Getting Started in ZBrush
An Introduction to Digital Sculpting and Illustration

Getting Started in ZBrush is a gentle introduction to ZBrush, today?s premier digital sculpting program. Beginning with the fundamentals of digital sculpting as well as a thorough introduction to the user interface, Getting Started in ZBrush will have you creating a variety of professional-level 3D models in no-time. More than just another button-pushing manual, this comprehensive guide is packed with start-to-finish projects that ease you into the workflow of the program, while at the same time providing tips and tricks that will allow you to achieve certain tasks much more quickly. After progressing through the tutorials, you will be shown how to customize brushes, materials, scripts, and the interface so that you can utilize these tools to their full advantage.

Special consideration is given to ZBrush?s integration plug-ins with Maya and 3ds Max, allowing you to properly import and export your models in all programs. Texturing, painting, mapping, decimation, baking, and topology are also fully covered so your Zbrush creations can come to life without sacrificing that high-resolution look.

Ease your way into this complex subject with this straight-forward approach to ZBrush

Perfect your technique with step-by-step tutorials that allow you to create high res models from start to finish.

Expand your knowledge by visiting the companion website, which features video demonstrations, project files, texture and model files, scripts, customized menus, brushes, and additional resources.

Chapter 1. Introduction

Chapter 2. Interface

Chapter 3. The Basics

Chapter 4: Modeling a Head

Chapter 5. Brushes, materials and painting

Chapter 6. The Dragon's Head

Chapter 7. Creating the Wings using Shadowbox & ZSketch

Chapter 8. Making the Dragon's Body

Chapter 9. UVs and Masking

Chapter 10. Painting the Dragon

Chapter 11. Creating the Collar using Insert Mesh

Chapter 12. Recoloring the Model

Chapter 13. Making a Fire Hydrant

Chapter 14. The Base Stand

Chapter 15. Grass

Chapter 16. Combining it all

Chapter 17. Posing the Dragon

Chapter 18. Painting the fire hydrant

Chapter 19. Polishing the model

Chapter 20. Lighting

Chapter 21. Rendering

Chapter 22. Compositing

Greg Johnson has been a Professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design since 1996 after time as a graphic designer and an artist involved in television production. He received his MFA in Computer Arts from the Savannah College of Art and Design and his BA in Fine Arts from Louisiana State University in Shreveport. In addition to being a Professor, he also worked as a 3D Lead for Ascent Games and does freelance illustration work. Johnson has taught over fifty different courses in hundreds of classes in his eighteen plus years of teaching at the college level. His courses have included 3D sculpting, modeling, texturing, painting, animation, rigging, effects, programming, game design and development in the subject areas of computer art, game development, interactive design, and visual effects. He founded the Game Development department at SCAD and has developed courses for the Game Development, Computer Arts, Visual Effects, and Scientific Illustration areas of study at SCAD. For the last seven years he has been teaching an introduction to digital sculpture class using ZBrush.