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Meet Pablo
Establishing a Design Language
Lesson 1 of 8 Environment Concept Art
In this lesson you will come up with a basic idea for your environment, and create your own design language in ZBrush.
Note: This lesson also comes with Pablo's ZBrush Basics course as a free bonus! There will be a point during this lesson in which you're told when and how to access this content.
Ideation Homework
Come up with a concept for your project by using the Brief Builder. Then find a set of references for your environment. Try to stick to 10-15 reference images in total, rather than collecting a huge library of inspiration.
Note: Pablo's Brief Builder image is included in the downloadable files for this lesson, or you can use our free Brief Builder tool: www.briefbuilder.app
Graphic Shapes Homework
Create a set of graphic shapes using different styles, like Pablo did in the previous video. Don't worry about creating something representational—this exercise is meant to be totally abstract. After you've created your set of graphic shapes, overlay another set of abstract shapes on top of them, and then overlay another set of details on top of those. In total, you should have three layers of detail for your graphic shapes, just like Pablo created earlier.
Detail Distribution Homework
Choose some of your graphic shapes created earlier, and overlay a set of details on top of them, using the distribution guidelines Pablo mentioned. Try doing this without laying out overt rulers or markers for perfect distribution—instead, you want to train your brain to recognize these spacial separations on its own.
Note: You can create your own set of simple details to distribute, or you can find the ones Pablo used in this lesson's downloadable project files.
Design Language Homework
Choose a type of structure or object ('house,' 'ship,' 'lamp,' etc.) and find at least five examples of how different cultures have created this same structure/object. The references you find can also include fictional worlds, like sci-fi concept art or fantasy films. Once you've found a set of different examples, study how each culture has achieved the various necessities of design, and what drove those choices.
For extra credit, you can do this again with 1-2 more types of structures or objects.
Note: You can use the free software PureRef (www.pureref.com) to collect the images you find for this assignment.
Sketching in Different Styles Homework
Choose an image of a simple real-life building, and then sketch that same building in the style of at least three different cultural, historical, or fictional civilizations. Try adapting the building into the styles of your favorite pop culture franchises!
Don't worry about your technical sketching abilities here, this assignment is more about learning the inner workings and design concepts of architecture. The journey of making the sketches is the important part—not necessarily the final result.
Shape Templates Homework
Create 1-2 square shape templates of your own. Keep in mind the fundamentals you learned at the beginning of this lesson. Even though each template will be abstract, you can still infuse them with design language and motifs that will appear in your architecture later!
For extra credit, create 2 more templates to help your designs have even more variety.
Student Homework
Lesson 1
this lessonEstablishing a Design Language
In this lesson you will come up with a basic idea for your environment, and create your own design language in ZBrush.
Note: This lesson also comes with Pablo's ZBrush Basics course as a free bonus! There will be a point during this lesson in which you're told when and how to access this content.
- 2 hours 53 minutesTotal Lesson Duration
- 24 VideosVideo Lectures in this Lesson
- Project FilesDownloadable Project Files
Guidance
Introduction
Pablo's Journey
Coming Up with an Idea
Design Fundamentals
- Intro to Design FundamentalsPreview01:17
- Graphic ShapesPreview08:57
- Graphic Shapes HomeworkPreview01:32
- Detail DistributionPreview06:41
- Detail Distribution HomeworkPreview02:43
- Design LanguagePreview21:29
- Design Language HomeworkPreview02:56
- Sketching in Different StylesPreview04:15
- Sketching in Different Styles HomeworkPreview02:24
ZBrush Basics
Shape Templates
Lesson 2
Building a Kit
You'll now use ZBrush to transform abstract shapes into various different buildings, props and other elements. By the end of this lesson, you will have your own custom-created kit.
- 2 hours 2 minutesTotal Lesson Duration
- 11 VideosVideo Lectures in this Lesson
- Project FilesDownloadable Project Files
Guidance
Introduction
Building Objects from Shapes
Basic Texture
Creating the Kit
Conclusion
Lesson 3
Creating Materials
In this lesson, you'll set up various materials and apply them to the environment assets you've created in ZBrush.
- 2 hours 48 minutesTotal Lesson Duration
- 20 VideosVideo Lectures in this Lesson
- Project FilesDownloadable Project Files
Guidance
Introduction
Blender Intro
Materials Prep
Using Your Created Assets
Rendering
Conclusion
Lesson 4
Detailed Assets
In this lesson you'll block out various small, medium and large scale structures for your environment, then add detail and optimize all your creations.
- 3 hours 25 minutesTotal Lesson Duration
- 16 VideosVideo Lectures in this Lesson
- Project FilesDownloadable Project Files
Guidance
Introduction
Main Structure Blockouts
First Building with the Kit
Small to Mid-Size Buildings
Large Buildings
Lesson 5
Scene Setup
Now you'll lay out your terrain, place all the buildings and structures you've created in ZBrush, establish camera angles, and finally render out your scene.
- 3 hours 30 minutesTotal Lesson Duration
- 21 VideosVideo Lectures in this Lesson
- Project FilesDownloadable Project Files
Guidance
Introduction
ZBrush to Blender
Initial Terrain
Populating the Scene
Establishing Camera Angles
Rendering
Lesson 6
Final Paintovers
In this lesson, you will use photobash and paintover techniques to turn your 3D renders into finished, portfolio-ready pieces of concept art.
- 6 hours 26 minutesTotal Lesson Duration
- 28 VideosVideo Lectures in this Lesson
Guidance
Introduction
Photoshop Tips
Photobash Prep
Hero Shot Paintover
Main Building Front View Paintover
Top-Down View Paintover
Character-Level View
Conclusion
Lesson 7
Animated Sequence
In this lesson, you will turn one of your concept art images into a high-quality animated sequence.
- 4 hours 20 minutesTotal Lesson Duration
- 23 VideosVideo Lectures in this Lesson
Guidance
Introduction
Establishing the Movement
Projection Prep
Blender Projection
Matte Painting
Final Comp
Conclusion
Lesson 8
Full Course: ZBrush Basics
Purchasers of Environment Concept Art also get this second beginner-friendly ZBrush Basics course in its entirety. It has been uploaded as a bonus lesson within Environment Concept Art.
- 7 hours 26 minutesTotal Lesson Duration
- 71 VideosVideo Lectures in this Lesson
- Project FilesDownloadable Project Files
Guidance
Lesson 1: Absolute Basics - Introduction
ZBrush Interface
Basic Manipulation
Basic Manipulation Challenge
Lesson 2: Masking - Introduction
Management
Masking
Basic Masking Challenge
Lesson 3: Cutting - Introduction
Useful Functions
Cutting Methods
Creating with Cuts Challenge
Lesson 4: Details - Introduction
Controlling the Sculpt
Small Details
Small Details Challenge
Lesson 5: Brushes - Introduction
Using Brushes
Brush and Mask Challenge
Extract
Extract Challenge
Lesson 6: Sculpting From Reference - Introduction
Hard Surface Sculpt
Organic Sculpt
Free Sculpt
UV Projection
Lesson 7: Where to Go From Here - Introduction
Further Learning
Sculpting Like a Pro
Conclusion
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