Day 9

Introduction to Zbrush Digital Tutors

Using Panel Loops

– Panel Loops can be used in conjunction with Planes to create structured 3D geometry easily, eg teeth, capes, walls. A 2D plane is used to create the form with limited geometry then converted to a 3D solid.

– eg to create teeth: draw a plane3D then use the Initialize sliders to create the amount of geometry required for the model to be made.

Use the plane3D tool and initialize sliders to create the base geometry for creating structured objects.

– Make PolyMesh3D then append the plane to the model it will be part of. Use the move brush to adjust the position of the geometry. Using as few polygons as possible will make the process easier.

Append the plane3D to the model and use the sculpting tools to create the form.

– Once the geometry is positioned convert each polygon to a separate object; use the Tool > Polygroups > Group By Normals button with the MaxAngle slider set low then convert each polygon to a separate polygroup.

Use the group by normals button and the selection tools to separate each polygon into its own polygroup ready for separating.

– Use the Tool > Geometry > EdgeLoop > Panel Loops button to extrude 3D geometry from the plane with the following considerations:

– the Thickness slider determines how thick the 3D geometry is created

– the Polish slider determines how crisp the 3D geometry is

– the Double button extrudes the geometry in both directions

– the Loops slider determines how many loops of polygons there are in the new geometry

– the Bevel slider determines how bevelled the edges of the top and bottom of the new geometry are

– the Elevation slider determines where the origin of the extruded geometry starts, eg elevation = 0 extrudes the geometry equally from either side of the source polygon.

Use the different panel loop settings to vary how the new geometry is created from the source polygons.

– To modify each tooth individually, use the Tool > Polygroups > Auto Groups button to make each tooth a single polygroup, then use the Brush > Auto Masking > Mask By Polygroups slider set to 100 to ensure any actions only affect a single polygroup. This allows for individual sculpting while the teeth remain a single subtool.

By grouping polygroups and using the auto masking slider you can manipulate individual parts of a model quickly without needing to mask parts.

Day 7

Introduction to Zbrush Digital Tutors

Mesh Creation Dynamesh

– Dynamesh is a way of modelling that protects the geometry from the stretching effect making large scale changes to a model can have.

– To enable dynamesh have an active tool and go to Tool > Geometry > Dynamesh.

– When dynamesh is enabled, at any time during sculpting Ctrl + Drag off the model and the geometry will be recalculated to give an optimal mesh.

Dynamesh allows for re-skinning a model with a new, optimised mesh at any time using Ctrl + drag.

– depending on the severity of the distorted polygons, the model may need smoothing after dynameshing.

– dynamesh can be used in conjunction with InsertMesh brushes by creating a single unified skin after the new mesh is inserted.

Dynamesh can be used with the InsertMesh brushes to unify a model.

– Tool > Geometry >Dynamesh > Groups makes the dynamesh tool work by polygroups. If a mesh is split into separate polygroups then dynameshed each group can be moved and manipulated separately, before dynameshing the whole model once more.

Dynamesh used with groups active splits the model by polygroup when dynameshed, allowing for chunks of model to be manipulated before skinning the whole model once more.

– Tool > Geometry > Dynamesh > Create Shell can be used with a subtractive mesh to create a shell with an opening based on the inserted mesh. To activate it, hold Alt while drawing (or enable ZAdd) the InsertMesh, then click Create Shell. The model will be hollowed out with a thickness determined by the Thickness slider, with the opening cut by the inserted mesh.

Dynamesh can be used in conjunction with subtractive meshes to create hollow shells.

Day 6

Introduction to Zbrush Digital Tutors

Mesh Creation Zspheres

– To start creating geometry with Zspheres, select the Zsphere tool from the Tool palette, draw it on the canvas then enter edit mode (T).

– To create new Zspheres enter draw mode, move the cursor to the deisred position on the model and LMB + Drag to draw a Zsphere at the desired size.

– Use the move mode to drag the new Zsphere to the desired position.

– Link spheres connect Zspheres; they cannot be edited directly but can be converted to Zspheres.

Use the tool palette + draw mode to create Zspheres

– Once created Zspheres can be scaled with the Scale mode.

– Zspheres can be rotated with the rotate mode. By clciking on the Link sphere chain with the rotate mode active you can rotate and entire chain of Zspheres.

– Hold Shift while drawing Zspheres to create a Zsphere the same size as the previous Zsphere.

– Click on a link sphere while in draw mode to create a new Zsphere from a link sphere.

– Hit A while in Zsphere mode to view an adaptive skin, which is a low-poly mesh applied over the Zsphere model.

Press A while Zsphere modelling to view an adaptive skin preview of the geometry being created.

– The Tool > Adaptive Skin subpalette contains setting for the adaptive skin. The Density slider determines how many subdivision levels ie how many polygons are in the adaptive skin.

– Tool > Adaptive Skin > G Radial modifies the number of spanes or polygon rings created in the adaptive skin, and has a similar effect to the Density slider.

