Curse

Minami · Jan 25, 2011, 08:22 PM // 20:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Dayman

What's it like to actually sort of create shapes? I'm only really familiar with the vertice (sp?) method with a bunch of points that map out shapes. Does this program go about it a different way?

Well, it's exactly like sculpting clay. ^_^

You can set up a basic shape from things called ZSpheres, detail it a bit more with ZSketch, then convert it to a shape you can sculpt on (called polymesh), and sculpt away!

ZSpheres are like a wire base for clay sculptures, except a lot more versatile

If you model your "clay" over the ZSpheres, you can then later move the ZSpheres with the model already on it, which is exactly like a rigged model.

Let me take a few screenshots for you, where I just sculpt some eyeholes, a nose and a mouth into a ball.

Minami · Jan 25, 2011, 08:38 PM // 20:38

So on this pic, you can see that I did a super primitive rockface-thing

It started out as a 3D ball (sphere), I raised and depressed the "clay".
It's a 3D model, it renders what you're doing WHILE you're doing it, as a preview render.
If I wanted to, I could export this as an .obj file, and (or use the bridge to) open it up in any 3D modeling program and work with it.

So yep, ZBrush is practically a virtual clay sculpting program, with so much more to it than just that. ^_^

(/gushing over)

Charlie Dayman · Jan 26, 2011, 04:23 AM // 04:23

Gah, that's awesome! I was hoping it was something more like a sculpting program than really sort of programming thousands of little points. Have you tried doing texture maps onto the surfaces?

I'm definitely going to be picking this program up later.

Minami · Jan 26, 2011, 04:53 AM // 04:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Dayman

Gah, that's awesome! I was hoping it was something more like a sculpting program than really sort of programming thousands of little points. Have you tried doing texture maps onto the surfaces?

I'm definitely going to be picking this program up later.

Mhmm, you can paint the textures right onto the model

Or, there is this thing called the spotlight, it looks as if you were shining a spotlight onto your model, and where you press the button, it puts the texture onto the model.
Sounds a bit weird, but that's what the tutorials are for ^_^
After you've painted the textures onto the model, you can extract the UV map with the main texture, displacement map, etc.

IT'S AWESOME.

Let me know if you need help, and if you find some awesomesauce tutorials, pls let me know

It seems like one can't have enough tutorials on this program. So many things to learn! O_O
Oh and if you need any tutorial links, let me know ^_^

EDIT: BTW, I was thinking about modeling Lyssa from this concept... I can't see the twin-part in this pic, but I think it's a really pretty picture to just try and model ^_^

EDIT2: Or maybe this guy... O_O

EDIT3: Ok I'll stop after this one, but Oooo that's a nice armor looking thing

Charlie Dayman · Jan 26, 2011, 05:15 AM // 05:15

Dunno, I like the Lyssa art the most.

And what about importing textures? You can import pictures you've made in Photoshop as textures, right? Rather than painting everything through Z-brush?

Verene · Jan 26, 2011, 05:49 AM // 05:49

That Lyssa artwork is one of my favorite pieces of GW art, but I think everyone's noticed that I rather love Lyssa by now

Minami · Jan 26, 2011, 02:36 PM // 14:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Dayman

Dunno, I like the Lyssa art the most.

And what about importing textures? You can import pictures you've made in Photoshop as textures, right? Rather than painting everything through Z-brush?

Once you grab the UV of the model, you can bridge that to Photoshop and back. I think I have bookmarked a tutorial somewhere on how to use photoshop with ZBrush....
Still collecting tutorial bookmarks, I created a separate folder for all those now lol.
It's a bit overwhelming to look at everything at once, so I don't know that much about textures right now yet. I'm still learning about ways to sculpt and use their tools.
Good thing too, because now I know that instead of having to painstakingly create every "tooth" of a zipper on a jacket, I can create an alpha tool with the "tooth" shape that acts like a brush and depresses the teeth form into the clay.
I have 11 tabs open in my Google Chrome that are new tutorials I just found xD
Good thing that it's not some obscure program... Very autodidact-friendly.

