Sculpting a Creature with ZBrush and Photoshop

Course details

Want to develop character concepts for the film and game industries? In this course, concept artist Rayce Bird shows how to bring creatures from the depths of your imagination to life with ZBrush and Photoshop. He'll cover sketching out ideas in Photoshop, generating the basic form with Dynamesh, and adding details to the sculpture with the rest of the tools in Zbrush. Then, once the creature is painted, textured, and lit, Rayce will show how to render it out and composite it into a scene that reveals more of the story behind the character.

Learning objectives
Sketching silhouette in Photoshop
Refining your character
Using ZSpheres to create basic anatomy
Adding to the anatomy with Dynamesh
Adding eyes, horns, fingers, and clothes
Coloring, shadowing, and texturing the model
Using the Transform tools
Lighting and rendering the creature
Compositing in Photoshop
Color correcting and adding noise to the scene

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - What you should know before watching this course
03 - Using the exercise files

1. Character Discovery

04 - Introduction to character discovery
05 - The story behind the character
06 - Searching for originality
07 - How to use inspirational images and references

2. Sketch It Out

08 - Introduction to sketching it out
09 - Sketching silhouettes in Photoshop
10 - Light painting
11 - Adding intriguing details
12 - Refining your final character choice

3. Sculpting with Dynamesh

13 - Introduction to sculpting with Dynamesh
14 - Using ZSpheres to create basic anatomy
15 - Adding to the anatomy with Dynamesh
16 - Prioritizing forms and detail
17 - Working with gravity and movement
18 - Adding eyes, horns, and fingers
19 - Adding wardrobe and accessories

4. Detail Refinement

20 - Introduction to detail refinement
21 - Remeshing the sculpture
22 - Subdividing the mesh
23 - Creating the basic surface skin texture
24 - Adding wrinkles, creases, and additional textures
25 - Incorporating asymmetry and ultra-refinement

5. Coloring Techniques

26 - Introduction to coloring techniques
27 - Using PolyPaint for the base coat and materials
28 - Cavity painting
29 - Adding basic texture
30 - Adding basic shadowing
31 - Using images in Spotlight
32 - Adding asymmetric details

6. Using Transform Tools

33 - Introduction to using transform tools
34 - Introducing the Transpose Master
35 - Masking and adding gizmos
36 - Finishing touches

7. Lights and Rendering

37 - Introduction to lights and rendering
38 - Preparing document for rendering
39 - Creating new lights
40 - Lighting terminology and purpose
41 - Rendering in BPR (Best Preview Render)
42 - HDRI lighting

8. Compositing in Photoshop

43 - Introduction to compositing in Photoshop
44 - Opening renders in Photoshop
45 - Renders and blending modes
46 - Adjusting layers and intensities
47 - Creating a background
48 - Composition and story
49 - Custom painting in Photoshop

9. Finishing Touches

50 - Finishing touches
51 - Digitally painting with texture
52 - Adding atmosphere and extra lighting
53 - Color correcting and adding noise

Conclusion

54 - The final creation - Reviewing our process
55 - Next steps