Zbrush worth it? are there alternatives?

Bletzkarn

Professional 3D designer.

Current program package is 3dsmax, substance painter + designer, photoshop and unity/unreal.

Is zbrush still needed if one has substance painter? feels like the only reason to use it is for detials on a high poly bake in which case one can probably get away with painter. I also need to bring marvelous designer into my workflow but trying to elliminate as many tools as possible to keep the workflow fast.

Burpee

zBrush is a must have imo right now in the industry, ofc you can use 3ds coat or mudbox but zbrush is use in mostly every big production and you can't open a .ztl with 3d coat ^_^. I think compare to Mudbox or 3D coat it's really about personal taste
And it's cheap and you have free upgrade!

I kinda feel like a commercial working for Pixologic right now ...
Cheers ! 

Brian "Panda" Choi

@Bletzkarn
Do you want to sculpt?

Bletzkarn

Brian "Panda" Choi said:

@Bletzkarn
Do you want to sculpt?

I guess I'd like to be multi-discplinary but mainly leaning towards photorealism. Less character stuff.

If I was just doing arch-viz I probably wouldn't need it but I currently work in games. I'd only really see myself using it for doing things like roughing up bricks and adding details to high poly bakes.

Bletzkarn

okay nvm I should get it.

Carlosan

Try 3Dcoat learning version.
There is a summer sale currently
https://store.steampowered.com/app/100980/3DCoat_V48/

kanga

A 3D designer. I guess you wouldnt know if you need ZB until you start to work with it. For game characters making a high poly version for baking I'd say you would not want to be without it. Lately ZB is also pretty nifty at hard surface stuff. But Im biased. Ive seen some great character work sculpted in Blender too. When I started with ZB it was only to add details but that was 14 years ago. These days I start in ZB and pretty much stay there, only using Blender to retopo and Substance to bake and  texture. I couldnt say if you need it, but for me its the best thing since sliced bread!