ZBrushCentral

ZBRUSH for 2.5 illustration...topics & tips

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I’m finishing the career of illustration in Spain, and i decide to do my final project in zbrush, because I have been playing for a half year and i’m quite happy with my modelling skills.
But I want to have the 2.5 d workflow clear in my mind for start in the correct way.

1-thumbnails in paper,sketches,concept design…for start the work with clear ideas!

2-modeling the base mesh of each element in Cinema 4d (it’s my main pack…)

3.Work in zbrush refining this meshes, refining the proportions, adding details…and adding THE ARTISTIC TOUCH to these meshes.

4.Save this ztools in a folder for make the composition later inside zbrush in 2.5 d (placing these with the gizmo)

5.Starting a new document in zbrush, and drawing the tools in the 2.5 space, using layers (i don’t know how to do this…) creating the scene.

6.Painting each element in 2.5 d using polipainting

  1. Render the scene.

  2. Postproduction in photoshop.

-It’s this a correct way or I’m missing something??
-Anyone is using Zapp link for painting the tools before placing it in the 2.5 d space??
-It’s good idea to use zapplink for work in the layers of photoshop for th composition of the scene??
-I’m missing something???

Sorry for this long post, but I have seen amazing stuff (scenes with sense of depth and a lot of elements) made completely inside of zbrush, and i decided to learn how to make this for make my own illustrations, so if anyone can help with his experiences, or tips it will be very helpful.

…and sorry for my english!!! :wink:

#2

It’s correct except step 6. Polypaint takes place in Edit mode, and you have snapshot the models to the canvas by this point. So rather than using the sculpting/painting brushes from the Brush palette you’ll use the 2.5D brushes in the Tool palette.

Also, you can use the color correction brushes from the Tool palette after you’ve rendered. In this case you’d bake each layer that you wish to adjust and then use the correction brushes on those layers.

As for how to use layers, check out the Layer palette (not the Tool>Layer menu, which is different). Each layer is basically a parallel universe on the canvas. Each one is the whole canvas, but with discreet elements painted onto it. So you could have a head on one layer and eyes on another. This would let you paint enhanced shadows on the eyes affecting the head in any way. Basically, the purpose of layers is to keep things separate. You can also turn layers off to hide what’s on those layers.

#3

Thank you Aurick!
As soon as possible I will post my fist experiments!