Sculpting Hands in ZBrush Like a Pro

In this ZBrush 2018 tutorial, we cover how to sculpt hands. We are using dynamesh and Sculptris Pro. We're also talking about life as an artist and the insecurities you feel when sculpting, which we feel is an important topic to cover.
We hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Make sure to follow us on our other social media to stay on top of what we do.
Website - flippednormals.com/
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[@ezot48]

I really had to smile when you talked about the struggle and self doubt when starting a new sculpt in Zbrush because I feel 100% the same every time. I just went halfway through it with a sculpt I am currently working on so it really relaxes me knowing that even professionals like you struggle with the same things. Thank you for being so open and natural and please never stop creating this content, it's awesome how one can learn so much from you whilst being entertained from two very sympathic professional artists. Thank you Morten and Henning :)

[@pen1102]

Creating high detail models and renders just really shows how complicated the universe is.

[@giantswing3175]

I love the dynamic you two have, your videos are always super entertaining as well as insightful

[@GordonBagshaw-GBEnglishClass]

OMG your transparency as artists... thank you. I liked you because of the tutorial. I subscribed because of your transparency.

[@stephengoodson8554]

Oh man, I totally get that all the time, i even tell myself it's just impostor syndrome, focus on the forms and it will get there...but in the back of my mind I'm still hating my sculpt. Thank you for talking about this!

[@Manuela3DArtist]

So cool what you do and so cool how much fun you have doing it! All that giggling in between just made my day better! Best regards from Austria ;-) and thank you for the knowledge about hands! It is highly appreciated by a 3D modelling student like me. Thanks again, M

[@WalterdasTrevas]

I was looking for a tutorial for Blender, but this tutorial was extremely efficient, even being other software. Thank you!

[@Triptweeze]

I think that the self doubt is much more apparent in sculpting than other forms of art. Sculpting is so organic we can change an object quickly and those changes big or small changes the overall look and feel of the sculpt. Personally this is the biggest hurdle to overcome for me lately. I just keep telling myself that it's going to look like trash for a minute, but it's just the frame. Great advice guys.

[@jessegames6975]

Yes , keep the videos like this where you show and explain your process of thinking in the sculpt

[@saeedatenzi]

6:19 golden words. As long as someone think like that he/she will evolve his/her skills and knowledge. Trail and error is the main purpose of practice.

[@LordofSeals]

I haven't properly tackled a zBrush project for like a year because of work and such. I feel like I've gone backwards, but this video was exactly what I needed. Keep up the great work guys (:

[@FlippedNormals]

Thats great, really glad it helped! :) We have a bunch of more ZBrush videos on our channel - if youre interested.

[@scottshepherd6815]

Easiest to understand videos ever! Love them!

[@Denns300]

Sadly I can't put a "heart" instead of "thumb up" for Like. Your contents are as helpful as those of Michael Pavlovich. I am truly grateful for all the efforts you are putting guys. You're a blast. Thank you so much.

[@bunnywabbit]

You nailed this sculpture ;). Very helpful video, thanks guys.

[@harrynnebank8321]

I've seen a lot ot of people lately, just focusing on learn tools and forgetting to learn the thing which I think is the most important part, Fundamentals, like form, shape, silhouette, color theory etc... , once again thank you guys for the video.

[@threecolonist]

Love your work guys. Best 3d art channel till now...

[@FlippedNormals]

Thank you so much!

[@maddiemonster]

I miss you guys! You hit the nail on the head about imposter syndrome! Everything looks like shit until it doesn't :P

[@scutum_]

Actually, I quite miss the old vibe in this channel. Like a kind senior or an old friend giving you advice. Though the content this channel provided is still extremely high quality, I always feel a sense of distance from Henning and Morten now. Yet I am still glad for you guys' company doing great and I appreciate all your hard work! Just saying that I kind of miss the old vibe. Watching or listening to you discuss all kinds of topics is relaxing.

[@visuart]

Oh, hell, definitely the thumb is super tricky... from bottom to the tip. Great job! as usual guys! THNX 4 sharing

[@FlippedNormals]

Cheers Ángel!

