This new course from Digital Tutors will go through the process of conceptualizing creatures with the help of ZBrush. The multiple features of ZBrush 4R2, including DynaMesh, ZSpheres, and ShadowBox can help you create the basics of a creature in minimal time, cutting down the final production time. This isn’t a step by step, but rather a discussion of the different methods you can use to create a creature as efficiently as possible.

To watch a preview and purchase the course, visit DigitalTutors.com.

For more courses from Digital Tutors and other online tutorial sites, visit our 3rd Party Page.

Now that Z4R2 has been put to the test by ZBrush users on many different system configurations and workflows, we found some ‘rough corners’ which we would like to polish. Therefore, we have released an update patch allowing you to take full advantage of the powerful features in Z4R2 now, without having to wait until Z5 is released.

But that’s not all! ZBrush4 R2b also includes exciting new features that are designed to push your artwork to ever greater heights! FiberMesh to create true 3D fibers, fur and hair which may be sculpted, painted, UV mapped and even exported to other applications.

• New set of dedicated FiberMesh “Groom” brushes and corresponding Brush settings.
• MicroMesh support to render fibers or single polygons as another 3D object.
• New set of BPR filters and operators to greatly improve your final ZBrush renders.
• BPR Global Shadow and Ambient Occlusion settings which simplify shadow management.
• New Cavity Mixer which to define different material shaders based on the mesh cavities.
• Improved small details creation through Alpha and Mask. Alphas may be placed using TransPose.
• Surface Smoothness feature detects mesh curvature for Mask creation.
• New global deformation with Transpose Curve deformation and UnClip.
• Improved Mask operations with Shrink and Extend.
• Topology editing additions: Group Mask and Edgeloop Mask Border.
• New JPEG Exporter with Crop, Preview and adjustment settings.
• Numerous improvements such as storing shadow information based on the camera point of view, preview of mesh Extraction, Auto Adjust Mode for perspective… and a lot more.

Click Here to view the FiberMesh Preview at ZBrushCentral.

Click Here to learn more about ZBrush 4R2b’s many other features.

Last but not least… In Z4R2b you’ll find two palettes that require the use of a plugin. One of these plugins, the NoiseMaker, was previously announced and will be coming your way within a couple weeks. The other is now being announced for the first time and is code named: QRemesher.

QRemesher is result of the collective efforts of both Pixologic and Verold. As it’s name suggests, it is a remeshing solution both automatic and guided. Stay tuned, for a February pre-release Alpha version of QRemesher, available for download and preview inside ZBrush 4R2b. Once completed, QRemesher will be available for purchase and download at Pixologic.com.

More news, and exciting updates will be made available in the weeks to follow. We look forward to seeing all of your exciting new artistic pursuits on the ZBrush Central Forum.

ZBrush4 R2b is a free update for all registered ZBrush users.

For anyone who already has ZBrush 4R2 installed, an Updater is available now in the Pixologic Download Center. Please carefully read the instructions that are provided with the Updater.

If you cannot install version 4R2 (because you never upgraded to it or did not save your installer), you will not be able to use the Updater. Instead, please submit a ticket in the Support Center. Choose the “Upgrades” department when prompted. Be sure to include any information that can help us locate your account so that we can assist you promptly.

New purchasers of ZBrush will receive version 4R2b directly and will not need to update.

Floating license customers will receive an email with special upgrade instructions before the end of January.

Documentation for the new version is installed with ZBrush 4R2b. You will find a Documentation folder within your ZBrush 4R2b folder, containing PDF files covering the new features in ZBrush 4, 4R2 and 4R2b. Online documentation is available at www.pixologic.com/docs/. We will also be adding new movies to the Education section at www.pixologic.com to demonstrate the new features and their use.

Should any issues arise, we have posted an FAQ and Troubleshooting thread for ZBrush 4R2b HERE.

Happy ZBrushing!

CG Society is a cornerstone in the digital art world. The site is a hotbed for talent, and serves as a showcase for what is happening and considered relevant in our industry.

