ZBrush Character Creation - Advanced Digital Sculpting 2nd Edition

366 chapter 10 ■ ZSketch and Hard-Surface Brushes

ShadowBox, Group Loops, and Matchmaker

In addition to the hard-surface brushes, we will use several new tools. We will use ShadowBox

to create some mechanical parts. ShadowBox is a new mesh generation tool that allows you to

draw an object’s profiles to generate it in 3D space (Figure 10.50). We will also use group

loops to help create sharp edges (Figure 10.51). Finally, we will look at Matchmaker for tak-

ing one shape and conforming it perfectly against another. This is a fantastic tool for creat-

ing ornaments, moldings, and other detailed shapes that need to conform against a surface

(Figure 10.52). Before we try to implement these techniques on a new model, let’s explore each

of these new tools with some brief exercises.

Using ShadowBox and Group Loops

In this exercise you will use ShadowBox to create new geometry. ShadowBox lets you create

new 3D objects by simply drawing their profiles with the masking tools on a three-sided box

that represents front, side, and top views. Please be sure to see the accompanying DVD for a

video on this process. Let’s get started:

1. Initialize ZBrush to create a new scene. From the Lightbox → Tool menu, select the
   dog.ztl file.


2. You need to have a subtool before you can enable ShadowBox. Duplicate the dog
   with Tool → Subtool → Duplicate. Under Tool → Subtool, adjust the Res slider to
   200. This will control the density of the meshes created with ShadowBox. Make sure
   Transparency is on in the sidebar. Now click the Tool → Subtool ShadowBox button
   to enable ShadowBox (Figure 10.53).

Figure 10.50 ShadowBox allows you to create geometry by drawing.