ZBrush Character Creation - Advanced Digital Sculpting 2nd Edition

46 chapter 2 ■ Sculpting in ZBrush

Figure 2.18 An example of Rake and Claybrush strokes at different levels of refi nement

What Is a Rake?

Featured Artist: Cesar Dacol

A rake is a tool used by sculptors to remove excessive material, such as clay, from a sculpture. By

employing the rake, you are able to shape and defi ne the forms of our creation.

In sculpture, there two methods of creation. One is additive in the form of clays. The second

is subtractive, as in marbles. Each method utilizes the rake in its sculptural process. With mar-

ble, you use various chisels with ever-refi ning teeth to form, shape, and polish the piece. You use

clay rakes in a similar manner to defi ne the silhouette and curvature of your forms, refi ning them

to a smooth fi nish (if that is the desired effect).

Here we have a sphere in which I have dragged two opposing strokes across the surface. It is

where the two strokes meet that the most material is being removed:

By pulling the brush in the direction of the form we want to express and countering the stroke

in the opposite direction, we’ll slowly shape the contour. As we repeat this technique over and

over, we create the desired form or shape.

We continue this process with smaller and smaller diameters or brushes. The fi ner the teeth

and density of our mesh, the closer the surface will resemble fl esh.

continues