Old School Modeller New to ZBrush...

[system]

Hi All…

I started 3D in 1992 and work for Rocket Science (Obsidian, Space Bar), Wildbrain (Various) and Radium (Various). I recently decided to get back into 3D.

I have to admit that I am amazed and a little preplexed by ZBrush. I bought it for texture work and displacement mapping and am impressed by what it can do. We used to DREAM about this type of stuff back then-LOL! But I’m also a little weirded out by some of the tutorials I’ve done so far…

I was a Form Z/Maya/Soft Image/Alias guy. I remember when Maya first came out. We were cogniscent of how much the CPU could handle to our own detriment. I was also very used to layers, point/segment controls, etc. ZBrush seems to not play by too many of the rules of other modeling packages I’ve seen. I’m thinking of it as something I would do fine details/displacement in, as some of the modeling seems more trouble than its worth (unless you are doing something really “organic” like a hand).

Can you guys give me and idea of your work flow? Do most Model in Maya or something else and finish in ZBrush? I find the lack of “Accuracy” a little challenging, being an ex-Form Z guy…

Have anyone done any 3D printing with it? I down loaded the plug in for it but I have NO idea what scale ZBrush works at or “why”…it’s interesting but, honestly…a little frustrating…

Thanks in advance for your comments and happy new year…and please…no flaming…I’m stating opinions and I’m new to the software, not looking to Troll or have flame wars…

Thanks!

[beta_channel]

You really need to think about this outside of the box.
Zbrush works great for concepts as well as full production work.
Having precision in Zbrush isn’t as important as it would be in a traditional CAD type modeling software. If you need precision then you start in another app and do your detail work inside of Zbrush.

Where you start depends on what you’re doing.
If you’re trying to build a…let’s say treasure chest…then I would start in another application (I use Modo). After having the basics down, or a finished model, I would take the mesh into Zbrush for detailing…wood work, metal scrapes, etc. I would either paint the mesh inside of Zbrush or take it into either modo or 3Dcoat for more painting. It would then go into photoshop for clean up work (adjustment layers and such).

Now lets say I’m doing a space marine and I don’t have a clear concept to go from. I can “sketch” in 3D inside of Zbrush extremely fast, even more so with the new dynamesh 1 click method (you could do it before but it was a process). I can build up forms, cut in, etc all in a freeform environment where precision isn’t as important. After I have the basics down I can start to flesh out the idea to a medium level of detail. If I am happy with the result I will either retopo inside of Zbrush, Modo or 3Dcoat. If very specific curves and such are needed I use Modo. If I just need the idea of the forms, not precision I’ll use Coat or Z. Once I have the “final” mesh that I am going to be using then I will put everything back into Z for detail work. Bolts, fabrics, stitching, scratches, etc. Again I will paint in Z or 3Dcoat depending if the mesh is unwrapped or not. After everything is said and done all textures go into photoshop for clean up again.

3D printing can be exported at any size, the options for scale are displayed in the plugin during the export process.

Zbrush doesn’t have a scale, that’s why you can’t find a Units set up. It does keep scale though, you can find this in your export options of each tool. This is useful for when you’re working with another application.

Not sure if this answered all of your questions, but I hope it helps some.

Side note…I don’t think I’ve ever seen a troll in ZBC.

[system]

Largely, that’s I was thinking of it…I’m kind of focus just getting my Modelling skills back and focusing how to deal with topology and UVs. We used to focus using high sub-division for certain areas and lower division for other things to optimize a mesh, now it seems its all just a ton of geometry. Obviously we are dealing with UVs and even symmetry, but I am surprised by the destiny of some of what I see. People used to hate when I did that back in the day…LOL!

You really need to think about this outside of the box.
Zbrush works great for concepts as well as full production work.
Having precision in Zbrush isn’t as important as it would be in a traditional CAD type modeling software. If you need precision then you start in another app and do your detail work inside of Zbrush.

Where you start depends on what you’re doing.
If you’re trying to build a…let’s say treasure chest…then I would start in another application (I use Modo). After having the basics down, or a finished model, I would take the mesh into Zbrush for detailing…wood work, metal scrapes, etc. I would either paint the mesh inside of Zbrush or take it into either modo or 3Dcoat for more painting. It would then go into photoshop for clean up work (adjustment layers and such).

Now lets say I’m doing a space marine and I don’t have a clear concept to go from. I can “sketch” in 3D inside of Zbrush extremely fast, even more so with the new dynamesh 1 click method (you could do it before but it was a process). I can build up forms, cut in, etc all in a freeform environment where precision isn’t as important. After I have the basics down I can start to flesh out the idea to a medium level of detail. If I am happy with the result I will either retopo inside of Zbrush, Modo or 3Dcoat. If very specific curves and such are needed I use Modo. If I just need the idea of the forms, not precision I’ll use Coat or Z. Once I have the “final” mesh that I am going to be using then I will put everything back into Z for detail work. Bolts, fabrics, stitching, scratches, etc. Again I will paint in Z or 3Dcoat depending if the mesh is unwrapped or not. After everything is said and done all textures go into photoshop for clean up again.

3D printing can be exported at any size, the options for scale are displayed in the plugin during the export process.

Zbrush doesn’t have a scale, that’s why you can’t find a Units set up. It does keep scale though, you can find this in your export options of each tool. This is useful for when you’re working with another application.

Not sure if this answered all of your questions, but I hope it helps some.

Side note…I don’t think I’ve ever seen a troll in ZBC.