Full 3D GAME ASSET workflow ( Maya / ZBrush / Substance Painter )

#3DModeling #3DAnimation
In this subscriber request tutorial I will walk you through the entire 3D workflow of modeling, sculpting, baking and texturing to end up with a low poly, high detail model ready for use in a game engine.
Link to the Alpha creation and use video as mention in the video : • ZBrush Beginner Series...
--------- MY AMAZING CHANNEL SPONSOR ---------
Check out my amazing channel sponsor Dogwood Gaming at www.dogwoodgaming.com The creators of Ashes of Tanaka
ashes.dogwoodgaming.com/
--------- SUBSCRIBE ---------
MH Tutorials 3D Modeling & Animation channel
/ mikehermes65
MH Tutorials Photography, Film and FX channel
/ @mikehermesphotography
--------- FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA ---------
Instagram :
mhtutorials...
Twitter :
/ mhtutorials
Facebook :
/ mhtutorials
--------- JOIN MY GOOGLE+ COMMUNITY ----------
Here's the link : goo.gl/dBzAZp
--------- AMAZON GATEWAY ---------
Support MH Tutorials for FREE
Buy anything on Amazon just like normal through our Amazon gate, no difference to you! Amazon will give ma a small percentage of each purchase.
Link to MH Tutorials Amazon store :
www.amazon.com/shop/mikehermes
--------- SUPPORT MH TUTORIALS---------
Do you want to see premium exclusive content? Please become a Bronze Patron for just $5 a month.!
Link to Patreon website : / mhtutorials
Link to Animation courses : www.bloopanimation.com/?ref=5
Link to MH Tutorials T-Shirts and stuff : www.printmotor.com/mhtutorials/
--------- The "Send me Stuff" address ---------
MH Tutorials
Attn : Mike Hermes
P.O. Box 1000
Unit E23 2260 BA Leidschendam
The Netherlands
--------- CAMERA GEAR---------
Canon 750D with 18mm - 55mm Kit lens :
amzn.to/2sP48KA
Canon EOS M10 with 15mm - 45mm Kit lens : amzn.to/2taw0bU
Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM : amzn.to/2rQJF3w
Manfrotto 055 Camera tripod : amzn.to/2rQsoHG
Camera Light Softbox : amzn.to/2u4d3Ea
Zoom H4N Audio recorder : amzn.to/2whFvHi
--------- WEBSITE & STORE---------
Official website MH Tutorials : mhtutorials.com/
Official website MH Consultants : www.mh-consultants.com
--------- CHANNEL SPONSOR---------
Dogwood Gaming www.dogwoodgaming.com
--------- BUSINESS INQUIRIES---------
Related to my KZbin channel(s) : [e-mail]
Want to hire me as a speaker / consultant ? : [e-mail]
--------- MY TOP PATRONS ON WWW.PATREON.COM---------
Jason Swisher
Samuel Martino ( Dogwood Gaming )
Jamie
Dylan Void

[@MHTutorials3D]

Did you create an asset based on this video ? Please post a link below to show it off !

[@Okuchaaaaaaaan]

hello i have a question after you add the texture to the model in substance painter at the end of the video, do you just export via Substance Painter and then import it to unreal engine 4? it would be cool if you could make a video for the process after substance painter thank you~

[@Yassine_Laatiri]

hi when i imported my model to substance then baked the textures my noise wasn't there why?

[@atkaygee]

@@Yassine_Laatiri You need to hit the button "apply to mesh" in the Surface menu in ZBrush to make it "stick". Then, reexport the high poly from ZBrush and then follow the steps to bake this back over the low poly in Painter

[@shannasportelli]

I was crying all morning cause I was so frustrated to not understand the workflow from ZBrush to SP. In 20 minutes I finally understood it all. Thank you so much!

[@MHTutorials3D]

You are very, very welcome, now show me that smile !

[@shannasportelli]

@@MHTutorials3D :))))))))

[@CaroliArt]

Same :'3

[@hardiksemlani5255]

​@MHTutorials3D Make a workflow maya , zbrush , substance painter and photoshop tutorial of game character and creature for beginners

[@meltface1]

Maybe on the next video bring it all back into maya for a render? That seems to be the hardest part of this workflow but none of these tutorials show it.

[@jazenism]

Mike this is such a great tutorial. There are so many videos online that appear to complicate this process, but you strip it all down and present it in a really simple way! Thank you very much and keep up the good work!

[@semirukiya5308]

So many useful informations (basic ones too) in such a short tutorial. That's just great! You definitely know how to make a good tutorial.

