ZBrush: Modeling Footwear

3h 30mIntermediate2017-06-08

Authors

Ryan Kittleson

CG Artist who teaches 3D modeling, sculpting, and printing

Course details

Digitally sculpting a shoe in ZBrush can sometimes seem a bit daunting. The finished product should be precise, but follow the natural curves of an organic shape. In this course, learn how to leverage the unique tools in ZBrush to digitally sculpt realistic footwear. Ryan Kittleson takes you through the steps of accurately modeling a shoe, explaining how to create the sole, cut the tread pattern, make the upper basic shape, and create the laces. Plus, he shares how to add fine details such as stiches and leather and fabric textures. Upon wrapping up this course, you'll be equipped with the tools and techniques you need to create nearly any kind of footwear—not just the shoe sculpture shown in the course.

Learning objectives
Creating the sole
Modeling the basic sole shape
Making a template for the repeating treads
Tweaking the sole geometry
Making the basic upper shape
Creating the laces
Making a shoelace brush
Adding the fine details
Sculpting specific leather detail
Sculpting the irregularities
Making fuzzy suede texture

Skills covered

3D SculptingZBrushPixologic3D ModelingVisualization and Real-TimeAECProduct and ManufacturingAnimation and Illustration

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - Preparing
03 - Exercise files
04 - What to know

1. Creating the Sole

05 - Importing reference images
06 - Modeling the basic sole shape
07 - Extruding the sole and tread thickness
08 - Tapering the tread
09 - Creasing hard edges
10 - Adjusting the reference images
11 - Making a template for the repeating treads
12 - Duplicating the tread with array mesh
13 - Cutting the tread pattern
14 - Tweaking the tread
15 - Bending the sole
16 - Tweaking the sole geometry

2. Making the Upper

17 - Making the basic upper shape
18 - Drawing out the patch placement
19 - Extracting the simple patches
20 - Extracting more complex patches
21 - Making the tongue
22 - Making the cuff
23 - Forming the heel tab
24 - Finishing the upper elements

3. Creating the Laces

25 - Making a lace grommet
26 - Placing the grommets with insert mesh
27 - Making a shoelace brush
28 - Drawing out the laces
29 - Tweaking the shape of the laces
30 - Creating the aglets

4. Adding the Fine Details

31 - Sculpting the irregularities
32 - Adding leather texture
33 - Sculpting specific leather detail
34 - Adding fabric textures
35 - Sculpting stitches
36 - Making stitches with insert mesh
37 - Making fuzzy suede texture
38 - Adding stitches around the welt
39 - Making the final adjustments

Conclusion

40 - Next steps