ZBrushCentral

Can you create a complex scene just using ZBrush?

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I’ve been flipping through the forums for a long time now looking at tutorials and galleries. I’ve noticed that some of the more impressive work seems to be manipulated in 3Ds Max, Maya, etc and even more programs just for rendering. With the high learning curve involved (and cost) with all of these programs I was wondering what is actually possible when just using ZBrush for the sculpting, painting and rendering.

I’m sure a lot can be done, but I was hoping somebody might point out some real world examples of either final products or tutorials where an entire scene was created start to finish with just ZBrush.

#2

Many people use external programs because they are used to them and have built their workflow around them. Often this is because they are involved in the games industry which has very specific requirements.

But ZBrush can be used from start to finish and produce some impressive results. Here are two examples where the users show in detail how they work:

http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=51773
http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=63785

#3

Thanks for replying so quickly. What you say makes total sense. That being the case, I wasn’t sure if I was intending to use ZBrush in a way it was never designed.

I’ve just flipped through the pages of the first link and am going to go back and read it in more detail as soon as I can. The lighting of the scene reminded me that I’d seen a good bit of discussion about the lighting system in ZBrush being a bit cumbersome. (yet another reason users may end up rendering it in another program) Is the lighting system currently evolved enough for ease of use and complex/realistic design?

Also, I believe I have yet to see an approach to glass or transparency in general that works really well in ZBrush. Like if I wanted to add glass beads on a necklace worn by a sculpted model, it seems that would be difficult to achieve.

BTW: It appears that the second link is broken; I’m being told its ‘invalid’.