There’s been a lot of hype since Pixologic announced the new ZBrushCore a few weeks ago. Well, the wait is over and you can now get this streamlined version of ZBrush which is designed for people new to 3D that want to get into the world of 3D sculpting, 3D printing and illustration.
I had the chance to play and test the ZBrushCore BETA for a few days and all I have to say is that: it is a fantastic piece of software. It is the easiest way to introduce ZBrush to any new user, you can think of it as a replacement for Sculptris, but waaaaaaay more powerful.
I put together a series of short video tutorials to introduce this software to new artists. The videos and resources are available HERE in case you are interested.
In case you didn’t watch it the announcement during the ZBrush Summit 2016, let’s tackle some questions that might be floating in the air…
It is for someone new to 3D (or to ZBrush), and it is very easy to learn. In my opinion, if you are already familiar with ZBrush or have been working with it for a while, you have no need for ZBrushCore. However, If you want to start your journey into the 3D word, then ZBrushCore is definitely the way to go.
Pixologic said: “ZBrushCore is designed for users who are new to 3D as well as illustrators, students and 3D printing enthusiasts.” so in other words, it’s a introduction to ZBrush, where you are able to learn the ‘core’ concepts and fundamentals that make this software so powerful.
If you are a student, for instance, and open ZBrush with no prior knowledge to how it works, you are going to get frustrated (at least that’s what happened to me at first). Because let’s be honest, ZBrush has a lot of features and can do a lot of things. With ZBrushCore, on the other hand, as soon as you open it you can get sculpting straight away.
Some people might say that ZBrushCore is a heavily cut down version of ZBrush, which in essence, it is. However, people saying that, are likely to be already advanced ZBrush users so they ‘feel’ the absence of some features. I see it more as a ‘filtered’ version of ZBrush, yes it has less features, but it gives the new users only the necessary tools to create awesome stuff really fast!
Compare the image above with the ZBrushCore UI:
ZBrushCore, eases the transition… While still allowing the artist to create very professional and detailed artwork.
These are some sculpts I made while testing ZBrushCore:
So what exactly is the difference between ZBrush and ZBrushCore? – In a nutshell, ZBrushCore is the same ZBrush software but without some features and tools. This is a good thing for the new user! I remember when I started with ZBrush, it took me a long time to figure out the 2.5D vs. 3D mode and all that. In ZBrushCore there is no such thing, your are permanently in 3D mode sculpting away!
Here is a comprenhensive list of the features that comes with ZBrushCore campared to ZBrush: Compare ZBrush with ZBrushCore
YES! The 3D GIZMO! Although, the next ZBrush 4R8 will also include the gizmo (based on what we saw during the ZBrush Summit 2016), at the moment, only ZBrushCore user will enjoy this fantastic addition.
YES! The 3D GIZMO! Although, the next ZBrush 4R8 will also include the gizmo (based on what we saw during the ZBrush Summit 2016), at the moment, only ZBrushCore user will enjoy this fantastic addition.
So, apart from having multiple languages and the Gizmo, there is nothing radically new in ZBrushCore, because that would defeat the purpose (I think) of learning ZBrushCore and then transitioning to ZBrush.
Having say that, there are a couple of cool things that are worth mentioning:
Interactive Light
Under the plugins palette, there is a nice little button that allows you to interactively move the light’s direction with the mouse pointer.
Home Page button
This button opens up the slider window that appear when you first launch ZBrushCore. This is a good place to get tips, keep up to date with news and access pixologic’s training.
Lightbox startup projects
Lightbox is obviously not a new feature, but there are tons of really cool “start-up” projects that you can use to begin with your next sculpture
That’s it! For more info and free training, bookmark this page: ZBrushCore.com
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