[@tanisaguinsin]

YEEEESSS to 3D printing :), In fact, just yes to all your video ideas

[@nanfredman1991]

The encouraging comments are sure welcome. Now I want to sculpt a hand...

[@pawpotsRS]

I can sit all day listening to you guys :) this is like a sound trip while at work.

[@Makakogod]

Me too 😜 🤘☺ 🤘

[@mdsanima]

great work! Now I following you and like this. keep going

[@tzeghost]

Love the video. However you guys should explain more on how you do things like how you extract the fingers, which shortcuts are you pressing. How do you move the fingers etc.

[@AlexandrCherednichenko]

Awesome channel. Thank you guys

[@sudharsansuresh170]

Very very important topic Covered. Hands? No! IT IS MORE THAN THAT! Well done!

[@culibarri7]

Love the new logo!

[@FlippedNormals]

Thank you!

[@MadPonyInteractive]

Thx for the video, you guys are my favourite KZbinrs. A video on the pipeline for 3d printing would be awesome.

[@FlippedNormals]

Thanks! Really appreciate it :D It's actually on our list. We'd love to make a video about that

[@thexenobunny]

I'm practicing Zbrush again. Your video on eyes has led me to more experimentation in creating separate detail body objects and then merging them into the concept model (merging subtools). This seems to be a more effective learning strategy (cuzz I get the needed geometry to experiment).I expect I will be doing this with my models hands and feet. I began with a zsphere character but of course I do not have the division levels/polys to effectively work the folds or buildup on fingers. Should i copy my current model's hand, chop it off from the body and merge it after rebuilding it with higher resolution or make a new hand like the one you made here and try merging it over a stump?

[@toddlawrimore3577]

Around the 10 minute mark you mentioned feeling like a fraud. Too funny. Been doing 3D for over 20 years and every project has some unique challenge that makes me feel so inadequate. Thanks for sharing! Never considered that others have that sensation too.

[@FlippedNormals]

It's such a weird feeling, isnt it? Like you say, you've been doing it for 20 years, and still you have the feeling of 'damn... maybe I'm just a cheater after all...' /H

[@Kaylx3]

Nice work! So I see that you are talking a lot about Scott Eaton for your anatomy reference. Would you advice to test his course for anatomy sculpt, or now do you know some better course or books for that (and maybe a bit cheaper)? As a student, its kinda hard to find the best reference alone for learning these things.

[@shaylatwitchell2567]

I really needed to hear that part about how you feel all that doubt in the inital stages or half wonder if you are the worst artist ever and forgot literally everything, because... I go through that a lot and sometimes wonder if like idk i'm just not cut out for some stuff or that a 'pro' probably doesn't have much ugly phase as i do. and sure, with experience that 'ugly phase' of the sculpt or drawing or animation or whatever form of art an artist does, probably doesn't last as long as you get used to stuff, but... I guess I just really needed to hear that. There's this sort of pressure in the air that if you don't crank things out immediately you're like trash or whatever, and it doesn't help with how competitive the industry can be. I feel a little less down about myself now, and a little more like maybe my teachers were right about me having some skill and that although I have a lot to learn still, that I'm not as terrible as I thought, and that maybe it won't be as impossible for me to learn and improve as I believed. Here's to hoping I can eventually start seeing the skill in myself that others see in me, and that I can remember how much fun art is and let go of that pressure just a bit so that it doesn't suffocate me. Thank you.

[@dariabonecrack5607]

That was really helpful 😃

[@nickzardiashvili624]

Wow, this tutorial was really handy! I am confident that now I can handle scultping much better and I really gotta hand it to you for putting so much effort into your videos. On the other hand, I would appreciate a tutorial about legs as well, cause I can't quite seem to get my foot in the door of leg scultping and I did find a very course on it online, but it would cost me an arm and a leg. You modelled the left hand here, but I suppose I can simply mirror it and it would be all right? Thanks guys, anything regarding modeling and sculpting, I can always rely on your helping hand.

[@FlippedNormals]

Amazing, really glad it was helpful! Here's another one which might be helpful to you :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3K5eJZ5qridrqM Yes - you'll just mirror the hand or any other body part. Thats a one-click solution which works really well. Thanks again!

[@nickzardiashvili624]

Thanks, but that was not a genuine question, in case you haven´t noticed the comment is just a string of puns :D (make the right hand and then it will be ¨all right¨, ¨handy¨, ¨gotta hand it to you¨) What really really was genuine was my sympathy for the tutorial, you guys are great! I really did learn some useful stuff. Have a nice day.

[@FlippedNormals]

Haha! I completely missed that :D Your pun game is too strong for me.

[@GeorgeSladkovsky]

Hey guys! In your video "Improving your ZBrush Sculpts - Top Tips" you promised to make an additional video on surface refinement using only clay buildup brush. Are you planning to make it? Thanks!

[@FlippedNormals]

It's on our list! :)

[@Rheyndraziel]

I think the best way to sculpt hands or anything else is to reference tons and tons of references .

[@lcabilo]

show the process of 3D printing this hand :D

[@jvh927]

Could you please do how to sculpt the whole arm!! I always have trouble haha😅😅

[@GabeCorso]

Can I be the one doing the Blender comment? :D When you talked about the difference in amount of detail in Sculptris, I had to think about "Dynamic Topology" in Blender's sculpt mode ^^ great video :)

[@FlippedNormals]

Hah! There's always that one Blender comment :D

[@JoePetrakovich]

Does anyone know how that transpose gizmo thing is creating a mask?

[@baileypaseur2654]

Have you guys ever used Substance Painter? Also I love the videos always so informative.

[@FlippedNormals]

Love Painter! It's such a fun application to use. And thank you! :) /H

[@baileypaseur2654]

FlippedNormals Is it used much in the industry?

[@FlippedNormals]

In games it's used a LOT - and in film, it's becoming more and more popular. It's definitely a tool worth learning.

[@rvv27]

Hi FlippedNormals, Can II Purchase/download those hand models from your store? I tried but didn't find them

[@rvv27]

@Flippednormals Please assist

[@coloradoing9172]

Did you find them?

[@edgarzolotuhin4638]

Hello guys! I recently got myself z brush 2018 aand opened it only once. Any suggestions where to start from?

[@FlippedNormals]

Sure do! kzbin.info/www/bejne/laqueJmZpZetac0

[@edgarzolotuhin4638]

Thank you kind sir 🤗

[@douggoldengolden72]

What do you guys think of using zbrush on a wacom tablet

[@bluethumbbuttoneek9465]

I use zbrush on a wacom , worth it

[@andrewjwhitus]

The hand was intelligently designed :) Even your subconscious knows it :P

[@BehindTheVoicePod]

You guys are so good at making tutorials but I wanted to ask something I want to be an environment artist or designiner and for now I have been working on interiors and exteriors so is it necessary to take a course or I can learn online?

[@FlippedNormals]

Thank you! We made a video some days ago talking about learning online which might help :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmHIh5ulbseXiZY It might be worth taking some good courses, as they can really progress your skills. If not, figure out what work an environmental artist is doing (by talking to people doing it) and do what they're doing. Hope this helps! /H

[@BehindTheVoicePod]

Yea I know its good to go for courses but I feel like I will waste a whole lot of money into it and also talking to people who are doing environment designing is good but I just don't know anyone

[@FlippedNormals]

You can find a lot of people on LinkedIn and Artstation. Maybe try contacting some people there where you're sending them a polite message about wanting to do what they do. If they have some specific advice. I find that most people are pretty helpful.

[@BehindTheVoicePod]

So basically you mean doing some trail and error and hope that they will help

[@FlippedNormals]

Yes - getting in touch with people who do what you want to do and get specific advice as to what they think you should do based on your current portfolio. That way you're sailing with a clear goal in mind instead of just trying out things and seeing if they work.

[@thatfunkadeus]

I was nervous that I was using sculptris pro because I pictured these guys bein like "noob using a crutch, not even gonna learn anything" and now I come here and theyre like "dude sculptris pro rocks im gonna use this shit all the time" lmao

[@riggerdgenxron1402]

will zremesher work on a model, made with sculptris pro mode on?

[@bluethumbbuttoneek9465]

Try it out

[@fractalelement857]

for production how do you create nails? are nails separate object or not ?

