The first 5 Zbrush Brushes to use as a Student Character Artist

As a Game Art student at Falmouth University I've recently got past my first year and the initial steep learning curve that it takes getting used to new software and techniques. I wanted to share some of my most useful go to brushes I use probably 80% of the time.

Here I'll be sharing my 5 top brushes to use when you're a beginner or student learning to use Zbrush. I've tried to make it short and no-nonsense. I've included the 3 letter keyboard shortcuts for each brush which I've come to know and love the brushes by. (Sometimes I even forget their names only knowing shortcuts). Hope this helps some fellow students out there!

Move Brush

Shortcut: BMV

When do I use this brush?

• As a great starter brush to make big first moves to get your block out shapes, big size and strength on the brush at the start of the project whilst you're sketching out the volume.

• I also use the move brush throughout the project but making sure to have the brush on a large size and reduce to a low strength to avoid making your sculpt lumpy as you sculpt more secondary details.

Clay Build-up

Shortcut: BCB

When do I use this brush?

• This is my real 'standard brush' I use the clay build up to create initial forms with a square alpha and high strength.

• Then I'll use clay build up with a soft circular alpha to create characters musculature and secondary forms using repeated strokes to build up forms following the flow of your reference.

Trim Dynamic

Shortcut: BTD

When do I use this brush?

• This is a great brush to flatten sections out, create planes or create a stylised feel. If I'm trying to understand a complex shape like the face I may bring this brush out to make it easier for me to comprehend the planes as I work through observing.

Move Topological

Shortcut: BMT

When do I use this brush?

• Once shapes are developed and you have volumes close to each other that you may want to adjust individually this is when the move topological brush essentially replaces the move brush. This brush takes into account the surface you're clicking on and tries not to move the volumes that arent directly on that surface. For example using a move brush on a finger on a hand I may accidentally move the adjacent fingers. With the move topological brush when you select one finger to move it will try to ignore the fingers next to it.

Dam Standard

Shortcut: BDS

When do I use this brush?

• Early on in a sculpt I may use this to carve out landmarks to help me gauge proportions.

• Later in sculpts this sharp brush can be used to carve out sharp lines and points of high contrast like marking where a skin fold is.

Thank you, and happy sculpting!