HERE AT LAST ZBRUSH? Nearly!

1.5 already! It doesn't seem five minutes ago that I was marvelling over version .9. How far has this little treasure from LA's Pixologic come in its short lifetime? Release after release it has grown from a little known 2D/3D wannabe into a Digital art tool with some of the power found only in high-end packages. This release does not disappoint. Modelling improvements, new render and lighting features, interface improvements and enhancements and all still at a more than reasonable price.

ZSPHERE MODELLING

First up then, ZSpheres. No, not another Metaball clone but ZSpheres! One of the much asked for features in ZBrush is the ability to model full figures from in one mesh. Full figures created in earlier versions more often than not had to be created piece-by-piece and composed in the document window. With ZSpheres it is possible to build up complex shapes by adding interconnected spheres to each other and moving/scaling/rotating then into position. Once you are happy with your shape you then 'skin' it. This process makes a mesh object that conforms to the shape of the sphere model. These are several options that allow you to make meshes in low poly, high mesh density, tighter or loser forms. Once you have a skin that you are happy with you can then continue modelling and deforming it with the more usual ZBrush tools ('Move' and Draw Pointer'). As usual Pixologic provide you with an excellent ZScript tutorial that not only tells you how to use the new features but also shows them in action live on screen.

INTERFACE

I have heard people criticising the look and feel of the ZBrush interface and some would even say it is hard to navigate. True, when you first come to ZBrush the number of panels and palettes can be daunting. 1.5 bring the ability to scroll the side panels up and down as you wish by simply mouse clicking and dragging. This is a real benefit to those users with small screen sizes. Pixologic has also hidden some of the more advanced features for each panel. It does help a new user get used to the more basic commands but it can be frustrating when you just want all the tools at your finger tips. Having the sliding feature allows the more advanced user to expand all panels and keep them open and ready to use. A nice touch (but not that useful) is the ability to change the colour of any part of the interface. You can change the colours to suit your mood but having spent an hour messing with the settings I decided that Pixologic had it right in the first place and never change a setting ever again.

GLOBAL ILLUMINATION AND SOFT SHADOWS

One feature that I am particularly fond of is the addition of global illumination and soft shadows. This range of render options now gives the artist the capability to render more realistic images with reflections that pick up the colours from surrounding objects and grainy lighting conditions that almost mimics radiosity. I produced an imagre earlier in 2002 that was rendered with a beta of 1.5 and the render output was amazing.

Spray Stroke

This little addition to the Stoke panel comes in useful when used with the TextureMaster ZScript. It allows you to spray two colours at the same time giving a dappled effect. I find it really useful when creating skin or hide effects. In earlier versions I would have used a spotty alpha brush to put down one colour then gone over it all again with a second. The spary tool saves time and looks better. NOTE: The skin texture on this ZOMBIE SENSAI images was created with TextureMaster with the spray stroke.

Polyframe Display Mode

In 1.23b and earlier it was possible, via the preferences menu, to view and rotate you meshes (ZTools) in wireframe (Or 'Dots' Mode). 1.5 adds 'Polyframe' display mode that allows the user to see the textured model with and overlay of the wireframe. As you can also generate low poly meshes with ZSpheres this new viewing method is really helpful in checking out the distribution of the polygons in the mesh.

OTHER POINTS

Some little tweaks are welcome. The Symmetry feature has been moved from its relatively hidden position in the TOOL drop down to the TRANSFORM panel. A small move but it does improve work flow as it is such a well used modelling aid. Stability has never been an issue on my systems. I have installed ZBrush 1.5 on three different machine now and all fair very well. The usual rule applies though, the more RAM the better! My main machine is a 1 Gig Athlon with 1.5 Gig of RAM and a Ge-Force 4 128 Meg TI. Needless to say 3000x3000 images with 6-7 layers don't present an issue. I also tested it on my Viao with a 1 Gig Duron and 256 Meg Ram and an 8 Meg card. It performs really well but with larger images there is more writing to disk (ZBrush tells you how much RAM it is using across the top of the screen).

ANY DOWN SIDES???

Get a tablet! Not really a negative point but using ZBrush with a mouse is like swimming with your socks on, you can do it but it feels weird! Still no animation but then, so what! As ZBrush evolves it seems only logical that it will one day move towards animation . With the new ZSpheres an artist can created exportable meshes, texture them and export the texture. The mesh (UV co-ordinated included) and the texture can then be taken into Lightwave and have bones added ready for animation. The quirky interface no longer seems quirky. Its sliding panels seem to be perfectly normal and finding palettes is second nature. People who come to ZBrush for the first time will still have the issues that people had with earlier versions. ZBrush is not your run-of-the-mill piece of 3D wanabe software. It is an artists tool that has a phenominal range of features and tools, some of which would be familiar to 3D Hardcore artists, some that won't. ZSperes will make game developers open their eyes and take an interest if only because there is now a Low-poly option.

VERDICT:

ZBrush is a unique piece of graphics software. It's fast, fun and it gives instant results in real time. The program has been designed with the creative person in mind, allowing you to concentrate on creating great art and not get sidetracked by the interface. Pixologic haven't re-invented the interface; they have simply made it effective and pleasant to work with. The first time user may be a little daunted by the amount of menu options available, however with a little experimentation these soon become very accessible. Earlier versions of ZBrush were supported with an online manual in PDF format: This is one area that needs to be improved in future versions and users would benefit form a comprehensive `paper` reference manual. The software is well supported on the web with a large community of ZBrush users contributing to ZBrush Central, Pixologics online forum ZBrush Central. ZBrush is a wonderful new addition to the digital artist's toolbox and only at version 1.2, it is very well constructed and stable. I am sure it will grow for each upgrade and become a 'must have' tool for both 2D illustrators and professional 3D artists.

ZBrush is available online at www.zbrush.com for a special introductory price of $399.00 , £260 for a limited time. Purchasing now gives free upgrades up to and including the full version 1.5 Available from Pixologic at http://www.pixologic.com/

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