The subdivision level of the adaptive skin can be modified using the density slider.

– Once you’re happy with the Zsphere model press Tool > Adaptive Skin > Make Adaptive Skin to create a polygon mesh from the Zsphere model. The new tool will appear in the tool palette called eg Skin_Zsphere_1. The model can now be sculpted normally.

Pressing Make Adaptive SKin creates a polygon mesh form the Zsphere model and adds it to the tool palette.

Day 5

Introduction to Zbrush Digital Tutors

Working with Polygroups

– Polygons can be hidden at any time, holding Ctrl + Shift  activates the SelectRect tool; dragging a rectangle then releasing hides everything that isn’t in the green box.

Ctrl + Shift enables the selection tool, which hides everything outside the selection box.

– Ctrl + Shift + LMB click outside the model reveals the hidden polygons – Ctrl + Shift + Drag outside the model inverts the visibility, revealing the hidden polygons and hiding the visible polygons. – Ctrl + Shift + Alt hides any polygons in the red box.

Ctrl + SHift + Alt hides any polygons inside the red box.

– models can be modified once polygons are hidden eg Tool > Geometry > Delete Hidden will delete any hidden polygons, making an open mesh.

– Polygroups are a quick and easy way to handle visibility by hiding entire parts of a model with a single click. – There are several tools to create a polygroup which can be found under Tool > Polygroups: the easiest way is by selecting some polygons then pressing Ctrl + W which assigns any visible polygons to a new polygroup.

– other options for creating polygroups include From Masking which converts any masked polygons into a new polygroup and Group Front which merges any polygons facing the camera.

POlygroups can be made based on visibility, colour or masking using these tools.

– Ctrl + Shift + LMB on a polygroup hides every other polygroup. Ctrl + Shift + LMB on the visible polygroup again to hide that group and reveal the hidden groups.

– Polygroups created at a low subdivision level are retained at higher subdivision levels.

– Polygroups can be made by masking areas then pressing Ctrl + W. This works the same as Tool > Polygroups > Group Masked.

– Use the PolishGroups slider next to Tool > Polygroups > Group Masked to create smooth-edged polygroups at higher subdivision levels. This modifies the geometry around the polygroup.

The polishgroups slider can be used to create smooth-edged polygroups from masked areas at the expense of deforming geometry.

– Slice tools can be used to quickly create polygroups: Ctrl + Shift brings up the Slice tool menu.

Slice tools can be used to quickly create lots of polygroups on a model.

– Holding Ctrl with the transpose tool selected eg Move or Rotate then clicking on a polygroup aligns the transpose tool with the normal of that polygroup while masking all other groups. Holding Shift while dragging the transpose line moves just that polygroup along the transpose axis.

An example of using polygroups and the transpose tool to manipulate a mesh.

– POlygroups can be used to easily break a mesh into subtools by hiding a polygroup then using the Tool > Subtools > Split > Split Hidden command. The hidden polygroup is separated into a separate piece of geometry.

POlygroups can be used to create subtools by selectively hiding polygroups.

– POlygroups can be used to maintain crisp edges when subdividing using the Tool > Geometry > Edgeloop > Edgeloop command: Hide all but the desired polygroup, select the crisp button then press edgeloop. A new ring of polygons is added around the polygroup close to the border. Now when the model is subdivided this edge will stay sharper.

POlygroups and the edgeloop tool can be used to create features that stay crisp-edged even when the model is heavily subdivided.

Day 4 part 3

Introduction to Zbrush Digital Tutors

Working with Masks

– Hold Ctrl to activate the current Masking Brush. Ctrl + LMB creates a masked area.

– Masked areas are not affected by sculpting or polypainting while active.

Masked areas are protected from sculpting and polypainting.

– Ctrl + Alt + LMB is a Subtractive Mask Brush and can be used to unmask masked areas.

– Ctrl + LMB starting off the model draws a Masking box. Ctrl + Alt + LMB makes the box an unmasking box. If the masking box doesn’t touch the model when Ctrl is released any current masks are cleared.

– Hold spacebar while drawing a masking box to drag the box around the screen.

Hold CTrl and drag starting off the model to create a masking box. Ctrl + Alt creates an unmasking box.

– Ctrl + Brush palette shows all the masking tools.

– MaskLasso is a freeform tool for quickly creating large masks.

Masklasso quickly creates large freeform masks.

– MaskCurvePen draws a curve that can be dragged around to mask areas.

MaskCurvePen draws out a curve that can be dragged around to mask areas around it.

– MaskCurve draws a straight line mask border. Press Alt while drawing to add a bend to the curve. Hold spacebar at any point to move the MaskCurve.

Maskcurve draws a straight line that masks everything to one side of it. Press ALt to add a curve to the line.

– Tool > Masking contains extra options for masks. ViewMask makes the mask invisible without removing it. Inverse flips the mask (can also be done by holding Ctrl + LMB off the model).

