ZBrushCentral

Hard Surface Modeling? Can I start and finish inside zbrush!

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

Heya,

My name is brendan I have been using maya and max for a good 7 years, But im a huge fan of zbrush and want to convert my skills onto zbrush for hard surface modelling,

Now I would like to know how and where would I start for modelling everything inside zbrush from the base mesh to the high end detail. I have the new QRemesher! Ive seen a few tutorials out there for hs modeling but what about a house or a cabinet ect. What are the main tools used for hard surface.

Thanks

#2

You definitely can, and there are a slew of tools available for this (such as some of the newer transpose modeling features, slice curve brush, clipping brushes, various retopology methods, shadow box, etc).

It might be worth pointing out that zbrush still has GoZ, so you can still incorporate your knowledge and experience with programs like Max/Maya into your workflow, and switch back and forth with the click of a button.

#3

thanks for the reply, I am wondering where’s some good starting tutorials for hard surface modelling? I am wanting to do everything inside zbrush why I dont want to use GoZ

#4

If memory serves, Ryan Kingslien had a video series at zbrushworkshops that was dedicated to hard surface sculpting (though the video would be a bit outdated by now I image).

A good place to dig would be through the beta tester threads (such as http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?161185-ZBrush-4R2-Beta-Testing-By-Nicolas-Garilhe), as a handful of them give some good ideas when it comes to hard surface shapes. Etcher has another good example of making a gun at http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?78703-Etcher_Sketcher&p=897256&viewfull=1#post897256

The new training videos on transpose modeling (http://www.pixologic.com/zclassroom/homeroom/lesson/transpose/#transpose-modeling-part-1) could also be worth viewing to learn how to do some more traditional modeling techniques such as extruding and inseting within zbrush. Some of these techniques can also be seen in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcdK_1-4sqI

Viewing the videos on the Insert Multimesh brushes could also help as you would be able to model all sorts of various bits and pieces to kit-bash later (whether they are created in zbrush or elsewhere).