ZBrush: Stylized Sculpting

Course details

If you are new to ZBrush and looking for practice, look no further. Explore these interesting and easy sculpting techniques for ZBrush designed specifically for beginning and intermediate users. Artist Michael Ingrassia covers many of the basics that can often be confusing when first learning ZBrush's unique interface. He also shows how to "think traditional" and translate analog sculpting techniques to ZBrush tools. Along the way, he demos his favorite brushes and introduces techniques for masking, creating alpha maps, moving and duplicating geometry, and stamping shapes and textures. Each technique is showcased in a fun and multifaceted project that takes full advantage of ZBrush's powerful features, and the materials, brushes, and concept art are all included with the exercise files.

Learning objectives
Importing assets
Sculpting and massing
Positioning with the Move tool
Masking
Adding texture and polish
Stylizing edges and asymmetry
Duplicating, moving, and merging parts
Scaling and rescaling
Working with layers

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome

1. Getting Started

02 - Importing assets
03 - Starting sculpting - Massing the skull
04 - Continuing sculpting - Massing the skull
05 - Using the Move brush and masking
06 - Detailing the skeleton bone
07 - Starting the cover sculpt
08 - Detailing the book clips
09 - Adding texture and polish
10 - Sharpening edges and adding dents
11 - Sculpting the book cover compass ring

2. Detailing and Polishing

12 - Polishing and then adding texturing using Noise and Slash
13 - Adding damage texturing using Noise and Slash
14 - Detailing the skull - Adding polish
15 - Creating the tooth shape using a PolyCube
16 - Polishing, positioning, and refining the tooth shape
17 - Duplicating the teeth and merging the subtools
18 - Scaling and positioning the skull and crossbones into the compass

3. Sculpting the Book and Pages

19 - Using Rake and Weave brushes to create old pages quickly
20 - Quickly adding an aged texture to the paper
21 - Final details on the pages
22 - Adding a leather texture to cover
23 - Working with layers
24 - Using masking to isolate the creature s shape
25 - Sculpting in the tentacles and head shapes
26 - Improvising the base sculpt of the head and face
27 - Using the Mech A brush to pull sharp edges around shapes
28 - Adding dimples using a Noise alpha map
29 - Creating a custom Alpha for stamping shapes quickly
30 - Creating barnacles quickly using the Clay Tubes brush
31 - Duplicating and moving parts
32 - Quick scrollwork techniques using a variety of brushes
33 - Sculpting the lock top and bottom pieces

4. Final Assembly and Adjustments

34 - Assembling the book
35 - Assessing the book
36 - Quick and easy adjustment of subtools outside of ZBrush
37 - Rescaling trick
38 - Final detailing
39 - Applying stitches

Conclusion

40 - Final wrap-up