Pixologic’s ZBrush and Adobe Photoshop are a popular combination for creating digital illustration. This tutorial is a step by step demonstration of how to create a compelling illustration of a coral colony. Starting from generating a 3D model of a coral polyp, you’ll learn how to build increasingly complex organic structures. You’ll see how the speed of your digital sculpting workflow can be increased by creating custom insert mesh brushes. You’ll learn how to texture, light, and render ZBrush models and how to build a Photohsop composite from render passes generated in ZBrush. This tutorial will inspire you to develop your own illustration process by learning intermediate to advanced ZBrush techniques and Photoshop techniques.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • Develop an appreciation for coral approaches to modeling branching organic structures
  • Learn how to create a coral polyp model using ZSpheres
  • Understand the uses of insert mesh brushes
  • Learn how to quickly construct complex organic structures
  • Learn how to establish a composition in ZBrush
  • Learn how to paint textures on to a model
  • Learn how to render passes from ZBrush for use in an Adobe Photoshop composite
  • Learn how to create a digital painting in Photoshop from ZBrush renders

TABLE of CONTENTS

01 Approaches to Coral Modeling
0:06:24
02 ZSphere Overview
0:01:07
03 Overview of Sculpting Brushes
0:04:59
04 Overview of Dynamesh and Subtools
0:06:19
05 Model a Coral Branch
0:13:06
06 Refining the Branch
0:05:41
07 Create a Custom Insert mesh Brush
0:10:02
08 Build a Colony Using Insert mesh Brush
0:11:41
09 Using Dynamesh
0:06:24
10 Refining the Colony Model
0:10:00
11 Establishing the Composition
0:04:46
12 Polypaining the Coral
0:05:47
13 Using Surface Noise
0:07:03
14 Adjusting Lighting
0:04:26
15 Rendering Passes and Photoshop Composite
0:09:51
16 Creating Alternate Coral Structures with ZSpheres
0:04:20
17 Creating a Multi Mesh Insert Brush Part 1
0:01:32
18 Creating a Multi Mesh Insert Brush Part 2
0:03:48
19 Making A Detailed Coral Branch
0:08:21
20 Rendering For Illustration
0:08:36

RUN-TIME 2:14:21