– BlurMask and SharpenMask can be used to sharpen or soften the edge of the mask.

– MaskByCavity automatically masks areas deeper than the set depth.

The masking sub-palette in tool has several options for manipulating and creating masks.

– Primitives have an extra sub-palette for masking called Mask by Alpha. Start by masking the whole primitive then using the buttons to unmask areas by Row, Col and Grd according to the Sel and Skp settings.

Primitives only can be masked by polygons using the sel and skp settings and grid, row and column buttons.

– The Move tool can be used to draw out topological masks. Hold Ctrl + LMB starting on the model to mask the whole model along the transpose axis.

Hold Ctrl + Move to drag out a transpose line that masks the whole model.

– Ctrl + LMB on masked areas to soften the mask boundary.

Day 3 part 2

Introduction to Zbrush Digital Tutors

Transforming 3D objects

– The Tool > Deformation palette contains sliders for modifying many aspects of a mesh:

– Offset  in combination with the X Y Z buttons allow for repositioning a mesh on the canvas.

– Rotate in combination with the X Y Z buttons allow for rotating a mesh aorund different axes on the canvas.

– Scale in combination with the X Y Z buttons allow for uniform or non-uniform resizing of a mesh.

Resym modifiers contain options for moving, rotating and resizing meshes

– Note that the sliders only refer to the degree of change in that action ie if a mesh is rotated the slider will reset to 0 and will have no memory of that mesh’s original position.

– the Move, Scale and Rotate buttons on the top shelf can also be used by using the transpose tool.

– The transpose tool is a gumball with many points to affect the mesh. Tool tips will appear in the status line when they’re hovered over. Options include duplicating, clipping, skewing / stretching and duplicating meshes when combined with RMB and Ctrl.

The Transpose tool combined with Move allows for several affects including clipping, stretching, inflating and duplicating meshes.

– Tool > Geometry > Position / Size also contains sliders for manipulating the mesh. Unlike the other options these do remember where the mesh was before modifying it, allowing for returning it to its original position.

The geometry size and position sliders are relative to the mesh’s original position so it can be easily restored to its starting point.

Day 2 Part 2

Introduction to Zbrush Digital Tutors

Working with files

– Document > Save As saves just the image on the canvas as a .Zbr file. The image is made of pixols so retains depth, colour and material information so can be edited with 2.5D brushes but the 3D model can no longer be sculpted.

– if selecting to save the document a warning box will pop up asking to confirm whether to save the document or the tool.

Use this option to save a 2.5D pixol image that can be painted. The 3D model can no longer be edited in this document.

– Tool > Save As saves the 3D model as a .Ztl Ztool file that can be re-loaded later for continued sculpting. The Ztool will lose all subtool and material data and become a single 3D model.

Use this option to save the 3D model as a tool that can be later opened and further sculpted..

– File > Save As saves the project as a .Zpr file, which includes all tools, materials, sub-tools and history.

Save the entire project including all subtools, materials and history.

– file sizes decrease as .Zpr > .Ztl > .Zdoc.

– information saved decreases as .Zpr > .Ztl > .Zdoc.

– Quicksave (9) creates an incremental project save that won’t overwrite manual saves.

– Preferences > Quicksave palette contains options for quicksaves, including:

– Maximum Duration determines how frequently in minutes Zbrush will quicksave.

– Rest Duration sets Zbrush to quicksave after a set time of no activity in minutes.

– Skip History creates quicksaves with undo history included.

The quicksave palette contains settings for quicksave frequency and size.

– quicksaves are saved to Users > Public Documents > Zbrush Data and can also be found under Lightbox > Quicksaves.

quicksaves with thumbnails can be found under Lightbox

– Tool > Import allows for importing .Obj files for 3D models created in other applications as tools. The tools can then be saved as Documents, projects or Ztools.

Day 2

Introduction to Zbrush Digital Tutors

Basics of creating Geometry

– To view a wireframe on the mesh, tranform > PolyF or Shift + F or PolyF button on the right shelf.

Different ways to enable a polyframe

–Primitives can’t be sculpted but can be transformed while in edit mode. To see options go to tool > Initialize which will display options relating to that primitive eg initial size and resolution.

Initialize settings can be used to modify primitives before converting to polymesh for editing.

– Coverage is what angle the primitive is filled to in degrees.

– TaperTop and InnerRadius can turn a Cylinder into a hollowed flat cone.

– Twist can turn a Ring into a ribbed pipe.

– SweepProfile can create some interesting curves which are further modified in the Initialize palette.

–Helix3D can be used to create eg suspension springs that vary along the length.

– Gear3D has a lot of options and can create very intricate shapes and features for other models.

– Lightbox (,) is where you can find imported tools, projects, materials, alphas and brushes.

– if a tutorial uses a non-standard sculpting brush it will likely be found in lightbox eg TrimHole.

Lightbox provides quick access to lots of important items.