How to know that a Zbrush block-out is done

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This video explains when to know that you are ready to move on from the block-out stage of a character in Zbrush to the high poly stage.
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[@betachannel3d]

I've been working in games as a character artist for over a decade at this point and I still watch all of your stuff. Getting a new perspective is always welcome. Keep up the good work.

[@Outgang]

Thanks Robert! You're at Crystal right? That's super cool, I hope the mothership transition goes smoothly.

[@betachannel3d]

@@Outgang Me too! Time will tell I suppose.

[@josephmarch7142]

I love watching this sort of content, it makes it feel less alienating when I'm in that same spot often as a character artist. I felt internally there might've been something off, or I'm not working hard enough, or just unfocused, but seeing others struggle with the same struggles makes it feel not as bad.

[@Niosai]

I have absolutely no idea what this video is about because I know nothing about 3D art. Still watched the whole thing because it was interesting lmao

[@elizabethivy1337]

The fatigue of looking at the same model for too long is so insidious! Even when we're aware that it happens, it's still takes a lot of effort to recognize when that fatigue is setting in. I have to do a lot of model QA as part of my work, and it feels very easy to look at what someone else has made and pick out areas that could use more revision. Yet, with my own work, if that fatigue has set in, I can stare at the model from several different angles and find myself unable to tell what's wrong and what's okay. It's definitely frustrating sometimes, but it's nice to hear some different perspectives about how to deal with it.

[@michael_mc_donald]

Great video, thanks for posting! I really appreciated this. Like a lot of people have already mentioned in the comments, it really is a relief to hear that other artists feel this kind of anxiety too. I thought it was just me!

[@aldovicente4705]

dang so true. It actually shocks me sometimes how poor my judgement gets when I've been looking for too long- also when I turn off the layer I've been working on for like an hour only to realize it looked better before 🙃😂 Yeah fresh eyes and friends eyes are so valuable. Thanks for the great video Laura, btw Balthier is looking SICK!

[@Outgang]

Thanks Aldo! Hopefully I can finish it sometime in the next months. I'll post my progress here when it happens.

[@joaovictoroliveiracardoso9946]

Lovely advice, just what I was needing to hear right now. Thanks a lot, Laura

[@Outgang]

Cheers Joao! Call that block out done!

[@charlieharris5097]

Such an important thing to talk about. Every piece lives and dies by the block-out. Love your channel btw. Concise, informative, and pleasant vibes. Keep up the great work!

[@phillcampora6451]

this channel is pure gold, I've learned more with a few videos than 5 years of art school.

[@feralmode]

damn, what did you do in art school? get high all day?

[@caitsalmon6123]

Balthier and Fran are my two favorite characters from FF12. I can't wait to see your finished model Laura, it looks awesome!

[@Outgang]

Thanks Cait, hopefully I can make it happen soon. I'll keep you posted with my progress.

[@MaryCarrozzino]

Thank you! This is so helpful! And I really love this Balthier!!

[@tiramisu5912]

I’ve never thought about that! I always rush into the details and end up with something mediocre but I’ll start to use this method! Thank you so much!

[@KirklandShunk]

Always take your time with the blockout phase of your model before moving to fine details. You want to lock in a solid foundation before worrying about the details. It can be hard at first to apply this to your workflow and I was like that too when I first started. I wanted to jump to the details right away but always would end up with a subpar model that I wasn't satisfied with in the end. Get the main shapes of your sculpture out of the way first, do the hard part first. Then worry about the fine details. I hope this helps you! 🙂

[@kadircelen3308]

thank you so much

[@tomoyaogawa4485]

Thank you for sharing your answer to this question I’ve been trying to figure out, Laura! I always find kinda scary to move from blockout to high poly because I start to think like, “ is it good enough? Or it looks okey now but what if I need to change stuff later “ This is the topic I alway have long conversation with my brain and none of us have clear answer in the end 😅

[@Outgang]

Yeah it's hard right? It's not like we can look at an objective score somewhere to know if our work is good enough or not. We can always make changes later if they need to happen.

[@josuemartinez9688]

Great subject!

[@Outgang]

Thanks Josue!

