Instructions
Create a digital version of a plaster cast, matching the original sculpture as closely as possible.
You will need both the physical sculpture as well as reference photographs.
I recommend starting with the Nose, then Mouth, then Eye, then Ear.
Goals
- Practice a foundational sculpting workflow.
- Learn how to work with reference images.
- Create a final render.
Challenges
- Match the proportions of the original plaster cast.
- Identify anatomical landmarks with the help of references. (Books/web search.)
- Analyse the underlying forms. (Spherical, cylindrical, boxy?) Slightly emphasise these architectural forms, demonstrating that you understand this structure.
Step by Step Guide
- Launch ZBrush
- In Lightbox, double-click DynaMesh064.zpr (a red ball).
- Set up a reference image grid.
- Use the move or snake hook brush to distort your model and roughly fit it to the big shapes of the front, top, and side views.
- Use the clip curve brush to cut away excess material.
- Once you have the rough shape of the object, turn off the reference grid. (Press <shift>+P)
- Load about 3 reference images into Spotlight.
- Go to Brush > Samples and turn OFF Spotlight Projection. (Instructions here)
- Sculpt out the cast, working from big forms to small forms. Look at and touch the physical plaster cast while you work.
- Use these brushes: Standard, ClayTubes, Dam_Standard, SnakeHook, hPolish, and Move.
- Create a final render and in photoshop, place it next to a reference image, showing both from the same angle.
Using Clip Curve with the Reference Grid: