How to use the ZModeler brush and with a quick workflow

Hello I'm Julian Ibanez I am showing a quick way to model in Zbrush traditionally like you would in Maya using edge, face, and verts Just a little different. Zbrush has a new feature called Zmodeler.

Zmodeler gives you the flexibility and workflow you would have in my Maya for modeling objects, characters, and architecture but in Zbrush, so there's not much need to go from forward to software especially if the turn around for a project is short.

All you need to go to start getting familiar with this technique is, go to your tool tab and by clicking the SimpleBrush icon select the PolyMesh3D. 

Drag it out and select edit to begin working on this tool.

Select the initialize to tab and you notice it pops open with a few buttons and slides. I want to model a bench very quickly to show you a this technique. The X Res, Y Res, and Z Res slides can be changed to any number of poly count you want. I will change mine too four on each of these slides and then click the QCube button to initialize those actions.

Be sure to click the poly count button to have those changes you have made visible.

You will see your PolyMesh star changes to a Cube with a poly count of four by four on each face of the cube if you're following along with me.

                                               
At this point you can select your scale transpose tool. 

Use the scale transpose tool squash your cube into a rectangle or bench shape.

Go back to draw select the zmodeler brush by hitting the shortcut keys B Z M.

Then you'll notice when you mouse over a poly face or edge it lights up to notify that it can be selected. Click the space bar to pop up a menu window showing you all the options possible with this brush. Be sure polygroup is selected in the polygon pop up menu when the mouse is over a face and your target is set to a single poly.

Now you can select four corners for the legs of the bench. Then hit space bar select Qmech and set the target to polygroup all and drag out the legs of the Bench. You can repeat that process to select and drag out the back rest of the bench on the top side. Now you can deselect the poly count button and see your bench in the Zbrush material you have selected. That's been fun, fast, and easy to do. I hope this has showed you more possibilities the brush is capable of in betters your workflow in Zbrush Thank you and enjoy Zmodeling.

Compare and contrast

I am carrying over from Hans Hofmann original work, value and conflict to my piece although these aspects are the same I have pushed these aspects to a more controlled   naturalistic subject so the viewer can relate to the subject. I have taken out everything from the background so all to see is the subject with her experiences to tell the story. Although Han’s work is toned paper I have used a more toned paper to truly give an effect on the viewer’s eyes.

Work in progress

I want to make a more naturalistic woman.  I am using the same pen end ink in paper as Hans Hofmann.  I expected Hans use of lines all over the subject to define value of light and shadow I quickly realized I need to push those details a little bit further and I should probably move to darker paper because the only thing here I truly do not care about was his illustration of a woman head. 

Subjective Critique

I see at first glance Hans Fofmann's "Head of Woman" Is using lines to form volume.  However the piece is basic and holds a sense of conflict in the eyes.  A sense of depression is also noticed in the characters face and shoulder expressions and the drawing of the long curved and straight lines found in the piece.  It is unrealistic and holds no value to me in this piece.  I would change the mood of the character by putting her hair down giving the character the expressions of confection but a stronger sense of triumph by taking advantage of Hans use of curved lines.  Changing the expressions of the lines to give the viewer a better sense of a more attractive "naturalistic" (not realistic or realism) relation to the piece.

Image and Basic Information

Hans Hofmann
American, born Germany, 1880-1966

Head of a Woman, n.d.

Pen and black ink on cream wove tracing paper
371 x 295 mm

Margaret Fisher Fund, 1986.454

Prints and Drawings