because you can’t bring ZBrush (or any other soft) to work the way you want it to.
Long speech 
- thank you for liking the pic!!!
When you say ‘50+’ are you talking about age? Because I turn 56 in about 3 weeks from now…
No, I don’t think you HAVE to do it all in ZBrush, merely that you could. You’re right about perspective though. Before university I trained as an Architectural Draftsman, (A ‘dead’ field now with computer drafting…), and I’m used to at least 2 and more likely 3-Point perspective. The way I’ve dealt with this is using ‘forced perspective’ with scaling the foreground objects…
As far as ‘version’ goes, I’m talking about the technique I mentioned above…Render the image, (starting at least double-size), import the render and use the 2D tools, in particular the ‘Highlighter2’, since you can set the ‘maximum’ level for it, as opposed to the regular ‘Highlighter’, and also the ‘Shading Enhancer’ to add lighting effects. Granted, this is more hands-on than most like to be, but I’m a gemcutter by profession, and patience is not an issue for me…
I use LightWave for most of my work, so I miss things like Volumetric lighting, real perspective, and other things, but pound-for-pound, and particularly dollar-for-dollar, ZBrush does what it does very well.
And Afraidofthedark, it depends on what you want to do, what software you require. I have ZBrush, LightWave, Cinema 4D XL, and SoftImage on my computer, but they all are good for different things. Try to see it as an ‘additive’ process, rather than a ‘subtractive’ one. What I mean is use what you have, push it to the limits, and see what you need as you learn more…ZBrush will work great for you, and anything you add will work with ZBrush pretty well too!
@sc: well, we have nearly 12 months between us. And, depending on your view: I win, getting 57 in December (sure: I could be the looser as well - like I said: depending on the possible focus! ).
Concerning patience: three kids, one dog…do I need to tell more??
For the rest: you are talking about AA? Well, I wonder what is so difficult in programming a real antialiasing-routine? Must be a hell of a job, because AA is not happening in ZBrush.
If you take an image, done your way, and zoom in by 400 >>> BINGO, there they are, beautifull rough borders. Who would do such insane zooming?? Maybe noone - but: I know that those hard structures are there.
This does not make ZBrush a lesser piece of software - I can do postprocessing outside of ZBrush. Just don’t tell anybody, that ZBrush is capable of AA - please !!
I am sure you meant exactly that when you said that “… ZBrush does what it does very well.”
You’re right!
In fact, aside from LightWaves’ render engine, the best one I’ve found is the POV-Ray render engine…Now if THAT and ZBrush were joined at the hip, you’d REALLY have something…Of course in POV-Ray, you have to learn to write a ‘scene description’, which although it is written in English, has VERY demanding syntax requirements…
(And patience? In the last week I did a full Radiosity, and Volumetric lit scene in LW, that took 19 hours to render… )
Also, I work with materials that took millions of years to be created by immense planetary forces, where one false move shaves off 5 carats of material, that can be worth thousands of dollars per carat, so you BETTER be patient, because you can’t make a mistake and tell your client you lost him money, or yourself that your impatience caused the loss of millions of years of Mother Earths’ work…
Whhooahhh…Philosophy outbreak!
and you spent each of those 19 hours watching your box render??? Wow, I should call this passionate, not patience !!
For POV: there is an front-end to POV, it requiers POV running in the background and gives you a slightly friendlier interface. no more describing your modell via handwritten code. It’s nice but still a bit on the weird side - ifyou are used to deal with some of the “bigger” softs.
So it is not only a nick-name? Well, you might call me mudmonger then - I work with clay, a couple of years younger then your stuff. And: just for my pleasure, no clients trampling on my nerves!
Ok, 2.30 here in good old…BEDTIME now, have a good one!!
Goodnight Z! 
And no, I didn’t watch it all…I went to my carving bench while it rendered, and then left it running when I left the studio to walk back to my boat…
oh my I do appreciate all the comment and wise discussion in here. Ok am young 53. 
I am not an artist like you guys but patience I do have. I or was Tool & Die Makers which did require lots of patience and close tolerence.
I always love too look a good picture or painting… and maybe am to hard on myself… but as I see from what you people have said… my spirit has been lifted. Has you can see by my name, I must see in my head before I create… What do you call that? " mind picture. Anyway agree with you all and ZB is good if not excellent… will have to see how well it goes with all my other software. :rolleyes:
That’s the same way I work, Afraidofthedark…I have to see it in my mind, and pretty clearly, before I start work. Some ‘doodle’, I don’t!
There are a lot of helpful people here, and as far as ZBrush goes, we all had to start somewhere, and along the way, we should all try to help others along the path…
I do some machining as well, using a little Sherline Combo milling machine and lathe…
Now tool and die work…THAT can be a major artform, in my opinion! A very skilled profession indeed! (And 3 50+ guys all find themselves here…What a forum! )
GOOD morning, SC!! But, all this talk about 50+ (and I am VERY sure that there are a few more of “us” here!): it’s only numbers, right? Ok, usually I forget most things I don’t take note of :D, but…what was it that I wanted to say?? Anyway: the best is still to come (mastering ZBrush - at least 10% of it!!)!!
EDIT: almost forgot
afraidofthedark: I don’t make a living out of doing art - quite obvious, I would have starved a long time ago! I am only scratching the surface of what is possible, still reaching out to get near my set goals. So from one hobby-ist to another: keep doing things, talk about them, ask questions - there’s so much to learn!!
Hi old fellows
One of the interest and magic of the Net is :
There is “no age” on the screen just painting
And all is that it’s said can’t be easy prove !
It’s just words !
How many times a man was a women, a young an aged, a carpenter an artist and vice versa…
Just my two cents
Pilou Fat old lady princess of Dreamland
Well Frenchy - the www and hiding behind your monitor >>> you are right, we could be anything. But, folks tend to get sentimental on certain occasions, and: meeting another pair of grandpa’s - it was fun.
But, I got something for you (sorry that it is an act of recycling, but the way you described yourself brought this up at once !!): here she is, "Pilou Fat old lady princess of Dreamland "!!
Hope I got the mood !!
Hi Zerebrom
Very Well done !
My screen is like a mirror
Maybe a little diet must be necessary :rolleyes:
Pilou future young slim princess of DreamLand
!!