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Digital Sculpting using ZBrush – an Intr...

Digital Sculpting using ZBrush – an Introduction

Ages: 18+
Term: Autumn
Length: 10 weeks

Overview

ZBrush is the go-to industry-standard software for digital painting and sculpting. It gives artists the freedom to create truly innovative and unique models from digital clay.

To book your place today, simply click the 'Book Now' button to be taken to AUB's secure online store, where you can complete your booking. You can also sign up to our newsletter for short course updates. 

What you need to know

Autumn 2024 

Tuesday 8 October – 10 December (10 Tuesday evenings, 18.00-21.00) 

Age

Suitable for adults aged 18+.

Level

Beginners or anyone with some experience who want to refresh or develop their skills further.

Experience or qualifications required

None – this is an introductory course. We have no formal academic entry requirements for our short courses.

If you'd like to discuss if this course is suitable for you, get in touch with us: shortcourses@aub.ac.uk or 01202 363222.

£339

Any additional costs 

You'll need to provide some basic materials for this course. This'll incur an additional cost if you need to purchase one for the course. See the 'What to bring to class' section below for full details.   

Additional materials and resources not listed below will be provided by AUB. 

USB flash drive
Notebook and pens/pencils to take notes

A student stands painting two cherries in a sketch book.

Suggested Suppliers

Information about resourcing specialist materials/consumables that you may need to bring these with you

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Short Courses FAQs – Evening and Weekend and Saturday Art School

If you have any questions about our Evening and Saturday Short Courses, you may find the answers in here.

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Short Courses booking T&Cs

Please read our Terms and Conditions carefully before booking onto our Evening and Weekend courses.

About this course

This introductory course will introduce you to the fundamentals of the ZBrush software and allow you to create a finished sculpt of a multi-part organic creature with hard surface, painted and textured elements. By the end of the course, you'll have gained insight and practical skills in the basic use of ZBrush to create a simple creature using the major elements and features of the software.

To begin with you'll explore the ZBrush interface, tools, workspace layout, how the program works, its uses and applications, ready to start creating your sculpture.

You'll be introduced to DynaMeshes and ZSpheres to form the understructure of your final sculpture. Here you'll explore both digital sculpting and traditional sculpting techniques, whilst introducing texturing elements, and refining your organic forms.

Upon completion of your form (i.e. human head, bust) you'll add hard surface elements (armour, helmet etc.) and explore several ways of achieving hard surface elements. You'll explore with Polypaint to paint texture and details onto your finished sculptures, adding depth and shape.

You'll learn how to build a rig under your sculpture that can used to pose and manipulate your sculpture into a final position, whilst understanding the simpler methods of masking and manipulating within ZBrush.

You'll also be introduced to the fundamentals of preparing your sculpt for 3D printing, including cutting and keying parts for later assembly, should you wish to turn your sculpt into a physical product at a later point.

Creating your own sculpt, from idea to finished digital model
The ZBrush interface; navigating the workspace, menus and tools
Forming structures with Dynameshes and Zspheres
How to add sub tools, adjusting geometry and add details with sculpting brushes and hard surface modelling techniques
Post-sculpting techniques including poly-painting, posing, simple rendering techniques and preparation for 3D printing
Preparing your sculpt for 3D printing

At the end of the course you'll:

Possess a comprehensive understanding of ZBrush software, including the tools and processes needed to create a 3D sculpture
Possess the technical skills to adjust geometry and use sculpting brushes efficiently
Be able to create your own 3D digital sculptures, from initial design to finished product that can be prepared for 3D print
Have increased confidence in your own skills and feel inspired
Have boosted creativity and imagination
Possess the foundations to continue creating beyond this course
You can request a certificate to confirm your achievements, providing you've a 100% attendance record. To request a certificate please get in touch with us at shortcourses@aub.ac.uk and confirm your name and the title of course you've completed

Will I be assessed?

No, there's no formal assessment. There's an optional mid-course assignment to enable you to consolidate your skills.

As the course progresses, your tutor will measure your overall performance and offer essential guidance and feedback so you know how you're getting on.

Book your place today

Book now

ZBrush gallery

Digital render of a cowboy riding a dinosaur

Soldier model being created within ZBrush

Beyond the course

This could just be the start of your creative journey! After this course, you could further your digital sculpting skills with another short course or look to the future and explore our creative qualifications that can prepare you to further your current career, enable you to retrain to an alternative career path or prepare you for future creative arts studies. 