Learn to Sculpt Like a Pro in ZBrush

In this ZBrush sculpting tutorial, we cover everything you need to know in order to sculpt like a pro. The techniques covered have been developed over the last decade, ready to be used by anyone in ZBrush.
The techniques are universal when it comes to sculpting software, and it's really more about the understanding of how form works instead of software specifics, like sculpting in ZBrush. This can be done in Blender, Mudbox, MODO Sculptris, ZBrush Core and many others.
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Website - flippednormals.com/
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[@TheCrazer666]

You're genuinely one of the few great tutorial channels out there. You don't just lay out the steps and pat yourself on the back - you explain actual concepts and techniques in detail and from a point of first-hand experience. I love you guys.

[@sirpugstudios]

I’m thinking of making a game

[@sirpugstudios]

@Gaming Mania nope

[@WannaFastWin]

@Gaming Mania best converstation ever

[@abrahamcesar492]

i dont mean to be offtopic but does any of you know a method to get back into an instagram account?? I stupidly forgot my login password. I would appreciate any tips you can offer me!

[@portermagnus9154]

@Abraham Cesar instablaster :)

[@josh-ed7je]

its finally time for me to become a true zbrush cowboy.

[@anxhelo7383]

@Trantor The Troll so how are you after 6 months :"D?

[@anxhelo7383]

@Trantor The Troll i would like to see how much progress u have done if u continiue with zbrush

[@anxhelo7383]

@Trantor The Troll nice u can tell me here when u will post any of ur sculptures that can inspire me a lot to continiue learning bcs sometimes i feel like i have to give up. Im. Curious too see what have u done in 11 months 👍👍

[@FainthedCherry]

@Trantor The Troll Oh youre starting out too?? Nice!! Im also slowly starting to spread my wings on learning the 3D medium. xD only a month in and thanks to my dad I already understand how to start out with polygons and making a real model haha it's gonna take a while to learn sculpting and modelling!

[@dukannergiz]

I prefer watching you rather than even Netflix. Great tutorial. Thanks a lot!

[@FlippedNormals]

Haha! Thank you :D

[@wesselbeekman8137]

this channel at least really teaches you something. Not how you can moddel a glass, but the best tips and tricks. Thanks for the good tutorials guys.

[@Ashindale]

I would love to see a video on how to make the inside of the mouth like the teeth, tongue and transitioning from the lips. Love your videos they have been real helpfull.

[@GaneshGhale]

Thank you for these sculpting tips. Your videos are all great and full of information.

[@umhewow]

Thank you guys so much! You’re videos are always so awesome and helpful!

[@Strubey]

Thank you so much for this video! Literally exactly what i'm struggling with right now.

[@harrysanders818]

That Sci-Fi Box example was amazing. It really made my brain click! Thank you

[@blakhhh]

Extremely insightful and best of all the results are outstanding. Thank you so much for making these videos.

[@wraithy1324]

As a beginer I'd love to thank you guys for the great job you're doing there! I'm very happy that i found your channel after i started to feel kinda overwhelmed by the other 'heavy' tutorials i've been struggling with, while you keep it all very fresh, simple and encouraging :) Can't wait for another videos!

[@emmanuelchacon8900]

I love this Commentator Duo Dynamic. IT'S SO AWESOME!

[@MsAlenka1993]

You are phenomenal! I am so happy I found this video at the beginning of my journey. Huuuge thanks!

[@jayeshnaik3575]

Really great tutorial with lot of sculpting techniques👏🏻 thanks😊

[@calebfairchild3247]

Years later but thank you for this, instantly improved my sculpting! will apply this method to how I sculpt anything in zbrush

[@bunnywabbit]

Thanks a lot. This is exactly what I needed.

[@davantejohnson5980]

Oh man I really needed this exact thing. I’ve picked up and dropped zbrush a number of times over the past 5 years due to it life and distractions getting in the way. I’ve finally decided I really want to work in the film/games industry as a modeler or animator (still kinda undecided, and am attempting to make portfolios for both) and I’ve always been kinda dissatisfied with both the sculpts themselves and my lack of progress (although starting then stopping for months on end doesn’t help). TLDR; I really needed someone to help VISUALLY explain in real-time how their sculpting, and the physical technique and mental process behind what they were doing. Thank you so much and keep up the good work. Your tutorials are amazing!

[@serjanburlak2736]

You guys are truly the best. Thank you so much! So much intuitive logic!

[@vroyko]

You guys have a real great style of presentation. Love these videos!

[@DominikV235]

Very nice explanation. As a sculptor I approve this as the fundamental way of thinking and how to approach with brush moves. So you teach people how to think which is true value. Thanks guys

[@grayjackgaming1746]

as someone that has only been sculpting for a couple days, a video like this is pretty mind-blowing! Thank you guys.

[@Gottsnus]

The amount I actually use the smooth brush never dawned on me, and I always wondered why i spent so much time trying to add character to my sculpts. It's so obvious when you think about it. This was a huge help

[@mtnsaray]

I really liked the first bit where you mention the direction of the brush strokes. It's very similar when you draw an object in 3d space on paper by doing cross-contour marks. I naturally started doing that in Zbrush too and it flows very well this way.

[@Lilasun]

I'm 3 minutes in and I love this instructionsalready, as an artist who works primarily in pencil you nailed the fundamental of following the form. Love it. Thank you.

[@sturm3d]

Nice tip about alternative smoothing workflows!

[@edwinter4816]

Oh my god! guys this is like the best way to start the week! thank you so much for making this videos besides they help they even make me a better artist! Cant wait to get the creatures brush (or wait a bit for some sneaky coupon discounts) Love you guys thanks again

[@sodiumhydroxidechan]

This is mind-blowing! Thank you so much !!!

[@joshua42777]

So I'm pretty much brand new to sculpting, and trying out zbrush core, Thank you so much for making a video that I can us with it!

[@tsukasaxen]

You, sir, earned a subscriber. Thanks for this.

[@joepeezly]

Great video guys, SUPER informative! Brushing ACROSS the form = mind blown. One question: Do you guys ever do hard-surface stuff in ZBrush? I would love to hear about any workflow or tips you guys have in that regard. Cheers!

[@alfredaxelsson5765]

These videos are fantastic! Early on in this video you mention common beginner sculpting mistakes and also that you really ought to have an example or two to help illustrate the point you're making. It would be super helpful of you guys to edit in maybe a picture or two to help illustrate what you're talking about for those of us watching who might have some trouble understanding exactly what it is you mean. Keep up the good work!

[@OrlovIV]

It is a good practice going back to this video from time to time/

[@Willsing7]

Excellent! Thanks for posting!

[@AdamMann3D]

This is great. Ive taught Zbrush in the past. Always preached clay build up but came around to standard later.

[@GoncaloAlmeida-Art]

Simple and very clear the firm with explained. Thank you z-brush Sansei!

[@johnsmallberries4520]

You guys are the Bob Ross of ZBrush, Seriously, learned more from your videos than a handful of ZBrush texts.

[@ant1fact]

Great video guys, I think you were right to say this topic has not been covered too much, if at all, on KZbin. With the clay buildup it's also nice to play around with the Inbed intensity (I have this mapped to the "I" key)

[@evandertj]

Not only do you guys have amazing tutorials, but you're also super funny haha

[@FlippedNormals]

Thank you :D

[@avtpro]

Great breakdown. Even with my experience I haven't seen it broken down like this. .

[@slipknotmurders]

So Smooth Brush is a Sculpting Sin. Wow i've been a bad boi

[@truscorpion]

Me 2!

[@WaheedQc]

@@truscorpion We all got trunks with leaves dont we?

[@AwakeningAnimations]

Smooth brush is not a sin but in the beginning stages of your sculpt its not needed as you a discovering or building main shapes. when using dynamesh i have the smooth modifier off and dont smooth at all until i reach about 70% of the sculpt then i turn the modifier on to kind of help smooth things out but even then i use the polish brush to smooth surfaces and to define detailed planes

[@WehrmachtSoldier95]

Same here, I was advised not to use Smooth Brush in the main workflow, especially don't use Smooth Brush in creating blockouts and sharp details. You'll lose the details and the surfaces will look flat. Smooth Brush is rather useful when you want to fix distortions or pinches on round surfaces.