The annual CG Retrospective celebrates the achievements of the men and women who make our industry so dynamic. The ranking is dictated by a public voting system striving to keep its ear to the street. This year, Pixologic’s ZBrush 4R2 is sitting in the number two spot overall. Let’s not forget ZBrush’s little sister, Sculptris holding down the number 16 spot! We are delighted and thrilled that both applications are considered among such tremendous competition.

Visit CGSociety.org for a full rundown of the nominees.

The fans have been supportive of Pixologic’s ZBrush in previous years, and helped push ZBrush into the Top 20 on more than one occasion. Having been nominated over the course of the last 5 years, we are grateful to all our supporters and community members on ZBrush Central for helping propel Pixologic and ZBrush into the number two spot this year.

Until next year, keep on ZBrushing.

Join Novedge and The Pixologic Team on February 1, 2012 at 11 a.m., as they take you through this informative educational opportunity. This Webinar will highlight ZBrush and its effect on various industries.

Webinars are a great way to interact and communicate directly with The Pixologic Team. Take full advantage of access to the development team during in-depth question and answer time, and see the inner workings of what you can achieve inside ZBrush.

To enroll in this webinar, visit Novedge.com.

See you all there.

Vancouver’s Image Engine has been nominated for the 10th Annual VES Awards. The Visual Effects Society recognizes the achievements of professionals in film, animation, commercials, special venues and video games.

This year, Image Engine has been nominated for “Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture” for their work on Universal Pictures Edvard/Adam from “The Thing”.

The competition is fierce, the likes of which include, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2-Ukrainian Ironbelly, Paul-“Paul” and finally, Rise of the Planet of the Apes-“Ceasar”.

If you are in the area, the 10th Annual VES Awards take place on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. You can also catch the action broadcast on the ReelzChannel.

For the complete list of nominees, visit www.VisualEffectsSociety.com.

ZBC favorite Jose Alves da Silva (user name zeoyn), has provided two new sculpts for his turntable gallery. Jose has developed these characters from the concept of the talented Jake Parker for Industria Mechanika. They will be available as kits to assemble and paint next year. Nice work Jose!

View Jose’s turntable gallery
Check out Jose’s user gallery at ZBrushCentral.com.

Two new artists have just been inducted into the ZBrush Turntable Gallery: Voica Ovidiu and Xingpeng Jiang. Both artists have shown great skill and detail in their sculpts and we look forward to seeing more from them in the future.

View their 360 turnarounds at the ZBrush Turntable Gallery

To see more artwork from both artists, visit their user galleries at ZBrushCentral.com
Visit the user gallery of Voica Ovidiu (ZBC user name OvidiusTiberius)
Visit the user gallery of Xingpeng Jiang (ZBC user name bigstone008)

2011 was an extraordinary year filled with amazing new developments and unbelievable art work. We are delighted to end the year on such a high note. We look forward to riding the coat-tails of our latest release announcement, scheduled for January 23, 2012. We are sure the release of ZBrush 4R2b, will continue to inspire and promote creativity in all of you.

The New Year promises to be filled with Noise and Fibers.

On behalf of the entire Pixologic Team, have a safe and prosperous New Year!

See you all on ZBrush Central in 2012.

- The Pixologic Team

For several years now, the annual Dominance War competition by www.gameartisans.org has been one of our favorite events. It is a highly demanding challenge with very strict rules that push artists to create some of the most incredible game models ever seen. These figures defy what is typically considered possible for a game character, creating insane amounts of detail with strict economy of polygons.

Small wonder that ZBrush often features prominently as a tool of choice among the winners!

This year’s Dominance War V marks the final chapter in the DW saga. We put out a call for entries way back in April and created a special forum for participants to post and share their WIP’s. Spend some time browsing the forum; you’ll find some true gems!

Because this year brought talent out of the wood work, the judges had an incredibly difficult time determining the winners. At long last, however, they have announced the results! Of the ten champions in the 3D category, we know that at least half used ZBrush and posted here at ZBC. That includes the World Champion!

See who the winners are at DominanceWar.com.