ZBrushCentral

Mastering Zbrush....where to start?!

ZBrush Usage Questions
#1

So I’ve taken a liking to 3d modelling, Ive only really ever done one sculpt but its something I really want to get good at

Although Im currently finding myself running in circles with how to go about actually progressing…
I’m guessing to make good models a decent amount of anatomy knowledge is needed, so ive been looking that up, trying to draw some but getting frustrated so trying to sculpt them in 3d but not being quite so good enough…then going back to paper to try to do concept designs for characters but I cant quite draw them in 3d…so i go back to zbrush to just try starting out in there but I just get frustrated that I can’t get my model to look how I picture in my head…I could bore you all forever on the circles ive been going in

Basically my question is does anyone have any advice on where to actually solidly start to become good at 3d modelling? Where did you start? With traditional art and back to the basics and then into zbrush? or straight to the deep end?

Sorry this question is long and waffly but it just shows my mind frame at the moment! BOGGLEDDDDDD:confused:

#2

It all comes down to traditional art IMO. If you can render something 2D and have it look 3D then you already have a good understanding of the forms that are needed so realizing those in 3D is much easier. Now, that isn’t to say you have to know how to draw to be able to sculpt. I know quite a few amazing sculptors that can barely draw a stick figure.

I do have to ask you a question though, do you want to be a character designer, or a modeler? Not everyone is both, actually most people are one or the other.

As for getting better, draw, all the time and sculpt, all the time. Work on smaller pieces rather than a whole character. Work on eyes, mouths, ears, hands, torsos, feet, etc. If you keep it small you wont be so overwhelmed by trying to sculpt a full character. Once you feel you are getting good, start putting them all together, work on busts, a lot of them.
After you get a complete body down then start working on cloth studies. After the cloth studies work on hard surface studies. After that work on hair (assuming you didn’t already during busts). Those are really the only things that a character is made of, anatomy, cloth studies, hair studies, and hard surface studies.

Basically, practice, practice, practice.

#3

Does a modeller just get given a design to model? If so Id prefer to be a character designer too. I like coming up with my own ideas, although I work in a bit of a weird way, Im not so good at putting my ideas on paper or pre planning, I just start to sculpt and see what I come up with!

Thanks for your advice, Im going to stop stressing and start practising! :+1:

#4

Yes, a 3d modeler typically isn’t given design work.
Being a character artist doesn’t mean you are a character designer. Designs are almost always made in 2D, though 3D thumbnails are becoming a thing, but someone that only has 2 dimensions to worry about will almost always be faster.

If you want to be a character designer then you need to work in 2D and you need to be able to communicate an idea. You can go to your art director and say, “I have a great idea for this character! I can’t show you it, but trust me. Oh yeah, you need to keep paying me while I work on it, and if you don’t like it, we’ll you can just pay me again to do it over. But it is so good that will never happen.”

It just doesn’t work that way. If you can’t communicate your ideas to another person quickly then chances are your ideas aren’t going to get made.

Now, all of this is assuming you want to work in a production environment rather than just doing this as a hobbie.