Zbrush - Week 2:


In this blog post I will be going through the basics of Zbrush and the layout of where the tools are located. Each part that we went over in the lesson has its own section explaining how they work and where they are located. Later on in the blog I show a model that I started in the lesson and finished after. 

Light Box:

The Light Box is a window that has pre-built sculpts that you can use to start a sculpt or use as reference. You can remove the screen by pressing the comma key (,). You will need to place a PolyModel from the light box into the workspace to be able to change to edit mode (T). You can do that by pressing the comma button (,) to bring up the menu then you go to tools and double click the PolyModel you would like to add then you can close the menu and press T to start sculpting. 

Brushes:

Each brush will have a different function such as for making hair, clothing detail and many more brushes used for different things. To push into a model you will hold the alt key. It will reverse what the brush does and will push the brush inwards instead of creating new geometry. Pressing shift will change to a smooth brush and you can press shift again to go back to the brush you were using. The shortcut for the brush menu is the (B) key however when you understand which brushes do what and which ones you would like to use there are 3 digit like shortcuts that can take you to the brush you would like quicker such as (BST), B for Brush and ST for Standard. 

Areas around the interface: 

Workspace:

All your sculpting will be done in the center box of the screen. 

Trays:

The menus on the left and right are called trays.

Shelf:

Between the Workspace and Trays you have the left and right shelf. 

Tools Menu:

Models can be saved as Tools so they can be used in the future. 

Perspective & Floor:

Similar to the grid in Maya floor will add a grid under your model, putting the perspective grid on will cause the floor to appear similar to a perspective grid and will move to be in perspective to where you are looking.

Modes:

You have to put it into edit mode to be able to sculpt on a poly sphere that you have placed. You will need to click the edit button at the top of the screen next to draw button. The shortcut is the (T) key.  

Navigating:

Tumbling Around - Left mouse button in the empty space
Alt and left mouse click
Zoom in & out - Alt and left mouse button then let go of the alt key

The head in the right corner of the workspace can be used to navigate around a model too. 

Silhouette:

In the top left corner of the workspace there is a box that shows the silhouette of the model so its easier to see the look of a sculpt without having to edit it to see it. 

Short Cut Menu

Pressing the space bar will bring up the short cut menu so you can quickly access things then you can press space bar again and it will disappear. You can also use it to edit settings for a brush that you are using.

Useful shortcuts:

Ctrl = Mask
Ctrl & Alt = Remove a part of the mask inside 
Ctrl & Click = Reverses Mask
Alt = Reverse brush
BMV = Move Brush
S = Size Brush

Before you start sculpting:

- Add a PolyModel (In Tools Menu)
- Press T to go into edit mode
- Make PolyMesh 3D (Will optirmise for sculpting)