Videos of Hard Surface work in ZBrush

Zack Maxwell

So I've seen some amazing hard surface work done entirely in ZBrush, which got me very interested in this workflow. But any time I've tried to search for video examples of hard surface work done in ZBrush, I can only seem to find a relatively small number of rather low quality examples.
I'm wondering if anyone has some links to great examples of a hard surface workflow done entirely in ZBrush.

Everything I've found seems to fall into one of a few categories;
1) Almost completely organic human model with mechanical details carved over the top.
2) Extremely rough skeleton of a model, only seemingly presentable from a distance.
3) Sloppy and aggressive 100% kitbashing.
4) Perhaps most common, only using ZBrush to create a silhouette before painting the actual details onto a still screenshot of it in Photoshop.

kanga

I dont know if it is what you are looking for, but I was curious about the modelling brush and made this: http://www.art-werx.com/?page_id=1403
The plane and watches were done completely in ZBrush and the renders are from keyshot. I used the transparent interface slider  with the plane blueprints (the basic form). The info for modelling I found on the summit videos and the rest in the ZBrush classroom. I was amazed by the flexibility, even if I have been usig ZB for a while.

Cheerio

Stinger88

Not sure if these are what you are after but I've recently been learning hard surface stuff and these vids helped. Having been away from ZBrush for a few years I can tell you that ZModeller is fecking awesome for clean HS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7H9HQ-c6Vk&t=1097s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdR0LKjFr-A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdEVj39ur-U

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk7JCNNcUYiM3CVAJvuzEyA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd3-6t59uU0

https://youtu.be/umg_spkkeu0?t=49m47s

Zack Maxwell

Thanks for the videos. And @Kanga, those were done with ZModeler? How do you feel about the speed of it? The tool seemed slow to me compared to a full 3D program.

Stinger88

Just to jump in a answer about the speed of ZModeller. I feel it's very fast when you get to grips with it. As fast as google sketchup which I consider to be probably the quickest software for simple blocking out. As said i'm just learning it but I feel it may actually be quicker than Sketchup when I fully get to grips and quicker again if I assigned hotkeys. But it all depends on how comfortable you are in whatever software.

Zmodeller does however miss a few key things. At least I think they are missing, they may be there I just dont know how to do it yet.

e.g
Cutting an edge from vert to vert is one I cant seem to find. I do have work arounds but its not as easy as other software. If someone knows how please share, thanks.
Boolean's aren't quite as simple when block modelling.

Like any software there are advantages and disadvantages. But when you also add in the power ZBrush has to do everything else, being able to block out quickly within ZB and do other stuff on the fly really makes things a lot faster.

kanga

Grimwolf said:

Thanks for the videos. And @Kanga, those were done with ZModeler? How do you feel about the speed of it? The tool seemed slow to me compared to a full 3D program.

Yeah it was a bit strange at first and like stinger88 says I missed a few trustworthy tools, but that was because at the tome I didn't know what I was doing. There are videos and the rest you cam pretty much figure out. As far as speed goes its hard to say. I reckon some standard modelling tasks are slower, mostly due to researching the method in ZB, the extra functions ZB has to offer are very quick and offer form freedom I have never had as a Max user. Clip curve brushes during the modelling process for instance. The method that knocked me for a six was the Proboolean + Dynamesh thread from Amsterdam Hilton Hotel: http://polycount.com/discussion/168610/proboolean-dynamesh-hardsurface-workflow-tutorial/p1 Still using a combination of ZBrush and an external modeller (Max) this process blew me away for hard surface:

musashidan

This is a project I finished last year. Modeled 100% in ZB. I used many ZB techniques on the project. Thinking of Zmodeler as 'ZB hard-surface' Vs the trad modeling packages will certainly limit your scope of what you can actually do when you use all the tools in conjunction. There are just so many different hard-surface workflows. Thread link with breakdown from PC: http://polycount.com/discussion/168591/wxs-07-depopulator/p1
I was planning a breakdown video of the project soon. It might be of some use.