ZThings

This is a ring bug or something. It was done in Zbrush using mostly object modifiers and selection masking. After getting the basic details I painted legs dimples and some of the features on the head. The materials is a "Gel" using an environmental lighting and reflection map.

I recently started using Zbrush. It is unlike most programs I have used in the past and seemingly unlike most other 3D programs avalable these days. Though in function it is similar to Mudbox I feel that many of the top level design requirements are different between these packages.

ZBrush claims to be a 2.5D to 3D paint system and that is quite honest. It has an odd rendering structure that projects light around a space where the only depth that can be visually proven is in the currently active tool. Once something is set as part of the environment it is unchangeable. The modeling is all polygon in theory but it has a lot of SubD like control. That said so far I do not see a great way to select a single edge or for that matter a single vertex. The only methods of actually interacting with the model seem to be paint tools.

I think ZBrush has evolved for a while and consequently has a lot of good ways to deal with the oddities of it's modeling environment. So far I really enjoy using it but i am still at a stage where I do not quite understand everything so my appreciation may be due to my learning process. I think that the programs oddities are well dealt with but it seems that there would be some things that it would give a lot of trouble with. That said I have to say that the fur engine is nice and fast and rather easy to use.


This is just an early test of fur and painting that I did. I really like the ability to mask materials when painting, which is how I achieved the noisy celular pattern coming coming through on the fur. The gear which should be casting a shadow but seems not to be is a stock model that I have made a few adjustments to. I am sad that it seems not to fit into the environment as well as it may in other render engines however I am sure this is due to my lack of knowledge for the time being.