[@patrickdanneker5480]

In my opinion it depends. If you are going for more stylized character and creatures it's important to keep the form and curves clean. So it's fine to use the smooth brush.

[@mc5673]

Took me a year to watch this video and recently started sculpting while completely ignoring smooth brush. Guys, the feeling is amazing. Not only u feel like you literally adding and refining pure muscles onto your characters but it also looks a lot more natural. Cheers chaps!

[@ryioyu.7458]

I just watched this great video talking about so many things I didn’t think before, and it helped me a lot. Thanks you so much. And I want to ask if anyone knows any other tutorial videos like this? 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@Pdude2k9]

Excellent tips. Thanks a lot, guys!

[@leonidborodkin3127]

you guys, opened my eyes

[@rogerborelli1483]

Nice one guys! Some of the things you showed I already do, but some of them are new to me...so I'm going to test them out!

[@jessegames6975]

Nice explanation of sculpting I got very good tips that I will apply now to my sculpting technique.

[@mhd112211]

this helped me IMMENSELY! my sculpts always looked raw!!! they looked like plastic....due to intense use of smooth brush...so thanks!

[@philmehrart]

Thank you SO MUCH for this, I've been using smooth like a mofo for a few years now and my sculpts have always looked a bit lumpy/lacking form. Swapping it for Trim dynamic to reduce amount of smoothing really helps pop the forms more. I'm assuming traditional sculptors would pick this up really quick when taking up ZBrush, but if you start out on digital you miss out on stuff like this. Thank you for the tip :D

[@flacojon123]

I always wondered why my sculpt lost so much detail when I smoothed it! Now I see what I should be doing instead to refine the shape!

[@admirleka7467]

Im only 4 minutes in the video and I already can say that this is a great video for somebody like me who is getting into sculpting by himself! Really awesome thanks guys!

[@FlippedNormals]

Thanks a lot Admir!

[@calebweintraub1]

Nice work. Your vids are clear . What are your thoughts on sculptress vs dynamesh? Please consider doing a vid explaining the best uses for sculptress and how to take a model from beginning to export stage including maps and projecting detail on mesh... for use in other programs. Thanks.

[@whome5810]

Another excellent video!!! Thanks!!! :)

[@Krankin]

i have been doing this more and more as I progress. Thanks for pointing it out so I know what to focus on and improve!

[@FlippedNormals]

Cheers! Glad we were able to help out. How have you normally been sculpting?

[@ChronicEdgeTV]

Luv luv. Thank you, this was the secret sauce I have been looking for. Just this lesson helped so much! So glad I started following you.

[@FlippedNormals]

Awesome! We're really glad it helped.

[@WWS3D]

best advice from this is building shape not along with shape:) thanks . you helped me:)

[@neiremberg3280]

this video is just amazing

[@tereza8818]

This came at a perfect time, thanks FN!

[@FlippedNormals]

Happy to help! :D

[@erinfortin7346]

Such helpful pro tips... Thank you for your clear explanations!

[@FlippedNormals]

Glad it was helpful, Erin!

[@dauxgaming577]

Finally a good sculpting tutorial

[@WaheedQc]

Well... imma work on my trunk with leaves. Great tutorial!

[@Spag_Zonkman]

Thank you so much for this video! I primarily model in Maya, but use ZBrush for small detail stuff here and there. However, I've been wanting to incorporate ZBrush into more of my modeling routine, but always get so intimidated by it. Your video has almost instantly improved my sculpting ability and made me feel much more confident!

[@FlippedNormals]

Amazing :D We have a bunch more ZBrush tutorials on our channel which might help you too.

