I respect your view Deevee, but Z can’t do everthing well in my opinion. Relying on one program changed last year when I was having major problems with 1.13 on illegal operations that had not occured in the same features in 1.03. In fact did not happen in 1.23 and 1.23b. Chris Senn was gone, so support disappeared practically and I was left with a pretty duff program for three months. I went out and got other program’s, loyalty is a two way thing.
Dave
DeeVee, softwares are tools and there is no tool than can do everything. ZBrush is very different from the other applications and that’s what makes it so good. But just because you get some other tools doesn’t mean you like ZBrush less.
I agree with what you all say. I also get frustrated with Zbrush at times and hoped it had the options available to do a lot of things. The folks at Pixologic and I have had our tiffs on several occasions in my year on this forum, I just think that this is the wrong time to be pointing out what Z can and cannot do… There was a wish list for months asking members to indicate things they wished to be incorporated in future versions of Zbrush, Although only one wish was allowed many members entered several. How many of these wishes were incorporated in the new version? I cannot tell as I have not seen it as yet, and this is the worrying part, some of the members are amongst those singing the virtues of these competing products. It leaves me to wonder if these programs are so much more advanced and capable than 1.5 is, why bother at all.
When you live on an island you rely a lot on what you read, especially if you have a certain respect for the person making the statement. You do not have the option of going into a software store and getting hands on information. Most demos are a waste of time, so although available to all regardless to geographical location leaves a lot to be desired.
I agree that loyalty is a two way street and I can vouch for the fact that for awhile, when you got an answer to a question asked, the situation was no longer relevant. I must admit that since Aurick joined the staff things have improved significantly.
All this comes back to the question. Why now?
Interesting views all around.
I have to agree with all of you depending on the angle viewed.
Let’s take it back to what the post’s original intent was:
Admiring the work of an artist who doesn’t use ZBrush. NOT because he doesn’t use it, but because his work is glorious!
Hence my additions.
Judgement was not passed BECAUSE of the software chosen, but because the work was worthy.
Why now? Why not? If ZBrush is so awesome in it’s own right, then, admiring someone’s work in C4D shouldn’t be seen as a threat.
Besides, Highend 3D packages and ZBrush are apples and oranges. You really can’t compare them. Or maybe I should say, you shouldn’t compare them.
If we REALLY wanted to get down and dirty, the ultimate question would be…
If you could only keep 2 artistic software packages out of the current ones you own…which would you keep?
AhHA!! Now that’s a show stopper.
BUT, again, complexity rules the day.
There are reasons to own software like Z, Max, XSI etc.
They are divided by intents. SO intents would rule the choices made.
ZBrush 1.5 is a baby yet. NOT a beta. A Baby in versioning. Still young. Lots of room to grow.
Just my 4 cents and nothing more.
I’m looking forward to 1.5…
the better question is will I be looking forward to 1.5+…
(don’t flame me, I ask the same question about all my softs)
Interesting views all around…
Me? I’m just amazed by this guys work, the rest doesn’t mean doodely to me…
I have said in the past, I removed MAYA Unlimited, and 3D Studio from my computer, when I started using ZBrush…Because ZBrush took little boxes, complex math, and computer-in-your-face out of the equation for me. I love something about ALL applications.
But I’m a Libran gemcutter who deals with such things as dispersion, Refractive Indices, and Pleochroism in his work, and I want to get my hands in there and move that ‘Magic Clay’…I’m lazy! And ZBrush means I don’t sit there and fill out boxes like an accountant, I work like the artist I am…
The point? Who cares what software you use…
The work matters, and this guys’ work inspires me to do better…He’s methodical, (We Librans LOVE that), and he has a Rembrandt-like eye for light…That’s enough to impress me… 
Great topic, DAVE… 
(And if you think you liked ZBrush before, just wait another week or so…!)
A little off-topic but when reading your post, Stonecutter, I could of sworn that you wrote that you were a Librarian Gemcutter (“What’s a Librarian Gemcutter?”, I thought) and then I realized you said Libran. My eyes are going. D’oh. :rolleyes:
I DO have a Luxurious Libran Library in my studio, W/O! 
Some great links Kathy and input from everbody. I’ve decided to give all this electronic art stuff up, rent a cave up near Aughtmanely and do some primitive cave painting.
Dave
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> All this comes back to the question. Why now? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
DeeVee, a lot companies in the computer graphics business made annoucements about their upcoming products at the SIGGRAPH expo this week. So that may be the answer 
For me, ZBrush is a revelation and it allows me to do stuff I never thought I could do before. With the features announced for 1.5 (especially the ZSpheres), it seems that this is going to happen again. So I’m sure that ZBrush is going to be my favorite app for a long time.
Thanks guys, all questions logically answered to the satisfaction of this old man, not that you had to, but you chose to, and that in itself is gratifying.
You have to excuse me, but I get a little defensive sometimes, it comes with age, milage or whatever.
I can now go back to dreaming of fabulous images created using Version 1.5 proudly stating “All Z”.
DeeVee,
Joe
Dm, that guys work is hot!
The major difference between work created in zbrush and those other 3d apps is the difference of creating works for illustration rather than animation. If you wish to animate you need to go and get a program to enable you to do so, and that means Maya, max, cinema 4d or whatever.
If you just want to create unmovable art there is no point in looking towards other apps.
When you admire the works of guys like Steven Stahlberg for example, not only are the models wonderous to look at, but also the construction of the meshes are layed out in such a way so that they can animate correctly, and efficiently. You may be able to create work in zbrush 1.23b that looks just as good as his, but the mesh structure would be no use for animating. But that was Zbrush 1.23b, on testing Zbrush 1.5 however, it does open up new possibilities for creating well made meshes using the zsphere, meaning even less of the need for using other apps.