Cloth Sculpting in ZBrush - Tutorial

This is an unedited, real-time (but relatively concise) tutorial that anyone can follow and work at their own pace. In these videos, I'll show you how to confidently start sculpting cloth instead of slapping random folds all over the place! (Don't worry, we've all done it)

One of the most important character art skills is increasing knowledge and proficiency in sculpting realistic and believable clothing. It takes finding good reference and applying an understanding of what forces play into how garments behave. The classical sculptors from ages passed knew how to observe the world around them and work with very difficult media like stone (and no undo button and multiple file saves!). Today, we have the benefit of amazing sculpting software like ZBrush to try and achieve the same level of proficiency these great artists had. So let's talk about how you can start to understand even more than you already do, whether you're a complete beginner, all the way up to a senior artist already in the cg industry.

Here's a breakdown of the tutorial:

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• Objectives

-- What kind of reference to look for and analyze what you're seeing (the how and why)

-- Realize everything has anatomy and structure

-- Apply that observation to your subject in efficient iteration (working your way through without getting sloppy)

-- Learn which brushes to use and what strokes work best

-- Work with layers to add details and stay organized

-- Polishing and rendering your final work

• Length: 6+ hrs (8 lesson segments, 21-79 min each)
  
•  Why should I buy this?

-- If you want to accurately sculpt cloth for your characters

-- If you want to push yourself to know more than you already do

-- If cloth work intimidates you

-- How to carve in seams and other details

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OUTLINE

01 Introduction and tutorial overview (33 min)

• how to gather and study cloth reference
• basic physics of cloth in 2D/3D art
• training your eye to observe
• introduce the concept we'll use for the tutorial
• analyze the subject before sculpting
• evaluating Marvelous Designer vs ZBrush

02 Getting Started in ZBrush (21 min)

• using and understanding my custom UI (optional)
• using proper brushes for cloth sculpting
• practicing the strokes before we do the real thing

03 Setting Up the Base Mesh (24 min)

• start from sphere vs free source models
• working around a mannequin as a guide
• creating the hoodie

04 Primary Forms (40 min)

• blocking in main shapes and silhouette
• using Move brush and big strokes
• modifying the mesh to prepare for secondary forms
• creating waist and wrist bands

05 Secondary Forms - Part One (62 min)

• adding shell thickness using Panel Loops
• building jacket secondary forms on top of previous primary work
• making the main cloth folds and studying how to lay them out
• using concept as guide for flow

06 Secondary Forms - Part Two (35 min)

• building hoodie secondary forms
• finish other sleeve for asymmetry
• transitioning from compression into tension

07 Polishing Stage (71 min)

• finding areas that catch the eye and fixing them
• adjust silhouette for more appeal
• cleaning up strokes and polishing for clarity
• final polish of anything else that bothers you

08 Detailing Stage (79 min)

• where to put seams and zippers
• sculpting seams on layers
• adding the zipper
• adding texture to waist and wrist bands using UV Master and Noisemaker on a layer
• adding subtle detail along seams
• making quick renders