[@cchen-wq2nm]

Thanks for this! I’m always stuck at making block outs

[@Outgang]

Haha it happens SO MUCH! Cheers!

[@KirklandShunk]

I can highly relate to have been working on a character for years! It's for production in the toy field, but I want to get the character likeness to as close to the original concept art as possible before moving on to make it an action figure. It is very scary to move on from the blockout to the fine details because for me, I'm a perfectionist, I want to make sure everything looks exactly how I want and committing to move to the next phase(fine details), I'll more than likely notice something off with my main sculpt, thus throwing off the whole workflow...Sometimes I feel like I'm holding myself back too because I'm only ever working on this one piece. However, I've been starting to block out other characters that I plan to make, just to give myself small breaks here and there of the character I've been working on for years. Also I did have a question to what you were saying at the beginning of the video when you said you look around the screen, not directly at your model until you know it's in the center point of the screen. Would you do this as a rinse and repeat method if you have multiple subtools that make up a character. For example, you do this technique with the head and then start working on the head and then jump to the torso. Do you just get up from your desk, come back and look on the outside of your screen again until that subtool is in the center of your screen? Hopefully you understand what I mean.

[@TimV777]

When u have a 2d concept in mind its easy to find the line. But when concepting I never know 😅

[@Sculpted_stache]

This has been the part that’s been the hardest to figure out as a beginner. Never know when I finish the primary and secondary shapes

[@Outgang]

Here's a thought from The School of Life: Good enough is... good enough.

[@RainbowSlinky5]

Currently I feel that 3d will always have a place in my ❤ I just wish it wouldn't take so long to create the darn stuff

[@redcatchem2345]

one of the problems I have ran into is establishing higher resolution goalposts. ( either its a lack of fine-art-studying or I find myself stuck and unable to transition into higher frequency detail due to the mesh resolution leading me to try and finesse the higher frequency detail onto the low res model which makes it an amazing low res. but still low res.) subdividing the mesh breaks the illusion leaving me with something Muddy and poorly formed.

[@Outgang]

I don't know if this helps your situation Red, but if the mesh looks muddy when subdivided at a higher resolution it may be that the mesh has been oversmoothed, leading to a loss of a lot of the smaller variations in surface organicity that gives life to the surface. I'll release a video on that in a few days, in case you feel like that's part of the issue for you.

[@andycalauor3D]

i always ask this question. Sometimes I get stuck in a loop.

[@tgrtgr9286]

Great tutorial, learned a lot! But i found it difficult to pay attention with the background music. And i also think you could equalize/de-ess the high frequencies for a more enjoyable experience. Anyways keep on delivering solid tutorials :)

[@Outgang]

Thank you for the valuable feedback Tgrtgr.

[@ty_teynium]

That's a face I have not seen in a long time. Had the game on PS2. Years later, I'm still not done with the Zodiac Age.

[@Outgang]

I don't even like the gameplay that much in 12, but I LOVE the characters.

[@Taka-uq5sk]

So basically and technically you are try to telling me my laziness is not related to my ass and it is due to my Block-out? Thanks for tips! now I am proud of my self and it's really good to see someone like my self :D

[@Outgang]

My work here is done!

[@Taka-uq5sk]

@@Outgang 😅😁👍

[@umermemon979]

I sometimes look at my screen through my cellphone camera. bot sure about the science behind but I feel like it helps :p

[@Outgang]

Sounds like you're kind of forcing yourself to look at a thumbnail of your screen by doing that. Thumbnails are great, I'd say you're doing it right.

[@cpjworks]

FFXII is the best and great to see it getting some love.

[@wiglow2810]

Working with buddies or coworkers is also solutions. They see what I cannot see

[@Outgang]

Yeah definitely haha. I'm a hermit.

[@humberlick]

Soon or later Zbrush will cancel it perpetual to SUBSCRIPTION... Is coming so buy it now!!!

[@carlobarley1985]

it's never done...hahaha

[@humberlick]

Zbrush is more advance than blender sculpt ,Blender is a 3D software to practices creative talent. It be a long time were it will become a professional use tool. the developer at Blender institution are limited where to take Blender when commercial software are aware of it impact on their revenues. Is long coming war..