[@MHTutorials3D]

Thank you

[@semirukiya5308]

By the way, does the same goes for buildings? I mean, I've seen games in the past made like this: Model of a building, where it has few different materials used on. Which means there's for example 1 for window, 1 for doors, 1 for wall and so on. In case You've presented, it would mean all those different parts would become one so it means I would have to create an atlas. Is it better than to use separate materials? But then it would cause more work to do since every model would use its unique material, which means I rather wouldn't be able to use the same material for several different objects, right?

[@MHTutorials3D]

I typically create ( and save ) building elements with their maps ( textures, normal maps etc ) such as doors, windows etc

[@semirukiya5308]

I see, so that's just what I was thinking about too.

[@semirukiya5308]

And by the way, I'm having a problem with Dynamesh and Zremesher when it comes to wall with window. Well it actually removes the window after the whole operation. Let me show You what I mean: i.imgur.com/zyEAz3K.png -> Here after Zremesher You can see that corners of window are kinda smoothed (I had to use at least 10 target poly counts to not smooth it more than this) i.imgur.com/lUcnQ4B.png -> And here I've used Dynamesh set to 128 resolution. How can I avoid such smoothing effects?

[@superiorphi5778]

you save lives Mike, one video at a time!

[@lilitbeglarian7942]

Thank you so much- it's great to have someone show exactly when to use dynamesh/zremesher/etc

[@MHTutorials3D]

You are very welcome

[@doghunter717]

Short and sweet. You gave a good brief over view of how this process kind of works with out going super in depth. Great video, you earned a sub from me !

[@MHTutorials3D]

Thank you !

[@buildsoc1215]

Thank you so freakin much my dude 👍😀 keep it up!!! Wanted to see an actual workflow and you mah man did a great job right there 👍 thanks a lot!!!

[@terryrhuebottom]

Hey, Mike loved the tutorial. I'm still really new to ZBrush and seeing you use the noise feature gave me one heck of a Flash of inspiration. Things I've been trying to do to simulate surface texture just got much easier. Thank you so very much.

[@MHTutorials3D]

You are very welcome Terry !

[@haii9737]

ok i've been searching so loong time until i find this tutorial

[@l2affiki]

Thanks Mike! This was very helpful. As a beginner, just getting from one tool to the next has been the hardest part.

[@MHTutorials3D]

Oh, I know

[@TheMuseLuci]

Love the way you teach btw. its not too fast, but its to the point, and very clear.

[@waberoid]

You made it look so easy!

[@saunterfilms]

Man, you are the Best! Thank you!

[@aamirhamja07]

Love your all tutorials.

[@Praudas]

thank you!

[@tomhikon]

Thank you SO much for this 👍

[@ThunderingMilwaukee]

Thank you for a great video!

[@pawpotsRS]

Mike thank you, this is really direct to point which could help me with my diorama, just in time!

[@MHTutorials3D]

Good :-)

[@techlife2168]

You are a gift from god my friend. Ive been following you video for almost 2 years now:) i have won a game jam in our country and you are one of the reason..now i am enchancing my skills and i am so glad because you have this kind of tutorial

[@MHTutorials3D]

That is so cool. Congratulations !

[@danharbor1752]

for this tutortial im following it with a sphere and just spotlight projecting detail to see if i can retain awesome spotlight texturing to low poly

[@Kinkoyaburi]

Thank you a lot for this tutorial it was very useful!

[@MHTutorials3D]

Very welcome

[@theweeking8425]

mike, thankyou i was struggling on high n low baking, i was using 3ds max for caging and baking. Overally it was time consuming, didn't knw substance had baking too. It saved my time

[@rohitvitthalpawar2927]

Its very usefull tutorial for quick understanding of 3d modelling texturing workflow , thank you sir!

[@albarex834]

Thanks a lot. Great and only video explaining that.

[@flexcg675]

thank you!!!

[@michaelarbygames]

nice tutorial! i actually made virtually the same tutorial, but for 3DS Max instead of Maya. Now, learning maya, I made good use of this one :) Tombstones really are the perfect asset for this type of full workflow tutorial.

[@noelbit9371]

This is great! I hope you'll make more videows like this!!!

[@MHTutorials3D]

I will

[@whatif539]

Great video ❤❤❤❤

[@escultormariopitanguy]

Excellent video. Congrats!

[@MHTutorials3D]

Thanks Mario

[@silvaazarian4296]

Thank you for another great tutorial . This one made me smile , it took me a few years back when I first started learning Zbrush , i was sculpting with the MOUSE , it's horrible .

