[Lunatique]

okay, let me get this straight--it's a software that makes static 3D images?

Anyone used this? Results?

[Socar MYLES]

Well...I got a free copy a while ago...but--shame on me!--I haven't tried it seriously yet. From casual mucking about, though, it looks like a cross between a paint program and a 3D program...but it can have some very ugly brush-effects if you're not careful.

On the other hand, I've seen some brilliant ZBrush art scattered around the Net.

[elam]

It actually make's 2d images, using 3d and 2d methods.

You can use it to model and texture like Amorphium. But you can't(as far as I know) paint a scene and then rotate it or change camera angles and such.

Cool program.
Kenneth Brilliant uses it quite a bit, and Pixelogic has a bunch of nice tutorials and scripts and stuff for Zbrush as well.

[ June 13, 2002: Message edited by: elam ]

[Vhy]

Zbrush is really an extension of 2d software like painter. Pixels have color, depth, and surface material.

You can import geometry, or model things in the program. The modeling is pretty nice - you can paint a mask on the object and use that to deform it, and you can paint texture onto the model. Once you stick a model into your scene it is not geometry any longer, just pixels.

As with other 2D programs, higher scene complexity does not slow things down but of course you lose hidden surfaces unless they're on a seperate layer. Also, you have to handle perspective yourself.

I haven't used the program recently, but hese are a few of my experiments:
http://home.cardwell.tk:8080/usr/bencardwell/creature01_small.jpg
http://home.cardwell.tk:8080/usr/bencardwell/river_small.jpg
http://home.cardwell.tk:8080/usr/bencardwell/001/spidey_small.jpg ( photoshop painting on top of zbrush background )

[ June 13, 2002: Message edited by: Vhy ]

[Vhy]

elam: that's correct; you can't simply change camera angles.

However you can make new geometry based on the depth values.

For example you could use models and brushes to create terrain ( top down so that there are no hidden surfaces ). Then capture the depth as a mask, and use the mask to deform a 3d plane, and then choose your camera angle before going back to 2d. That's probably one of the coolest things to do with zbrush.

[Lunatique]

Well, when I said static 3D, it meant a 3D image that can't be moved/rotated.

So, it's almost like, painting bump maps in real time, except you do it to the nth degree.

I'm not too sure about the advantages. You don't get the accuracy of a real 3D oject, or the freedom to move around your scene to capture different renders and lighting.

Guess it's good for people that want to mimic the 3D still shot look.

[glody]

i have used the program on several occassions...and with blah results...maybe i didnt give it enough of a chance..but...hehe this progs definitely not my bag....

here is one of don seegmillers example images off of his site...if you havent seen a decent example of what this proggy can do that is....for me? i think ill stick with photoshop hehe...have fun Lunatique

Seegmiller's Z-brush example

[Vhy]

The potential advantage is performance - you could have a million objects in a scene and be able to change the lighting with less than a second of rendering time.

But I found that it's hard to get good results with zbrush by itself. If I use it again it will be for part of a complete image.

[Adman]

Hello all!. My first post here. This topic looked a bit old, but at least it's something I can comment about.

ZBrush is definately a change in what we think of when it comes to 3d or digital painting. It has become one of my main illustration software of choice. I use it with Photoshop and have enjoyed the results. Other ZBrush art can be found here.

You can create very organic 3d models which you can rotate, texture and model (like virtual clay) while in edit mode. You can also use sizing and move tools. When you have the model in the correct place you can set what is called a "marker" for that model and save it as a "tool." Because once you choose another tool, your model is now "frozen" in place and is now a bunch of "pixols" which retain depth, color and material. Now you can light the image any way you want. Add more 3d models to it. Build up areas on the model using the other "2.5d" brushes, etc.

If you wanted to edit your frozen 3d model you could load your saved tool and edit it or adjust the texture, then replace it exactly as before by using the marker you placed for that tool. It's a little strange, but the software is geared for the illustrator not the 3d animator.

More info can be found at ZBrush Central. Click on the "Quicklinks" once you're there.

cheers!

Adman

[Levijuice]

Best thing about Zbrush is that you can model organic shapes about 4 times faster than in any other 3D soft (I am using Maya and 3D max too). You just sculpt the sphere with brush like strokes, so you dont have to play with polygons or NURBS. However it is suitable only for Illustrations (not animation). Anyway, there is new version of Zbrush coming this month, and new modeling tools looks really great. This is my latest picture in Zbrush :

[zak]

that looks sweet dude. *goes to find out more about zbrush

[Lunatique]

That's really cool. Too bad it only makes static images though. Can someone post a screenshot of what it's like to actually "model" with a brush in Zbrush? Do you paint on a mesh, or a solid object?

[Frost]

I've read that new features in Zbrush allows you to model in 3D as you would normally paint in ZBrush, where you can then export your ZBrush 3d model to other 3D modeling packages (Max? Maya? LW? ...). This is going to be worth looking into for modelers I think.

[Levijuice]

This should show the procces a little. I started with sphere then turn PULL and was painting on front of it so I ve pulled the nose out. (I am going to create some screenshots form ZBrush so you can see how it looks like)

[Levijuice]

Ok, so 1, created sphere.

2. While in Zadd mode make a stroke (just like painting in Photoshop, you can work with tablet or mouse)

3. Make a stroke outside of sphere for rotating it, then switch to Zsub and make another stroke.

This way you can model anything organic very fast, you can use masking too, so its very similar to painting in PS.
Best way how to see what is Zbrush about is to download free demo from www.pixologic.com and than play some Zscript. It is saved session from modeling so it will model in realtime in front of you... It is real modeling (not movie)so you can stop it anytime and continue yourself...

[Sumaleth]

Does anyone happen to know if it works on "solid modeling" of the 3D surfaces or good old polygonal modeling?

It's good stuff anyway.

[Lunatique]

Hehehehe. It's basically Maya's Artisan brush tool on steroids.

My question would be this though:

When you complete a model by painting like that in Zbrush, aren't you basically giving up all control of the topology? If that's the case, the models painted in Zbrush would be useless for animation. Even exporting a finished model in Zbrush to another 3D app would be pointless for animation, since you'd have to spend the same amount of time it would've taken you to model it from scratch to completely redo the entire topology of the model. Also, to have that kind of detail in a poly mesh by painting, I would imagine the mesh would be VERY dense?

So bottom line is still this: It's good for making static 3D images for the purpose of illustration, or importing non-animatable models into another 3D app?

[Levijuice]

Yes, in fact it is poly modeling and you can export/import with other 3D softs, FE 3D max or Maya. In fact the top head picture posted here was made from low poly head I did in 3D max for one game. Exported as an obj. subdivided (there is subdivide function in ZBrush) and added detail.

[Levijuice]

Lunatique: Yes its similar to Artisan except its about 10 times faster, at least at my computer. And yes its primary for static images, however you can import "generic" head with good topology and sculpt it/ texture it very fast within Zbrush than export it back to FE 3D MAX and use it for animation. I saw screenshots from Zbrush 1.5 recently and it looks like there will be posible to create good topology too...