Lynda.com ZBrush 3 for Windows Essential Training

Course name: ZBrush 3 for Windows Essential Training
Author: Eric Keller
Duration: 06h 09m
Released on: 11/10/2008
Exercise files: Yes
Software works on: Windows only

Pixologic's ZBrush 3 stands at the forefront of digital 3D sculpting and 2.5D painting, a new medium that is taking the art and entertainment worlds by storm. Visual effects artist Eric Keller shares his expertise and talents in ZBrush 3 for Windows Essential Training. He presents the concepts behind digital sculpting, shows how to produce fantastic images using the unique ZBrush toolset and interface, and demonstrates the power of the Digital Clay and Sculpting brushes. To offer a richer understanding of the application, Eric gives a guided tour of the interface and addresses the most common problems experienced by new users. Exercise files accompany the course.

Topics include:

• Building and posing digital armatures for sculpture
• Importing models from other 3D programs
• Learning how to sculpt a human head based on reference images
• Detailing skin and surfaces using textures and stencils
• Creating illustrations with depth, lighting, and surface materials

Content:

Introduction - 02m 27s
Welcome - 00m 30s
Using the example files - 00m 46s
Overview - 01m 11s

1. The ZBrush Interface - 26m 18s
Understanding pixols - 01m 58s
Establishing canvas size and color - 02m 30s
Positioning 3D objects - 04m 33s
Working with trays and palettes - 02m 52s
Sculpting models in Edit mode - 03m 12s
Discovering sculpting brushes - 05m 29s
Saving models - 01m 27s
Managing memory in ZBrush - 01m 44s
Setting interface preferences - 02m 33s

2. Working with 3D Models and Primitives - 01h 52m
Customizing the startup 3D meshes - 05m 44s
Deforming 3D models - 05m 11s
Activating symmetry - 04m 35s
Creating armatures with ZSphere - 08m 28s
Posing armatures with ZSphere - 08m 54s
Working with levels of detail - 07m 33s
Masking geometry - 05m 43s
Hiding and showing polygons - 06m 29s
Organizing geometry using polygroups - 08m 57s
Extruding geometry with edge loops to make necks and ears - 10m 11s
Creating sharp edges with the Crease tool - 04m 19s
Adding parts to your model with subtools - 05m 18s
Posing models with Transpose pt. 1 - 07m 35s
Installing the Subtool Master plugin - 04m 29s
Posing models with Transpose pt. 2 - 13m 52s
Installing the Transpose Master plugin - 05m 07s

3. Digital Sculpting - 58m 51s
Sculpting with brushes - 11m 22s
Choosing stroke types - 02m 20s
Using Lazy Mouse - 04m 28s
Sculpting fine details with alphas - 05m 09s
Creating alphas - 06m 46s
Creating stencils from alphas - 09m 28s
Storing morph targets - 06m 04s
Isolating details with 3D layers - 06m 23s
Building surfaces by extracting meshes - 06m 51s

4. Color, Texture, and Materials - 01h 13m
Picking colors - 03m 02s
Applying textures - 04m 15s
Creating seamless textures - 03m 08s
Painting models - 07m 51s
Mapping 3D model texture coordinates - 05m 32s
Adding sculpture reference planes - 11m 21s
Applying materials - 04m 10s
Modifying standard materials - 10m 17s
Applying MatCap materials - 02m 22s
Creating MatCap materials - 09m 09s
Creating bump maps - 05m 55s
Painting with photos - 06m 31s

5. Using ZBrush Sculpts in Other 3D Programs - 06m 07s
Exporting models           02m 30s
Importing models           03m 37s

6. Illustrating with ZBrush - 01h 01m
Getting started with 2.5D tools - 05m 10s
Modifying paintbrushes with stroke types - 03m 42s
Positioning strokes and models on the canvas - 05m 14s
Using snapshots - 07m 32s
Understanding ZSub and ZCut - 04m 02s
Creating document layers - 07m 47s
Applying transparency - 03m 23s
Lighting the canvas - 09m 03s
Rendering in ZBrush - 06m 10s
Tuning shadows - 04m 53s
Baking lighting into the graphic - 02m 15s
Creating a sense of depth using fog - 02m 37s

7. Movies, Macros, and ZScripts - 07m 12s
Recording ZBrush movies - 03m 23s
Using macros and ZScripts - 03m 49s

8. Top 14 Pitfalls for Beginners - 20m 50s
Can't rotate or move the model - 01m 00s
Can't sculpt on the model - 00m 59s
Can't adjust the lighting - 00m 47s
Can't control disappearing strokes - 00m 52s
Can't move objects smoothly with the Gyro - 02m 02s
Can't move the model on the canvas - 01m 40s
Can't see some parts of the model - 00m 38s
Can't subdivide the model - 02m 27s
Can't control the pivot of the model - 02m 02s
Can't maintain symmetry - 01m 37s
Can't control subtools - 02m 28s
Can't rotate with Transpose without distorting the model - 01m 51s
Can't activate the Transpose tool - 01m 00s
Can't get rid of blurriness on the mask - 01m 27s

Conclusion - 00m 26s
Goodbye - 00m 26s