ZBrush or Mudbox?

#1 ZBrush is more of a complete package, but most of the features within ZBrush aren't applicable to video games assets. The UI takes some getting used to, but once you find the few select tools you'll actually use it isn't so bad.

MudBox is very straight forward and is easy to navigate. It does one thing well, and that's modeling- which is pretty much why people use the Z sculpting apps in the first place.

Both good proggys... I think in the end I comes down to user preference.

#2 Hate to muddy the mix here, but there's also Luxology Modo 301. A lot of people were using it in conjunction with Z-brush and Mudbox but the new release introduced sculpting tools which has changed the work flow dramatically.

That's not to say Zbrush and Mudbox aren't great apps as well, just offering another option to consider for Christmas.

Good luck on whatever your choice :)

#3 Mudbox.

#4 I'm practicing Zbrush right now it seem pretty cool, there is alot of steps to ceate a normal map as to where in Mudbox it two clicks and you done. Before you decide you should download the demo and pick the one you like the best. Zbrush seem like they update there product more than Mudbox.

I use Zbrush more than Mudbox so I guess my personal preference is Zbrush.

1. More tools
2. once you learn the interface thing just start to fly by.
3. Once you create a normal map you can break it apart into different sections insted of going into Photoshop
to do it.
4. Zbrush seems to keep there product updated and moving forward, while Mudbox is still on 1.0 since it
released it a couple of years ago (Zbrush is 3.1)

All product have there advantages an disadvantages, everyone has there own personal preference, You should try the demos pick the one you like the most.

#5 I have a question about ZBrush. What is so special about it? I'm sure there's something special about the workflow that I don't understand. What I can't figure it is why Zbrush would be preferred to something like 3dsmax where you can model, export image mappings, and animate all in one.

#6 @Sean

The reason why an application like Zbrush and Modo are so popular is that they offer a very specific and unique modeling tool that is extremely useful at times when you need to model (or in this case draw) fine detail onto high poly models.

They do one thing, they do it well and they do it fast. As such these tools are used to complement a more traditional 3D application by using the app like so:
- model in 3d app
- uvw in 3d app
- export to 3rd party format
- load 3rd party format in Mudbox or Zbrush
- Increase polygon count and make a super high poly version of the mesh
- use Zbrush or Mudbox modeling tools to add super fine detail to mesh
- export data to bitmaps (ie. diffuse, normal, specular, etc)
- go back to your regular 3d app
- apply textures to low poly version
- seteup skeleton/bones and skin it to your mesh
- export for game engine format

Logan

#7 Basically these 'digitial sculpting' tools are there to add that extra detail easily (the type you see in Doom3 and Gears of War... D3 guy used Mudbox I believe).

Do note that using these tools make sense mostly when you can use normal maps in your engine (to fake the details.. unless you want to manually tweak the millions of polies yourself for your models).

#8 Thanks for the input, my only question though is does anyone have a link to the demo for ZBrush? Ive been all over the site and cant find one. Thanks!

#9 Mudbox imo

#10 @Ben
I don't think there is a demo for 3.1. Try searching for zBrush 2 demo instead.

#11 Well, I was reading the webiste and the forums, and a post I found that was made 4 days previous, had a moderator saying the demo for 3.1 was coming soon. Just Soon means before christmas lol, otherwise Ill probably go with Mudbox since I can actually use that. Thanks guys!

#12 For the less expensive approach, try Silo2 at www.nevercenter.com.