[@dodruku]

Hey guys, I have to say your tip about brush strokes that go across the form and not along the form must be one of the most important things I've heard in a long time. Funny thing, it was something obvious and natural for me in drawing... but for whatever reason, not in sculpting! I've adopted this technique and it improved my form control massively! Thank you for sharing this observation. On second thought I think I know why I haven't been using this technique in ZBrush. My background is in traditional sculpting and pretty specific at that. I used to sculpt tabletop miniatures (+/- 30mm tall) in a polymer clay called Fimo. At that small scale the physics of the clay are very different from sculpting at a larger scale. No rakes for example and not a lot of sculpting across the form. Anyway, thanks again. Cheers

[@SizSarayut]

Thanks for the great tips!!

[@AdrianaNietoArtist]

Finally! A great video on sculpting, but love that you guys keep it simple, really. Your tips are quite helpful and actually very insightful on how you think while sculpting. Which is truly what technique is. I actually found myself learning and rethinking a few things on how I've been sculpting lately. So I'll keep your tips in mind, so thank you very much! Also love that you emphasize on the fact that you don't really need any magic brushes or there is no cheating code to it. It is to actually to observe and the feeling on the sculpting that brings life to the sculpt as a result. Also love that you talk about the Standard brush! I is actually the main brush i use most of the time as well. Love this video. hehe. I know i'm late to the party. but loving all the vids i'm binge-watching from you guys. They are actually quite helpful. Keep it up! 👍

[@AdrianaNietoArtist]

btw, small tip. if you want to find a brush quickly, you open up the brush pallete and just type the first letter of the name of the brush you are looking for. So for your example, you were trying to look for smooth brush again. You would just type "s" and all the brushes starting their names with an S will be visible.

[@FlippedNormals]

Thanks a ton, Adriana! I'm really happy to hear that you liked our sculpting video :D It's been one we've been wanting to do for ages, so glad you liked it! :) Ah yes- great tip! Thanks for sharing. /Henning

[@makroalt5028]

Love your guy's vids keep it up. :)

[@harrysanders818]

Another brush I sometimes like to use for building up very subtle planar changes is the Rake brush. It also gives you a lot of control and its sometimes ugly look can easily be smoohted back(with a low smoothing intensity). But it is certainly destructive to tertiary detail. Afaik its a remnant from earlier versions trying to mimic this technique from traditional sculpting. But I find its a very handy one also in digital.

[@klikkolee]

getting back into sculpting after more-or-less giving up for a while. one of my main sources of frustration was how destructive a smoothing brush was. i didn't have access to a tablet at the time, so i wouldn't have been able to apply your advice for how to smooth, but with tablet prices coming down a lot, i'm expecting to be much more able to apply good techniques like the ones you describe.

[@GeorgeSladkovsky]

Awesome tutorial. Thank you so much!

[@FlippedNormals]

Cheers George!

[@MadPonyInteractive]

This video has helped me so much, thank you.

[@FlippedNormals]

Fantastic, thanks a lot.

[@Desertleaf]

Smoothing isnt bad, you just have to know how to smooth, and most importantly how it works. Smoothing relaxes topology. If your topology is so messed up, the smooth function will do its job to relieve the crowding of edges. If your are concerned about details, tap on the surface of the model with the smooth brush instead of stroking. Tapping with the brush delivers more control and “relaxes” details to a minimum.

[@PolarBWXit]

so I decided to give soft softs a try. I just subscribed to your channel

[@baloghdavid14]

Hi guys really great stuff (tutorial...) Will be so good to see the key bord combinations as well on screen... for faster learning ;) Just start zbrush a week ago but you guys make me love it already Thx!

[@FlippedNormals]

We're looking into this now! Thanks for the suggestion

[@ReedHeisleyShellaby]

Thank you! I'll give the workflow a try. What techniques do you recommend for hard surface characters?

[@MangyLeo]

I’m new to sculpting- I’ve been watching lots of vids, and flipped normals is by far the BEST. Now to my burning question: drawing tablet or pen display??