[@sharvaribhoi7105]

Thank you,very informative tutorial.

[@witchykristen1840]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! Finally i can understand the proper workflow. Plus you helped saving my final project so thank youuu!

[@MHTutorials3D]

You are very welcome Krsietn. More like these coming, make sure you don't miss them ;-) ( Subbing is appreciated )

[@witchykristen1840]

@@MHTutorials3D I do have one question though, if i have a project with multiple models in it, when i export it into zbrush from maya and split groups, how can i still take the "highpoly/lowpoly" approach? because in your video the grave and ground were combined and so you had a copy with the low and high, so i'm just thinking how do i handle the same approach with multiple subtools. Thanks in advance!

[@WHITE-bz3jq]

World's most simple tutorials thank you....

[@aesthetic9557]

Thank you Mike

[@MHTutorials3D]

Very welcome

[@lakmal1st]

Thanks lot.. this will save some time all the time...

[@1i1monster]

thanks

[@jelli4586]

Muchísimas gracias!!!

[@MHTutorials3D]

De nada

[@hsan.1951]

Thankx for the tutorial Mike. I wish you taught us how to set everything up back into Maya though.

[@bernard18thomas]

Solid Gold.

[@MinecraftNmusic]

is it possible if you could make a maya mudbox substance workflow video?

[@Dr.smileclinic]

thanks Mike..really useful. you are good teacher..

[@MHTutorials3D]

धन्यवाद

[@ksta1996]

Great tutorial! WIth more complex objects will you UV map in same way? I thought that due to model in Zbrush it's better to UV map all in Maya beforehand.

[@kidehoward93]

can you do a video on the potential uses of super shapes in Maya 2018?

[@spjet82]

I would love to know how you asemble it in maya on a low poly mesh with normals texture and how to export that to a game engine or other production like rendering in maya! Great work on the videos its quick and to the point

[@MHTutorials3D]

Thank you

[@rainbowgunny1]

you just saved my life

[@MHTutorials3D]

You are welcome :-)

[@xxAsad]

great video straight to point awsome

[@MHTutorials3D]

Thank you

[@MHTutorials3D]

Thank you

[@nestorrios9703]

Great thanks Mike question how to move from mudbox to substance painter is the same obj format thanks

[@MHTutorials3D]

Yep

[@hugovega608]

Thanks Mike nice tutorial! ... I have a problem when trying to use TrimDynamic (7:23). I try to apply to the object and nothing happens. If I use any other brush it works fine. thanks!

[@kutupbear]

bedankt

[@artdempsey846]

Great video Mike. Is it possible to do this with several high to low meshes in substance painter. I have a project that has several sub tools and I was hoping to bake my HIGH to low meshes on numerous texture sets. Does this make sense? And do you think this workflow makes sense or should I combine all my meshes in Maya and create one fbx/obj in zbrush? is it better to have separated meshes for better UV and detail?

[@bearbones7913]

How do I export multiple displacement maps?

[@ihopeutubedies]

What if you have multiple sub tools that make up a full character like a head, torso, eyes, etc? Should I unwrap all the UV's for each individual part? I haven't found an answer. Some have suggested to decimate a model but I still don't know if I should merge all my sub tools. This whole UV stuff is frustrating cause I have no idea how to go about it.

[@3to1media]

Of course every object has to be unwrapped individually do it in a program like Maya not only does every object have to be unwrapped you have to split objects up depending on which way the normals are facing

[@jalalkamel2807]

hi mike i have question is a bit confusing me when i try to build big house or cabin for games that contain many geomtry in it should i always group them or combine them as one piece inside maya or its fine to let them separated objects

[@FuranTenshiFK]

4:20 But what if the base mesh is a character that needs to be animated? Should you retop anyway or it is better to leave the animation-ready topology with which you imported it in ZBrush?

[@ZhengYuanz]

After texturing it on substance painter.. i bring it to maya and applied it..the normal map seems to be have problem with the object edges. why is that happening?

[@GuestOfGregoryHouse]

Is this more for hard surface models? Or can this workflow be used for making organic characters too?

[@dariadora5417]

Thanks for your tutorial, really cool! I have a questtion, while baking texture in Substance, My Normal Map and AO are applying only for plane, but stone is staying without texture, could you help me, please?

[@semmert]

Make sure you hit "apply to mesh" after you do the noise tool and hit ok. He skipped over that step.

