ZBrush: Alien WIP

[ckaos@om]

Amazing ! :eek: I saw the end result on another forum a few days ago, thought it was 2d. Really lots of details in there !Love the colors of the final version !:love:

[azazel]

Great, i can imagine how long it'd take to do somethink like that in 3d (maya) ;)

[jpgauvin]

Awesome alien you got there :eek:

I hope to see more of your art :thumbsup:

[SheepFactory]

Hi Glen ,

very nice model , i love the one version you posted at zbrush central. The one thats narrower like a banner. I think this image looks much better when you crop it like that.

Please keep posting.

:beer:

[leigh]

Wow, that's awesome :applause:

As someone that has never actually use ZBrush, I'm really fascinated as to how you made this. What kind of process is involved in creating and texturing such a model? How does it differ from creating it in a normal polygonal modeller?

[southern]

Hi Leigh,

Very different from the more normal poly modellers that I have used (Lightwave, C4,3DS). The modelling is very much a case of taking primitives and mushine them around into the required shape. The latest version of Z has ZSperes which are a way to build up a complex organic shape with interconected spheres and then skinning it. Not at all like metaballs if anyone tells you that :)

The meshes are usually high resolution with 1000s of polys. It you keep then low enough you can get an OBJ or DXF out and these work well in LW for example.

The meshes have assigned UVs and these can be exported with the mesh and imported to go onto a mesh. The procedural side or `material` is cool. No use in any other app but cool in the native environs. ZB have a scripting called ZScript. Dead east to write your own front end and a million other tool. Texturemaster is a ZScript written by the coder (Offer Allon) that allows you to drop the mesh to canvas and paint onto it then pick it back up and carry on working. Think DeepPaint or BodyPaint but in the programs workspace

Bump mapping is done via a colour channel in the material modifiers and next version should have dissplacement and bump mapping.

Some cool bits..

-The modelling is realtime and lightning fast. Very much an artists tool.
-There are a massive amount of 2D and 3D brushes so alot of post is done in house. Look at Z-Steve Townsends work (another Brit btw :))
-Fibre brush is fun
-Best free form modeller on the market imho (although I don't own 'em all). This should be integrated into all 3D apps but Pixologic love it too much. It blows Amorphium away. (althought if Electric Image read this I am happy to review A3 for a free copy :)))))
-The latest renderer has GI and soft shadows.

Some watchouts from experience...

-There are no cameras. The view you set up IS the CAMERA and cannot be moved.
-The workspace is not true 3D I think its orthagonal but don't quote me on the term. :)
-It can take a while to get to grips with the modelling basics but that applies to most apps these days. It killed me learning Lightwave
-No point modelling

Hope this helps,

Glen

http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/aimg3.jpg

[leigh]

WOW!! That all sounds incredible, Glen :D :eek:
I must check this app out....
Thanks so much for all the information, greatly appreciated. This looks like an extremely fascinating piece of software!

However, since you say that the camera is locked, does that mean that it isn't really existing in real 3D space? You say that it is not true 3D, but what happens when you try and export it to LW or some other app? Does the model then exist in true 3D, or only the front part that was facing the "camera" in ZBrush?

[southern]

The objects/meshes are TRUE 3D objects and when exported they act as you would expect.

In ZBrush however they are SNAPSHOT into a canvas and become what Pixologic call PIXOLS, Pixels that retain depth, material, effected by light , colour info etc. Weird I know, but still powerful.

If you ever get going with it look me up and I'll talk you through a crash course one evening on ICQ or AIM. I have done that with a few experienced 3D artists and it gets over the nasty learning curve that sometimes puts new users off.

Glen

[leigh]

Hey, thanks a lot, that is very kind of you :thumbsup:
I'll be sure to let you know when I get this app into my grubby lil' paws :D
Thanks again :beer:

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