Creature Design R2: Sculpting Skin/Scales As A Workflow

http://www.creatureworkshops.com & http://www.zbrushworkshops.com

In this video I look at Cesar Dacol Jr's sculpting workflow for creating dinosaur skin and scales.

The real debate with a subject like this is whether to use alphas or to manually sculpt. This time, I make the case for sculpting & designing these forms manually.

The key term is "designing". When you are designing you need flexibility and speed to get through iterations and to work out ideas fast. The speed and flexibility of Cesar's method is, to me, one of the best ways to sculpt these details into a character.

Hope you enjoy.

Ryan

Category:

Education

Tags:

• zbrush
• scales
• skin
• zbrush 4r2
• cesar dacol jr
• ryan kingslien
• zbrushworkshops
• creatureworkshops
• maya
• 3d

[GolfPiggy]

Great video!

So what was the softening process? You said it wasn't smooth brush..

[rkingslien]

@GolfPiggy Cesar uses the layers to do the bulk of this work. Its a bit of a process though. Here are the steps: 1) create a layer and pull out the large hooks 2) adjust the layer intensity 3) create a new layer and use H Polish to make it more of a nub. 4) adjust both layers to see what works best for you. We'll cover that in the class. A really cool workflow.

[mkk316]

Thank you guys for your time, passion, and dedication to art and learning. You guys rock and are an inspiration. :)

[rkingslien]

@mkk316 Thanks!

[ncictube]

on the topic of cuts. damian standard brush is mega awesome, been using it for years. i was very pleased to see it promoted into the package install. with this post i only wanted to add props to MAHcutMech A and B brushes which also are two great brushes but for precision cuts. i hope these get adopted into the install as dam_stand was. i found them on zBc

[rkingslien]

@ncictube I agree, the MAH brushes are awesome.

[goomee3d]

@KickingMinutes I am sure there is some smashing of clay Cesar does, however, I think that Ryan knows a bit more about Cesar's thoughts, and feelings simply because he has worked with him enough to know what his process is for creating his artwork.

[MONEYVAL9]

Hello there i have a rather interesting question for you Sir

Kings.Having finish my sculpting process in zbrush im about to

retoplogize my mesh,That i can do just fin how ever i stumbled

upon an idea when i was pan rotating my sculpt.I wanted to know

if there is a way i can generate the Adaptive degredation mesh

that seem kinda like a low res version (cage ) of that actual sub

div he level mesh.

[hydra102090]

I want to start sculpting do u recommend any books to start off I have no clue where to start.

[bezoro2008]

too bad i cant afford the course :/

but thanks for these free videos, they help A.L.O.T.

[coolkidroc]

Is the video of the texturing process you mentioned at the end of the video available, and if so what's the link?

Thanks

[AndGz7]

Thx for a great explication, how to make a great sculpting

[KickingMinutes]

@rkingslien... I really like the videos that you put together, but I have to say, there is one thing that truly gets under my skin with your narration. You tend to be so "psychological" in your analysis. Quit trying to explain to me about how someone "felt" when they were sculpting. I get that art is about a flow and a feeling, but do you have to be soooo analytical in your interpretation of the thought process, maybe it isn't so complicated. Maybe, possibly, Cesar just smashed clay around.

[halocritian]

alphas are easy like the dark side . now that's the best tip so far !!!