[@qasimahamad5075]

amazing

[@MHTutorials3D]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@faizcurious7407]

really nice and helpfull tutorial but mike how to import into maya with sculpting effect and texture paint ? how ? plz guide me into that 🙏☺💐

[@ricardoiglesias388]

Is there any problem if I UV in Maya/3DSMAX? Or i really need to use UVmaster in Zbrush? Because i see a lot of people doing the high poly in Zbrush, then undo the subdivision level (in geometry) to get the lowpoly, UV and save. For me, i create the low poly in 3dsmax, i'm afraid to do that and UV there (3dsmax) and in the Zbrush my high poly become a lot of deformed and i get issues on substance later...

[@hsan.1951]

Hpw come my Zbrush doesn't export the high poly geometry? has anything been changed since this tutorial?

[@abhinavsrivastava6018]

When i bake textures from susbtance and try to apply them in maya then i dont get bumps clearly can you please explain that :) but my render in susbtance painter is accurate :) Thanks :)

[@jamiemills1130]

WOAH!

[@zerion3887]

Hi, I was happy to find your tuto. But ive got problem with the normal and ambient occlusion ... idk where does it come from

[@kirandev]

is it black? :)

[@SpecGuruTV]

when I baked my HP to my LP the noise texture is gone in substance painter. how can I fix this?

[@och70]

Mike, why don't you create shelf buttons for things like deleting history & freezing transformations?

[@MHTutorials3D]

Because if new users see buttons on the shelf they don't have, they will get confused. I always try to keep everything as default as possible

[@ryansmith539]

you forgot to mention to press 'apply to mesh' when adding noise in zbrush

[@MHTutorials3D]

I did forget to mention that, you are right. Sorry

[@blamb888]

This literally just made my night. Thank you guys!

[@lgstudios6898]

Question about baking high poly into low poly. UVs were done in ZBrush, After applying textures in Substance Painter and exporting into Maya do you hit the smooth button on the low poly mesh or is there another process done in Maya before adding the textures done in SP?

[@sanithmc9638]

Sir did same thing but it show some error and normal map is completely black

[@danharbor1752]

skip to 11:36 after the uv unwrapping part if ur working on a custom model those bits are just him adding detail to his high polly im following this differently i made highpolly then made a low polly from it

[@paukator]

Noob question, does it matter when I UV the mesh? Like if I UV it before I duplicate it? Because for some reason every time I do unwrap all after I've duplicated it, it takes forever to unwrap or crashes, even though there's only 484 active points.

[@kdarts2791]

very nice tut sir hank you :)

[@MHTutorials3D]

Thank you

[@elitekitten4054]

Thanks for this great Tutorials..keep up the good work...

[@MHTutorials3D]

Thanks Game Cube

[@crimzouz5175]

hi dude, I'm about to make my first zbrush model (i already know maya but i never really explored zbrush before). I've talk to people who told me to make my model in zbrush and then go back to maya for the retopology. Is your way to do better ? (i'd like to not go back to maya because i hate retopology)

[@grey_box]

Hey Mike! Thx for tutorial. I want to triangulate my model, so when i need to do this process? So i make Low, then high poly. Set hard\soft edges and then i want to go UV, but when in this workflow i need to triangulate my Low poly mesh? Just before UV? Or i can UV quad model and after triangulate this, will it change uv?

[@MHTutorials3D]

Triangulate the low poly and then UV

[@bavi_x]

Sir how to uv cut zbursh please reply

[@handsomesquidward151]

why would you leave out the rendering step?

[@visheshl]

Can you do a tutorial about exporting the final asset and maps from substance painter and importing it in unity or unreal engine?

[@sudharsanuthayasuriyan2717]

The noise I added is not appearing in substance painter. only the alpha texture is appearing

[@semmert]

when you do the surface noise, make sure you apply it. Idk what version of zbrush he's using, but in mine, I have to hit OK (like he did), then "apply to mesh". Apply to mesh is found on the right side in the surface noise menu you're using.

[@semmert]

this comment was from a year ago.. lol. But maybe it'll still help you

[@alexc7857]

So you wouldn't have to bake the details from zbrush onto the original maya mesh for it to be compatable with a games engine? What about if you had a chatacter that you added a skin texture to? Sorry im a little new to this

[@MHTutorials3D]

Same process

[@oliverteng8625]

hi, im using maya 2017 newbie. i use '2' and '3' in my shapes to make it look good and smooth. when I import it to zbrush it goes back to the polygons instead of the smooth one. i even use the dynamesh you mentioned in the video. same with maya to substance painter. how can i fix this?

[@3to1media]

Pressing two or three in Maya is just giving you a preview of what the object will look like when a smoothing is applied it's not actually deforming the object or adding subdivision levels you have to actually smooth it in Maya

[@evilone10]

Won't you agree if Substance painter had the option to choose a navigation template from another 3D software to navigate (just like Rizom UV has)?

