Blender can do sculpting yo
by Lukas Joergensen · in Artist Corner · 06/03/2012 (2:33 am) · 6 replies
So I just had some time on my hands to play around with blender a little, and lately i have been reading alot of threads and discussions on whether blenders sculpting tools is powerful enough to actually replace zBrush or Mudbox in low-income companies, or indie for short.
And I must say, I am impressed by Blender's capabillities compared to what people tell about it.
TBH Blender can replace Mudbox and zBrush if you can't afford the latter.
Mudbox and zBrush is way more smooth and can handle way more polygons, Blender can handle a fine amount but not as much, and Mudbox and zBrush have more tools at their disposals.
I wanted to play with Blender a little and this is the results:
(Warning Programmer art!!!)
The high res model

The low res model (Yeah i got lazy! Partially plane partialle lowres model (left side is lowres)

The normal map rendered in xNormal

This is after few hours of work by a complete beginner and very incompetent artist.
I think this is great because I would definetly prefer avoiding paying that big price tag on the big industry standard tools.
Btw, sculpting in Blender and sculpting in Mudbox or zBrush is not so different. I actually made that wall based on a tutorial for Mudbox and found that it was very easy to copy the instructions and mirror the process in Blender.
What are your thoughts on sculpting in Blender for low budget teams? Any reason not to do it?
So far all I have heard is: Don't do that it's bad spend that extra money for something proper.
And I must say, I am impressed by Blender's capabillities compared to what people tell about it.
TBH Blender can replace Mudbox and zBrush if you can't afford the latter.
Mudbox and zBrush is way more smooth and can handle way more polygons, Blender can handle a fine amount but not as much, and Mudbox and zBrush have more tools at their disposals.
I wanted to play with Blender a little and this is the results:
(Warning Programmer art!!!)
The high res model

The low res model (Yeah i got lazy! Partially plane partialle lowres model (left side is lowres)

The normal map rendered in xNormal

This is after few hours of work by a complete beginner and very incompetent artist.
I think this is great because I would definetly prefer avoiding paying that big price tag on the big industry standard tools.
Btw, sculpting in Blender and sculpting in Mudbox or zBrush is not so different. I actually made that wall based on a tutorial for Mudbox and found that it was very easy to copy the instructions and mirror the process in Blender.
What are your thoughts on sculpting in Blender for low budget teams? Any reason not to do it?
So far all I have heard is: Don't do that it's bad spend that extra money for something proper.
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#2
http://www.pixologic.com/sculptris/
It's free tool.
It's better then Blender.
You can make Hi-Res models for Blender.
06/04/2012 (12:39 pm)
Look at Sculptrishttp://www.pixologic.com/sculptris/
It's free tool.
It's better then Blender.
You can make Hi-Res models for Blender.
#3
Edit: Sculptris does make it possible to get rid of the topology proces as far as I can tell. But it needs alot of tools imo. Being better than blender sculpting? No.
But it sure does simplify alot of processes like texturing and uvmapping and topology. Might even export a model sculpted in blender to Sculptris to get these texturing tools.
06/04/2012 (1:14 pm)
Sculptris does seem fantastic but I believe there must be some kind of drawback... Am I right when I believe that sculptris gets rid of the topology process? Seen several post claiming this.Edit: Sculptris does make it possible to get rid of the topology proces as far as I can tell. But it needs alot of tools imo. Being better than blender sculpting? No.
But it sure does simplify alot of processes like texturing and uvmapping and topology. Might even export a model sculpted in blender to Sculptris to get these texturing tools.
#4
Create model in Sculptris and export-import to Blender as .OBJ file.
In the Blender you can retopology this model to low-poly model.
(see any tutorial)
Unwrap low-poly model for UVmap also in Blender.
(see any tutorial)
In Blender 2.63 you can easy texturing model with BProjection addon.
http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Extensions:2.6/Py/Scripts/3D_interaction/bprojection
Use Hi-Res model for baking Normal Map in Blender.
Look any tutorial on youtube.com
Sculptris more comfortable than Blender for sculpting.
You don't need texturing Hi-Res model.
Hi-Res model is necessary only for create Low-Poly model and Normal Map.
06/05/2012 (6:35 am)
Sculptris only for Hi-Res model.Create model in Sculptris and export-import to Blender as .OBJ file.
In the Blender you can retopology this model to low-poly model.
(see any tutorial)
Unwrap low-poly model for UVmap also in Blender.
(see any tutorial)
In Blender 2.63 you can easy texturing model with BProjection addon.
http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Extensions:2.6/Py/Scripts/3D_interaction/bprojection
Use Hi-Res model for baking Normal Map in Blender.
Look any tutorial on youtube.com
Sculptris more comfortable than Blender for sculpting.
You don't need texturing Hi-Res model.
Hi-Res model is necessary only for create Low-Poly model and Normal Map.
#5
1] Generate your HiPol model with the UV info, but without materials
2] Create a new Image for the uv and store this as Dummy.png
3] Duplicate the HiPol model and Decimate this (Decimator Modifier)
4] Create a new Image for the LowPol model for the uv, and store this as BakedNormals.png
5] Select the HiPol and with the Shift key also the LowPol model
6] Bake your normal with the "Selected to Active" option checked
06/05/2012 (7:40 am)
Is really simple with blender...1] Generate your HiPol model with the UV info, but without materials
2] Create a new Image for the uv and store this as Dummy.png
3] Duplicate the HiPol model and Decimate this (Decimator Modifier)
4] Create a new Image for the LowPol model for the uv, and store this as BakedNormals.png
5] Select the HiPol and with the Shift key also the LowPol model
6] Bake your normal with the "Selected to Active" option checked
#6
Also, i don't think retopoly is needed when using Sculptris, Blenders decimate modifier have only caused me troubles because it messes the faces up, but maybe that BProjection will help with that will look into it.
06/05/2012 (8:01 am)
Well my biggest problem with Sculptris is the lack of the scrape tool, I really loved that tool in blender.Also, i don't think retopoly is needed when using Sculptris, Blenders decimate modifier have only caused me troubles because it messes the faces up, but maybe that BProjection will help with that will look into it.
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