ZBrush: Beginner to Advanced Course on Three Miniatures

Open ZBrush, load the base mesh, and shape your character using move, clay buildup, and damstandard, with symmetry and Z spotlight for anatomy texture reference.

Rename and organize subtools in ZBrush to keep the base mesh and facial parts clearly labeled, using 001-style numbering for order and v1/v2 view options.

Explore basic ZBrush brushes to speed up modeling, including clay, smooth (stronger), standard, move, and pinch, with masking and lasso techniques for precise edits.

Explore the base mesh setup in ZBrush, test provided brushes, and learn to customize hotkeys and UI, then practice posing with the transpose gizmo and T-pose tools.

Use a hybrid concept workflow with pure half and Photoshop to sketch, note, and draw over references; paste concepts into Photoshop, adjust opacity, then transfer to ZBrush for sculpting.

Memorize ZBrush hotkeys by loading a startup file from preferences. Use c for clay, d for damstandard, v for move, and f for inflate, then adjust brush size.

Explore basic shapes in ZBrush, mastering blocking with cylinders and polymesh 3D to build a multi-part character using subtools, insert tools, mirror, gizmo, and symmetry.

Learn how happy mistakes in ZBrush can accelerate sculpting by turning errors into guides, improving curves like curly hair, and using Dynamesh, ZModeler, and projection to refine details.

Learn sculpting process 001 in ZBrush, blocking basic mini anatomy, clothes, and secondary parts, using ZModeler, extrude polygroups, zero mesh, and remesh.

Explore sculpting process 002 in ZBrush, refining secondary forms with polygroups and crease, and organizing sub tools and subdivision for a cartoon figure.

Learn hard-surface sculpting in ZBrush by building a crystal from polymesh 3D, using ZModeler bevels, extrude operations, polygroups, and Dynamesh to refine.

Learn the boolean sculpting workflow in ZBrush by creating a cut and merge with secondary forms, beveling, and generating a boolean mesh to shape a stick for a miniature.

Pose and sculpt a cartoon character using third shapes, silhouette details, and texture with alphas, then refine wrinkles, branches, and facial features through Dynamesh and bevel workflows.

Learn how to create your own brush and alpha in ZBrush, use drag rect and inflate, and apply seamless alphas from Photoshop to sculpt textured surfaces.

Create a basic miniature base in ZBrush by inserting a cylinder, centering with the gizmo, grouping by normals, and sharpening edges with ZModeler for a simple beginner-stage base.

Master rendering time in ZBrush by applying materials, exploring process render phases and export phases, and composing results in Photoshop for final presentation.

Export and prep ZBrush models for resin printing by separating parts, using Dynamesh and booleans, decimating polygons, and exporting 32 mm files; then import into Blender via FBX.

Block a cartoon crystal guy with a stick and cinnamon roll using egg and cylinder shapes from reference art. Export FBX and render in Photoshop as you reach intermediate stage.

Explore the intermediate concept in ZBrush, analyzing anatomy and cartoon anatomy, merging three reference characters, balancing human form with stylized shapes, and applying textures.

Begin blocking a skinny elf in ZBrush from a base mesh, using mirror and weld, Dynamesh, remesh, and ZModeler. Develop the initial blocking concept by refining anatomy and proportions.

Block and refine second forms from a base mesh in zbrush, shaping horns, boots, pants, a shirt, and a scarf using zmodeler, dynamesh, symmetry, and mirror weld.

This course teaches blocking second forms for a miniature in ZBrush, using boolean brushes to cut and merge parts into a sword and shield, with polygroups and subtools workflows.

Detail forms and subtools in ZBrush, texture belts and pockets, and refine seams and wrinkles, using polygroups, group by normals, and merge down for clean boolean and texture work.

Learn to sketch and pose a model from a T-pose to a dynamic link pose using ZBrush, Transpose Master, and Dynamesh, refining limbs and building a base silhouette.

Learn to create a soft base and apply textures in ZBrush, using UV Master unwrap, copy UVs, surface noise, and alpha textures on a scarf for detailed miniatures.

Learn detailing forms and painting in ZBrush, sculpting cloak and jacket, applying textures, polygroups, and booleans to finish a cartoon elf model.

Use boolean cuts to assemble boots and ground, refine with polygroups and dynamesh, unwrap with UV Master, and texture before rendering for Photoshop and sharing on Instagram and ArtStation.

Apply precise scaling in ZBrush, paint and render the model through render phases, then export STL and FBX, merge parts for 3D printing, and prepare composite renders in Photoshop.

Render phases in Photoshop for ZBrush miniatures, covering occlusion, shadows, color, and subsurface scattering. Merge layers, colorize, and save the composite as the final render.

Explore the advanced ZBrush concept stage, analyzing female anatomy, refining a main concept named henna with textures on head, clothes, and shoes, plus potential base elements like mushrooms and crystals.

Begin blocking a ZBrush character by drafting concept art in Photoshop, using spotlight for reference, and saving a symmetrical base mesh before detailing.

Block and refine secondary forms in zbrush, from boot shaping to a t-pose, t-shirt, gloves, cloak, crystals, and polygroups, aligning with the concept and smoothing the workflow.

Block secondary forms in ZBrush using boolean operations and a toolkit of brushes—from clay tubes to standard and gravity—to shape the face and prepare details for the miniature.

This ZBrush A to Z tutorial details refining secondary forms, subtools, and texturing, uses booleans and UV Master for a hat and hair, and sets up poses.

Learn to pose a ZBrush mannequin using a ZSphere model, moving from t pose to a main pose, with reference images and transpose master for quick, accurate figure setups.

Master secondary elements in this ZBrush lecture by blocking weapons, crafting a polymesh 3d staff with crystal inserts, cartoon wings, leaves, and wood textures.

Learn to pose and block elements in ZBrush by organizing subtools and blocking secondary shapes like gloves, boots, socks, and hair for a ready final pose.

Block and sculpt tertiary forms for a skirt and t-shirt in ZBrush A to Z, then texture and map UVs using UV Master, polygroups, and surface noise.

Learn to pose and sculpt hands on a simple base in ZBrush, using polymesh 3D, layers, alphas, and basic textures and materials for a crystal-on-base model.

Learn to sculpt a cartoon head and hair in ZBrush, refining the face and neck. Paint eyes and ears, apply color with materials, and mirror details using polymesh 3D.

Learn to use boolean operations to cut, split, and merge parts in ZBrush from head to base, paint parts, and prepare a multi-piece model for 3D printing.

Export, scale and resize the miniature in STL and FBX formats, decimate for print at 42mm and 75mm, and generate render phases for Photoshop and Blender workflows.

Learn to prepare 3D prints with Chitubox, hollowing parts, adding resin holes, and generating supports; then render front and back views in Photoshop with color mask for portfolios.

Export an FBX from ZBrush, import into Blender, and render with a clay material in multiple views. Enhance the final images in Photoshop and prepare for ArtStation.

Three models—the crystal guy, soldier boy, and Hanna the sorcerer—emphasize textures, wrinkles, anatomy, and dynamic poses for print-ready miniatures.

Discover ten practical ZBrush tips for faster hard-surface modeling, including polygroups, ZModeler edges, clean cuts, boolean mesh workflows, Dynamesh, and dynamic brush sizing.