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-resolution 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

Written with the digital beginner in mind, this book will teach you all of the necessary information to begin working in ZBrush to create magnificent works of digital artwork! Through this book, ZBrush will empower you to be the digital artist you always wanted to be.

As a professor for almost thirty years, Gregory S. Johnson has had the privilege of teaching thousands of students a wide array of courses including digital sculpture, 3D modeling, texturing, animation, rigging, visual effects, digital painting, programming, game design and development. This book is a compilation of material developed from his introduction to digital sculpting lectures and all of the excellent advice cultivated over the years. Gregory is a member of the International Game Developers Association (igda.org), the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (www.gnsi.org), and the Association of Science Fiction Illustrators (asfa-art.ning.com) and has worked for years as a 3D artist. You can find examples of hiswork, additional ZBrush resources, and other educational material at my website (GregTheArtist.com). If you enjoy this book, you can check out his other published work by going to (www.Toonzy.com) and downloading a free PDF of Toonzy! the Cartoon Role Playing Game or purchasing a copy of my game design book, Developing Creative Content for Games. Ensure you visit the publisher’s website for the video recordings of each chapter of this book.