@Verene:
Ooo yea, Lyssa <3333 ^_^

Thistle Xandra · Jan 26, 2011, 08:08 PM // 20:08

I actually don't know much about Lyssa at all D: I only really know Grenth just because I needed background for my stories, and he just happened to be rits' patron. So... I guess I don't know much about Melandru, Balthazar, or (ironically) Dwayna >_< But I do think her pic is the coolest out of the 3 you posted

Minami · Jan 26, 2011, 10:38 PM // 22:38

Yes, I love her pic the most too ^_^

Maybe I'll try and get that human figure base done with ZSpheres that I've been wanting to tackle for a few days now, and use that as a base for the Lyssa model.

I hope I can get started on that today

Charlie Dayman · Jan 27, 2011, 12:03 AM // 00:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minami

Good thing that it's not some obscure program... Very autodidact-friendly

Bwhaaa. I don't know what this word means.

I'll start looking for tutorials once I decide to finally start working with it. You'll probably have all the tuts by then though.

Minami · Jan 27, 2011, 12:12 AM // 00:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Dayman

Bwhaaa. I don't know what this word means.

I'll start looking for tutorials once I decide to finally start working with it. You'll probably have all the tuts by then though.

LOL
It means self-teaching.

Well, let me know if you want any tutorials and on what subject, chances are I have it

Minami · Jan 29, 2011, 04:02 PM // 16:02

Ok, so here is my base female figure, posed like Lyssa.
I still have much to refine on the body and muscles, so yea

Minami · Jan 29, 2011, 07:24 PM // 19:24

Lyssa's head up close, been sculpting the nose, nose bridge, cheeks, lips and lip area more carefully.
I won't be detailing the body with too much muscle, since she's almost completely covered with armor.
EDIT: BTW, just so y'all know, the entire model looks so smooth because I upped the polygons for the detailing to 4.2 million.
Those are the little quads and triangles the model is made up of. ^_^

Minami · Jan 29, 2011, 08:02 PM // 20:02

Started on the armor here... I'm painting a mask on the model, where I want her top armor be. Then I'll do something called a mesh extraction, which will extract the shape I drew on my model and opens it on a new layer for further sculpting.
I like this screenie, cause it shows arm muscle thingies and her back, which I worked on before I realized it'll all be covered in armor LOL

Mesh extract... <3

Minami · Jan 29, 2011, 09:45 PM // 21:45

Here's the extracted mesh for the top. Whew it took me a while to figure it out LOL.
I'll probably create all the armor pieces first and then detail them, otherwise I'll be wasting time on detailing parts that won't be visible anyways.

Hope this is interesting for you guys ^_^

Aeronwen · Jan 29, 2011, 11:13 PM // 23:13

fascinating,

I really cannot grasp how it all works though.

Death By An Arrow · Jan 30, 2011, 12:11 AM // 00:11

I don't know whats happening but i'm excited :U

I look forward to seeing the armor as its further contructed.

Minami · Jan 30, 2011, 02:14 AM // 02:14

Thank you guys ^_^

Last update for today

Did the mesh extraction for the boots. The edges are rough, and I took the screenie a bit wrong because you can't see the feet of the model, but there's nothing to see anyways, because it looks like a weird kind of toesy-boot *lol*
It will eventually be fixed though.

The edges will be fixed later when I start to sculpt on the armor pieces.

Now I have the top and the boots on separate layers

Death By An Arrow · Jan 30, 2011, 02:26 AM // 02:26

this looks like fun.
is there a demo-version of zbrush I can try somewhere? O:

Minami · Jan 30, 2011, 02:38 AM // 02:38

You should be able to download the ZBrush 3(point-something) demo... I don't know where you can find it though.