🟧Learn how to create a female blockout of the female anatomy using a 2D reference.
🟧Follow step-by-step instructions to sculpt and shape various body parts using ZBrush.
🟧From the torso to the arms, legs, and knees, you'll gain insights into the process of creating a detailed female blockout.
- Workflow
In this class, we’ll be using a 2D reference to make a 3D blockout of a female body.
Have your reference image opened in the background so that when we move our See Through slider we will be able to see the image in the background while we work.
Add a sphere in your scene, edit, make poly mesh 3d, and change the material.
It is important to note that throughout this class we’ll only be moving with the camera and not the gizmo tool.
We’re doing this so that our object will always be in the center of the world.
While holding down the Alt key we’ll palace the sphere where the chest of the woman is.
We are allowed to scale the object and only move it on the Y-axis or up and down.
But for now, we can just zoom out how much we need to make the sphere fit the size of the chest.
When the sphere is in place we can activate our symmetry and start shaping the front part of the chest using the move brush and DynaMesh every now and then.
To not lose the positioning of the sphere we can go into the Document Tab, toggle down the ZappLink Properties and click the Front button.
Turn the sphere around with the camera and move the camera where the side view of the woman is.
Place the sphere on her chest and with the move brush fix up the form.
Now that our side is also placed, don’t move the camera and open up the Document Tab again, and in the same settings press the Left button.
After that toggle the menu to your workspace.
Now when we click any of these buttons it will turn the camera where we need it to be for our reference.
Going back to the Front view with the DamStandard brush hold down Alt and draw a curved line where the ribcage would end.
With ClayBuild up make a hole in the sphere, DynaMesh it, and Smooth it out.
Make sure the form is still correct with the reference.
Using the IMM brush we’re going to add a sphere below the ribcage we just made.
Using the gizmo tool we can adjust it to the front and side view before separating it from the ribcage subtool.
In the Subtool tab go in the SPlit menu and Split Masked Parts to give the sphere its own subtool.
From here we have more freedom to manipulate the shape of the sphere. Use the move brush and DynaMesh to shape the sphere to make the rest of the torso.
Don’t forget to check all sides of the reference to make sure the form is correct.
For the collarbone, we can use the DamStandar brush to make a line that sticks out a bit.
Feel free to zoom in on the reference to make the shoulders and the rest of the arm for the body.
Use the IMM Brush to add spheres and split them in their own subtool.
With the move brush start shaping the shoulders on both sides front and side.
Once we’re done shaping the shoulders we can move down to the rest of the arm.
Same as before using the IMM Brush add in two spheres and split them in their own subtool.
From there start shaping the form using the move brush and DynaMeshing every now and again.
The lower your topology when DynaMeshing the easier it will be to manipulate the shapes.
Make sure you check both side and front view.
Add a single sphere now to make the rest of the arm.
Using the move brush shape it from both front and side view.
After you’re done shaping you can mirror the subtool using the Mirror and Weld option in the Modify Topology tab.
Check both side and front views again to make sure the form is correct.
We’re going to remove some of the clay where the wrist is using the knife curve brush.
With the DamStandard brush make a line going from the top of the shape all the way down to the end. Don’t forget to use a bit more Resolution value on the DynaMesh for this.
With ClayBuild up add some clay on both sides of the part to make the muscle mass more obvious.
We’re going to do the same thing to the back, using the ClayBuild up and the smooth brush to fix up the form so it doesn’t look too square.
Now that we’re done with the torso we can adjust the reference back to how it was, or at least how we think it was.
When we click the Front button we can see that our reference has been misplaced and the mesh is no longer aligned with the image.
We can easily fix this by clearing the views and doing the process again.
Align your mesh and make the camera views again.
Again with symmetry off add in another sphere using the IMM Brush for the thigh.
Split it into its own subtool and start shaping it to the reference.
Don’t forget about the side view.
Once you’re done shaping Mirror Weld it to the other side.
