ZBrushCentral

Hey people I am thinking about getting Zbrush...

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

I am currently using an Imac G5 with Intel Core 2 Duo and I want to put it to work. I have never used a 3d design like Zbrush but I have been looking at the amazing art work posted on this site and it got me interested. I just have a couple of questions…

  1. Is it easy to install and can my computer run it?

  2. Is it simple to use?

  3. I see there are different types of Zbrush (Zbrush, 2, and 3) what are the differences and can you upgrade for free?

  4. I have no experience in the field of graphic design but would like to try this out, is it the best one out there?

  5. Will i need other programs besides Zbrush while making work?

  6. And finally is there a tutorial that will help me along the way?

Thanks alot dudes !

#2

it really depends on what you’re going to use the program for. if it’s for graphic design like advertising, then you might find a very limited use for it. to answer your specific questions:

1. the mac version is not yet available. it's pretty easy to install. check the system requirements to see how yours stands up against the minimum. 2. as as simple to use as could be reasonably expected. there are limitations to working digitally, and you have to learn those limitations, just like any other medium. just like learning to handle oils and prep your canvas so the paints don't rot your work after a few years. 3. of course there's differences. there are a lot of new features in 3, as well as improvements and changes to many from z2. for a complete list, try reading up on Pixologic's website. 4. "is it the best" is like asking whether Max or Maya is better, or whether a Ford is better than a Chevy, or a golden retrever better than a beagle. it's subjective. 5. z3 has many improvements that will limit your dependance on other programs. however, to get the full capabilities, chances are you'll need photoshop and/or another 3d application. it depends on your goals for what you're working on. 6. there's lots of tutorials. for z2, there's the practical manual, which is a tome of just about all the relevant info you will ever need. so far, z3's documentation is all digital, on zbrush.info. at the risk of being blunt, you can learn just about everything you asked by doing some reading. and it sounds like you're new to the field, and many people think you can just jump into computer graphics. and yes, with many tools, that's true to an extent, but there's a lot of information to learn, and you're going to have to do some reading yourself. that's the sad truth about this. anyways, zbrush is definitely a great investment. try downloading the demo and playing around with it to see if it's something you'd be interested in.

(z3 demo not out yet; z2 is, but version 3 has a lot of improvements to make it easier to use.)

edit-changed some incorrect info

#3

Just to correct an above point, the Mac version of Z3 is not yet available. There is a Mac version for Z2.

The Z2 demo may still be avaliable…I suggest checking that out to answer your questions.

There is a learning curve for ZB…it has a completely unique way of doing things. Some things are immediately easy to grasp, others take a bit of time.

As a designer/Illustrator, I find it invaluable.

#4
  1. Is it simple to use?

It’s simple to use, but you have to put in the work to learn about it first. It’s basically clay on the computer so you don’t need to mess about with maths etc. But you’ll need to learn the basics first obviously.

  1. I see there are different types of Zbrush (Zbrush, 2, and 3) what are the differences and can you upgrade for free?

Get 3. It’s buggy in my eyes, but this will be sorted. ZBrush 3 is far superior to 2.

  1. I have no experience in the field of graphic design but would like to try this out, is it the best one out there?

If you want to jump straight in then this is by far the best. Using something like 3D Studio Max will take a long time to work well.

  1. Will i need other programs besides Zbrush while making work?

Probably, depending entirely on what you need to do. Having said that, ZB on its own is more than capable of creating excellent images.

  1. And finally is there a tutorial that will help me along the way?

Lots of tutorials will pop up as ZB3 becomes more established.