workflow for loads of rocks? [mudbox]


#1

Howdy guys! I am about to start adding some nice rock formations to my floating island http://oi57.tinypic.com/2mgm99k.jpg

I am aiming to achieve quite a realistic view, lets say something like this http://i.imgur.com/NdoJYAC.jpg It’s for the purpose of an animation showing close-ups of the island surface.

The thing is, how would you approach sculpting it?

Would you model some realistic rock formation on a small scale, convert it to a stencil and the paint the details on the basic model with high subdivision level? Or rather than than create a rock formation from every angle, duplicate it and rotate so you build a whole island out of that? These are the only ways I can think of now.

For the first approach I am worried about the number of polys which might go well beyond what my computer can process. For the latter I don’t know how to combine them later on (I think I’ve seen a tool in Zbrush that does it, dynamesh perhaps? But couldn’t find an equivalent in mudbox).

Maybe different way? Feedback much appreciated.


#2

The Decimation Master plugin for ZBrush is the tool you need to reduce your polycount - don’t know mudbox sorry.

Around 40mins into this vid Sean Absher wise cracks his way through a brilliant process to develop a lot of rock work quickly. (In ZBrush) Also makes you think, what is the mood I’m trying to convey and what kind of rock formations are going to help me sell it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A36i_1kqhw0

Rock on :buttrock: