ZBrush Skin Detailing Techniques

Introduction

• The video focuses on sculpting minute details for skin in ZBrush.
• Two main approaches for adding microscopic details exist: texturing or sculpting.
• Sculpting incorporates details into textures.
• The creator prefers sculpting for a handcrafted look over photorealism.
• The artist's interpretation adds value, like in portrait painting, even with readily available photos.
• Photo-scanning is a common studio practice for high-quality results, especially when time is a factor.

Inspiration & Techniques

• Inspiration comes from Kris Costa, a renowned ILM artist.
• Costa's work displays hand-sculpted details achieving near-photorealism.
• References are crucial, including Pinterest and Glauco Longhi's skin details.
• Daniel Boschung's website offers high-resolution face photos for various ages, aiding in wrinkles and pore reference.

ZBrush Workflow & Tools

• Custom ZBrush brushes are used for skin details.
• A tileable texture with pores and wrinkles is applied to the entire head using ZBrush Surface Noise.
• Adjusting scale and intensity of the texture depends on age and gender.
• Morph Targets store detail stages, offering flexibility and easy adjustment/undoing.
• Default ZBrush brushes include:
  • Spray Brush: for organic patterns/fine detail.
  • Pores Brush: for pore-like detail.
  • Fine Wrinkles Brush: for delicate wrinkles/lines.
  • Thin Lines Brush: for subtle wrinkle emphasis.
  • Clay Brush: for smoothing surface irregularities.
  • Elastic Brush: for form sculpting while maintaining detail.

HD Geometry Workflow in ZBrush

• The HD Geometry workflow in ZBrush creates high-resolution detail.
• Base mesh subdividing increases polygon count significantly (up to 102 million).
• A tileable texture using Surface Noise allows precise pore/wrinkle placement.
• Morph Targets are vital for preserving detail stages in HD Geometry (each subdivision is a new mesh).
• Sculpting in HD Geometry necessitates adjusting camera settings for accurate previewing.

Sculpting Specific Areas of the face

• Specific facial areas are sculpted:
  • Nose: A less dense pore pattern with bumps/bumps for blocked pores (blackheads).
  • Lips: Wrinkles/creases along lip edges; varying shape/depth.
  • Eyes: Fine wrinkles/lines around eyes, emphasizing movement/skin compression.
  • Body: Applying similar techniques to the body based on area/skin type.

Breaking Symmetry & Adding Organic Detail

• Breaking symmetry at final stages creates realism.
• Techniques include:
  • Slight rotation of the nose and ears.
  • Adjusting lip and eye position.
  • Shifting overall facial balance.
• Variation in brush size, pressure, and alpha values, alongside considering wrinkle direction based on facial movements, is emphasized.

Exporting & Rendering

• High-resolution maps (including HD Geometry) are exported from ZBrush.
• Displacement and Normal maps are vital for rendering in programs like Arnold, Blender, and Marmoset.
• A high-resolution Normal map in Marmoset boosts rendering realism.

Skillshare Sponsorship

• The video is sponsored by Skillshare, an online learning platform.

Conclusion

• The video recommends the creator's Patreon for full sculpting process videos and tutorials.
• Viewers are encouraged to experiment and apply techniques to projects.
• The video stresses the importance of ongoing learning in 3D art.