Moving down we’ll add another sphere without symmetry for the rest of the leg.
Shape it using the move brush and occasionally DynaMeshing.
Mirror and Weld when the shape is done.
With the knife, a curve brush cut off the ankles.
Append new spheres using the IMM brush for the knees.
Don’t forget to split them into their own subtool.
You can either use the symmetry and sculpt both of the knees at the same time or sculpt in one then mirror and weld it.
If you want to sculpt just one make sure you mask the neighboring one so it is easier to manipulate the shape.
Make sure you form the knee from the sides of the leg, using the ClayBuild up to add and subtract clay to make the shape.
Don’t forget to tuck the sides of the knee.
Once you are done mirror and wels it to the other side.
Use the polish or flatten brush to smooth out the surface of the knee.
DynaMesh the knee on a higher resolution to form a flat shape better.
From the back view, we’re going to add two spheres with the IMM Brush.
With the move brush make the shape following the reference image.
Don’t forget to shape it from the side view as well.
Using the ClayBuild up and smooth brush define the shape of the rear.
Don’t forget to DynaMesh it on a higher resolution.
Keep defining the shape.
If the shape is too low you can always move it up using the gizmo tool.
Checking the rear from the side view again we need to fix up the shape using the move brush.
Because we made changes from the side we need to look at it from the back again and fix up the shape once more using ClayBuild up and the move brush.
Keep checking it from the side view as well and fix any deformities.
Using the ClayBuild up we can subtract any excess clay.
After that, we can smooth it out and check if it’s the same as in the reference.
Using the IMM Brush we’re going to add a sphere for the breast and then mirror it after we get the shape down.
Make sure you split it into its own subtool.
Once you get the shape down Mirror and Weld it to the other side and check the side view to fix up the shape from that angle.
Make sure you shape the top and sides of the breasts using the move brush.
You can DynaMesh it on a higher resolution to smooth out the form better.
For the trapezoid muscle, we’ll add a sphere in the middle of the backside of the back where the neck would be.
Split it into its own subtool and start shaping the trapezoid muscle using the move brush.
From the back view shape the trapezoid shape using the move brush.
Use the ClayBuild up brush to add more clay on top and on the sides.
DynaMesh on a medium resolution in between to smooth out the shape.
With the DamStandard brush make a line in the middle of the trapezoid muscle.
Then with the inflate brush inflate the sides of the line.
With ClayBuild up add some clay on the sides of the line.
Don’t forget to move the muscle at the front as well using the move brush.
Adjust the ribcage a bit with the move brush.
With the move brush finishing placing the trapezoid muscle.
For the back muscles, we’re going to add two spheres using the IMM Brush, placing them right below the trapezoid muscle.
After you put them in their place, split them in their own subtool and DynaMesh them on low resolution.
Start shaping the muscles using the move and ClayBuild up brush.
For the neck, we’ll add a cylinder using the IMM Brush. With the gizmo tool, we’ll rotate it in place and scale it down a bit.
Start shaping the neck by using the move brush and pulling down on the cylinder so the neck goes inside the torso.
Don’t forget to shape the head from the side view as well.
With the IMM Brush add two spheres on the side of the neck and rotate them down and stretch them out using the deform tool in the gizmo tool.
Split them into their own subtool and start shaping them.
DynaMesh them with a low resolution and continue shaping them using the move brush.
For the collar bones add two more spheres with the IMM Brush, scale them down, and place them on the right elbow of the neck muscles we just added.
Move the spheres a bit inside the torso and then start shaping them with the move brush and DynaMeshing on occasion.
The last thing to add is the head. With the IMM Brush add a sphere on the neck and split it in its own subtool.
From there DynaMesh it and use the move brush to shape the head from all sides.
We can also zoom in on the reference to make it easier to shape the head.
We can add in where the nose can be. Don’t forget to shape the head from the top view as well.
The end result.