[@comptonking4005]

I work with blender mostly because zbrush UI is a pain but these videos are so helpful

[@edwinter4816]

So here we are again after one year Im re watching this videos and (27:14) also I just realized that my barin was young over does days and didnt get as much as this time specially after you released the " secondary shapes" video also during this 2 weeks I have sculpt even more but without the claybuild up trick and one day I did it by accident and man still loving that sculpt, today Im gonna give it another shot to my skills but now with some fresh re learned concepts. Thank you for being THE Channel that make quality over quatity content for cg guidance. BTW Where is the "contrast video Morten talk about?

[@ayubfauzihafiz5599]

Absolutely!!

[@kokoze]

Primary pass is the general shape of the object, secondary pass is the height map and the tertiary pass would be the bump/normal map. Correct me if I'm wrong

[@khaj81]

Thank you guys for the tutorials. Very helpful! By the way, are you using a mouse, or a pen computer?

[@reniferZiolo]

it works well for me too, thanks, i am going places now!

[@FlippedNormals]

Awesome! Best of luck

[@postnuka]

Nice tips. Thank you. Could you want to say someting about posing model? I’m sure lots of people have difficulty in that process.

[@sirpugstudios]

Thx I gonna make a game so this might help

[@user-dr8kh8jp8p]

Should a novice try to get used to this techniques or it's for intermediates? Thank you for sharing your techniques, it's worth practicing!

[@olexanderburyak6613]

really pro tip. in fact it looks like smooth brush makes things happen faster, but then you have to add details above it anyway... so that approach is definitely better and it works right away when you delete smooth brush. Works in any software. For me is Blender sculpts.

[@op17567]

Thank you ~~

[@nxtlvl2116]

i thought i must learn anatomy and proportion counter line all other things and u got to go no one tell me i must learn how to create forms yes i'll sculpt and practice but this won't help if u got knowledge how the forms works there are few tutorials talk about forms u guys just pls keep it up

[@erickransom1999]

Thank you a lot for the video, it was completely awesome :D!! just one question. How do you switch between brushes? (Zadd and Zsub).

[@Quxera]

For sure.

[@jaferalbahli]

Thanks dear

[@Tombie17]

I don't know why but I feel that if I see your faces while I watch the video I could understand a lot more and make more sense about what you are explaining. You should make some video with a camera, also it helps to make more connection with you! Keep it going, you two are incredible!

[@Pixe1uk]

this is gold

[@FlippedNormals]

Thanks!

[@jamesbrady1930]

I completely agree with the smoothing aspect. I learned this the hard way. lol. I think we all did at one time or another as we progressed with our skill set and knowledge base in zbrush. But yes You lose a lot of nuanced and often useful detail that you can utilize to sculpt in without having to do it manually. This creates a more natural and organic feel to the model.

[@FlippedNormals]

Thanks James! We're glad you like it?

[@Diallo268]

This is a great video and should be included with zbrush! The biggest thing I struggled with was messy surfaces from the normal clay buildup brush. I was using the smooth along with other brushes to try and remedy it, but it took awhile and was super frustrating. I'm just a hobbyist, but would really like to get better at creature design. I guess my other follow up question for this video would be how do you do the final smoothing to make an end model look really good?

[@FlippedNormals]

Really happy you liked the video! At the end of the model, you might want to do some light smoothing just to reduce the brush strokes. That said, normally I just been working with lower and lower intensities to refine the volumes. /H

[@gmckart]

So much knowledge jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez

[@user-vp3gg4fe2w]

Thanks it's a great tutorial. 33:29 summary.

[@theydawnin3836]

hey there very helpful video so say if i sculp a charecter and want to color it in and give it design do u know of any software that i could use to do that and how i would transfer my sculpture to that software thanks

[@surojitsarkar3246]

love this still in 2022

[@Texelion3Dprints]

You can also replace Smooth with Smooth Directional ( it's a terrible name that don't tell you at all what it does ), it only smoothes the details and not the main shape. It's in the lightbox>brushes>smooth.

[@REZAsys2]

You are awesome

[@usernnn223]

Will start to learn it tomorrow, lets be patient pips! Godbless us haha