[@FlippedNormals]

Depends how detailed you want your character. If you want closeups of the nails, make them separate, but keep it combined for simple characters

[@fractalelement857]

ok, and what kind of a material to use for nails in 3dsmax? any tutorials about this ?

[@madefrans2683]

nice tutorial. thks man :)

[@FlippedNormals]

Thank you! Much appreciated.

[@ronak8637]

You guys should do 3ds max tutorials to cause lots of people use max

[@KRGraphicsCG]

Hands... the BANE of my existence... until recently, hands were tough to start... and all I had to do was use Dynamesh and a shitload of insert capsules

[@xxTacolord]

So did this ever get printed?

[@karthickeyan.m8035]

FlipedNormals are you sure you're not partnered with "foundry"? your logos are crazy similar LOL 😛...

[@user-hl2ht3mc4h]

it took me 20 minutes to create the base mesh which you didnt show at the beginning of the video

[@mordecai1484]

Best way to sculpt hand and get a really good base is to use Zspheres IMHO. Same for the Bodies.

[@bluethumbbuttoneek9465]

Yesir I find it really nice too to start from zspheres :)

[@glhrmmarques7134]

10:50 I heard that voice all the time LOL

[@nxtlvl2116]

need a video how to sculpt the forms and how we can train our eyes to see forms in refe and how u the pro artist see the refe and how to anylize it i know it's long request but i think a lot of begginer artist need this thanks and sorry for my engrish maybe after i "MASTER" the anatomy i work on my english

[@josephbrandenburg4373]

I don't think there's a lot to it. Learn everything you can about the underlying structures and spend time life drawing. Practice sculpting, and be prepared to do stuff over and over. What is probably more important is funding good reference. You can't just use anything you find online. There was an article on a concept artist's website I would point you to, but I'm at work so I can't search for it now!

[@nxtlvl2116]

if u can after work post the link or tell what the title of article thanks

[@equinox18]

u can also use the z sphere

[@FlippedNormals]

Yup! Whatever you feel comfortable with :)

[@equinox18]

tnx for the amazing vids by the way. luv it :)

[@sanyaiase2165]

My work looks like shit!! But im working on getting better....Hopefully

[@halafradrimx]

No, saving time is always paramount in any sort of production. Therefore, HAVE YOUR IMM FINGER BRUSHES. Don't waste your time masking and pulling and using dynamehs.

[@edwardvandermeer7455]

"Get comfortable with sucking" What?

[@Anak1t]

What are their names? I can't for the life of me hear them properly when they introduce themselves, I think one of them is called Morton and the other name starts with H

[@FlippedNormals]

Hey! Henning and Morten :) flippednormals.com/about/ /H

[@Anak1t]

omg thank you so much, lol I never imagined you yourselves would respond, love the vids guys, keep them up :)

[@FlippedNormals]

No worries dude! Happy to help :D

[@baukepost2753]

Noooo, the video is already finished!

[@38dedo]

You should have used the nail on the thumb as the thumbnail

[@FlippedNormals]

Oh man... missed opportunity!

[@dodruku]

Hey guys, nice video as usual. The "purgatory" stage you talk about seems to be pretty much the same thing that Ryan Kingslien refers to as "the Valley of the Suck" kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3jai3yld7l5jrs . Just thought you might find this interesting, that's all. Plus it's a catchy term.

[@FlippedNormals]

That's a great term! I think Ryan is spot on here. Thanks for the video.

[@fractalelement857]

15:08

[@mushudamaschin2608]

1:51 Me wondering how to extrude the finger 👁👄👁

[@fractalelement857]

14:41 nails

[@nodesofnature603]

A new starting artist will have no problem due to the Dunning-Kruger effect. But a pro artist will be put down by his ego.

[@Cloudy0w0]

Pros usually get the proportions right tho, I was waiting for you to fix the little finger and the thumb but you never did

[@purelife9000]

"Well-designed" is the right terminology.

[@MrWizzleTeets]

You need to trim your finger nails!

[@TonyFlanagan69]

Due to the support this channel has shown for the Nazi regime in Ukraine, I am closing my subscription. Please keep politics and propaganda out of the Industry.