ZBrush Workflows

The next step was to send the piece to ZBrush, polish and detail the model there.

This way of working is very effective but I wanted to try something quicker than this method and if it would be possible, without the necessity to use more than one software.

One of the options was to create the individual piece in ZBrush with Dynamesh. When I would be happy with the result I’d just try to polish the surface with H Polish brushes making a “Clay polish” or even a Zremesh in a cloned tool, creating different polygroups and applying a “Crease PG” that creates an edge around the polygroups and then subdivide the tool.

But for me, the best way to work was extracting the different pieces of the helmet creating masks over the sketch. Then Dynamesh the piece, clean all the imperfections that could appear, Zremesh and carefully with Hpolish create the clean surfaces. Other variation if you don’t want to extract the mesh and have more control over the shape is to mask the part you are interested in and split with masked points. Then with the new subtool go to the Geometry menu and make a Panel loop. That way you will get a smooth and clean tool with the volume extruded.

While I had all the pieces of the helmet ready in ZBrush I tried to be very careful with the flow and connection between each part. All of them should be connected to the next one, creating that compact sensation. You would have to be able to see each piece of the helmet but have the feeling that it is only one strong form.

Detailing

After all this process, it’s time for the detailing work: using alphas and some brushes to damage the surface a bit and creating the biggest details — the smallest would be created in the texture process. The panel lines were created with the DamStandard brush with the lazy mouse activated and the extruded areas with alphas. The screws were added with IMM brushes. Every time I create a part with IMM brushes I split them apart to have all that little pieces together in a separate subtool so I can then apply a specific polygroup to them easily.