[@mrandrewpettit]

Can the final substance asset then be imported into maya to be rendered with arnold

[@semmert]

Yes. import the lowpoly model in to maya and apply the texture maps (normal, roughness, albedo, etc.) to the shader material.

[@devangnagar9]

my model is done in substance painter, but i want to this model render in maya so how to substance model import in maya with texture please help me.

[@relationshipquotes2337]

You can export it out as a OBJ which then come import it in Maya

[@semmert]

you already have the low poly model (you imported it in to substance painter). So when you export your texture maps from substance, you use the node editor in whatever renderer you're using to apply them to their specific places (normal, roughness, albedo, etc.), and apply that shader to the low poly version.

[@aakashdimri9903]

Sir but how to export this in Maya and render with Arnold 5 plz make a tutorial on that btw tx

[@trav3d131]

just go to file-export textures. Choose aistandard 5 in the drop down menu and click export. Then plug all the textures into the arnold material. Make sure to select raw as your image format when you select file. and also alpha luminancy on roughness and metalic

[@aakashdimri9903]

travis reid k I will try that Thanks for the help

[@norabp6988]

Hello, nice tutorial, it helped me a lot! I have one question: what if I make UV mapping in Maya and want to use it also in zbrush and SP? Because when I export my object from Maya to Zbrush it seems that the UVs are gone :/ any solution? Should I always make the unwrap in zbrush? Thanks in advance!

[@MHTutorials3D]

I would unwrap in ZBrush and correct in Maya

[@norabp6988]

Oh nice, thanks!

[@ryansmith539]

The noise from Zbrush doesnt appear in the normal in substance, Any ideas why?

[@saint-jiub]

@Shoop da Whoop Thanks for this. I appreciate it.

[@-SANDMAN-]

I noticed you converted the imported obj to Polymesh 3D. I thought you only had to do this with primitives. Have I been doing it wrong all this time? Do all imported obj's have to be converted to polymesh 3D?

[@3to1media]

No

[@relationshipquotes2337]

I followed step by step and after baking the high poly version onto the low poly. Everything works i can see the Alpha and the brush sculpting around the edges BUT my noise is not their. :( any help?

[@atkaygee]

You need to hit the button "apply to mesh" in the Surface menu in ZBrush to make it "stick". Then, reexport the high poly from ZBrush and then follow the steps to bake this back over the low poly in Painter

[@eriktmoody6236]

@@atkaygee My noise works, but there are quite a few smooth flat spots...

[@RenanRanciaro30]

I have a textured character I created in zbrush. How can I do retopology in Maya and use the polypaint I created in zbrush?

[@MHTutorials3D]

I always texture in Substance Painter so I really would not know. You can join my Facebook group as I am sure folks will be able to help you. Here is a link : facebook.com/groups/294359217578724/

[@YesYouThere]

Hey Mike great video I just can't seem to get the Noise to appear on my model when I bake it in Substance painter. All the other Dents I've sculpted in appear but the noise never does, any Ideas?

[@MHTutorials3D]

Did you hit "apply to mesh" in Zbrush ?

[@YesYouThere]

That worked yeah thanks Mike!

[@badrbinhalabi9001]

why do you make second bake in substance .why u separate between normal-AO and another passes in bake?

[@MHTutorials3D]

I want to see if Normal and AO are clean before I bake the others

[@badrbinhalabi9001]

Mike Hermes ok

[@user-xo7wh2fm4x]

I like your videos! Could you tell me why baked high poly to low? I'm beginner :)

[@MHTutorials3D]

Clementine, that is to add detail to the low poly model without increasing the face count of the low poly model

[@user-xo7wh2fm4x]

Ah ha! I got it now. thank sir :D

[@TheSilverfox17]

Projection from high to low poly better in substance or in zbrush better ?

[@MHTutorials3D]

Both are ok but I use SP

[@arvinmaltezobareng2629]

Weird how come my "symbol" appears flat?

[@josejesussanchez3637]

Very great tutoriaal! I have a question!

[@MHTutorials3D]

Sure, what is it ?

[@Montigorable]

Thank you for the tutorial. I have one question, why did you decide to create UV in zbrush instead of maya? Is that just a matter of taste?

[@MHTutorials3D]

Yes

[@semmert]

Use maya or blender, etc., if you need to cut the model up in to specific UV layouts. Zbrush, as far as I can tell, doesn't give you any real control over it.

[@levitabusman]

keep getting an error when unwrapping :(