Mudbox

This is a online course is to gain comprehensive practical understanding of Mudbox. The aim is to learn essential concepts in Mudbox. The tutorials will help you learn about Introduction to Mudbox, Sculpting, Object Handling, Painting Textures, Face Sculpting and Figure Sculpting.

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 5h 05m | 55 Videos | 89909 Views |   All Levels

Mudbox Training Course

Mudbox is a proprietary 3D tool with two applications namely sculpting and painting. Developed by Autodesk, Mudbox was originally created by Skymatter. This Tibor Madjar led company was also founded by David Caldwell and Andrew Camenisch. All three are ex artists of Weta Digital. So, what are they known for and what’s Mudbox’s claim to fame? Well, the 2005 Peter Jackson movie remake of King Kong used this innovative 3 dimensional tool as well. Mudbox is a  high resolution, top definition painting and sculpting tool. It is also perfect for designing.

Mudbox user interface involves a 3 dimensional environment which creates movable cameras that undergo bookmarking. Mudbox can import and export different types of format such as .fbx, .obj, and .bio files as well as .mud format (its own). Mudbox offers digital sculpting and painting software to create  the perfect 3D digital artwork. Sculpting tool set comprises brushes with adjustable falloff and an environment which promises to be high on performance and top quality tools.

Create highly realistic 3D character, which can engage in creating rewarding environments, intricate props and excellent concept designs in next to no time at all. Design visualizing is integral towards creating production ready graphics. Simplified poly primitive can be fashioned from  Mudbox. This promotes the creation of various features such as busts, terrains, props and much more. Mudbox interface comprises the following-menus, tool trays, tabbed windows and bespoke offerings to a restricted extent. Keyboard shortcuts are also provided and in terms of navigation, it is comparable to Autodesk’s Maya.

Prerequisites for Mudbox

Mudbox training is not very complicated provide you meet all the software requirements. Mudbox supports 4 different types of languages namely English, Japanese, French and German. The company which is developing this 3 dimension modelling tool is Autodesk (hence its slight similarity to another Autodesk offering, Maya). But Mudbox offers no illusions, only solid reality when it comes to special effects.

Mudbox was launched in February 1998. It is compatible with numerous types of operating software such as Linux, Windows and OS-X. Software for this 3D sculpting tool can be had at the following link: v

Get an overview of Mudbox from the official website http://www.autodesk.com/products/mudbox/overview.

Hardware requirements include a 64-bit intel or AMD multi-core processor as well as video card and required graphics card.  Memory requirements include Random Access Memory or RAM of 4GB with a maximal value of 8GB being recommended. 1 GB of free desk space is also required for installation. An optical drive for DVD-ROM is also needed.

Internet browsers which can be supported by Mudbox include Safari, Apple, Google Chrome, Microsoft, IE, Mozilla and Firefox. Autodesk has released the latest version of Mudbox namely a 3D tool which you can use to impact the geometry of your model and carry out data extraction through displacement or normal maps. You can also paint the textures directly on to the objects.

Who Should Learn Mudbox?

Basic Mudbox workflow comprises bringing the 3 dimensional model into the application.  You can add details using the sculpting tool and paint texture using the requisite tools for this purpose. Software provides support for layers and these allow the creation of sculpted or painted details over each other. One can also enable or disable them and have control over how things work. The painted layers can be exported as a Photoshop document and the dynamic link between them ensures that which is changed in Photoshop is reflected within the Mudbox. One can also bake sculpted layers as a displacement or normal map. This is useful for adding details within models in the absence of modelling these details within Maya/Max.

As far as the displacement maps are concerned, the 3 dimensional application of choice serves to divide the mesh when the render button is pressed. Required details can then be added.  For normal maps, the illusion of geometry displacing is only given. This is more so without the need for subdividing geometry. Mudbox is a tool that is useful and snug at the same time. Game changing features are not there in each release unlike Max or Maya. It can be very helpful for animation as well as developing games. Release has several advantages making it perfect for software development professionals and animators across sectors.

New Features in Mudbox

• Mudbox receives helpful updates on every release.
• New falloff modes are there for Mudbox training to equip software and graphics professionals with every type of advantage. The falloff can be selected when sculpting in relation to the results you want.
• Selections can be made between surface, volume and surface against volume. This affects the sculpting tool falloff. Distance is thereby calculated based on volume alone or along a surface.
• Tablet users can also  take advantage of multiple touch gestures with support on Mudbox 2016.
• Mudbox is perfect for creating simple graphics and texturing the same. If you want to add details to models without actually modelling that detail, Mudbox can be immensely helpful. Mudbox comes equipped with a mature texture baker and good results are not hard to find.
• Texture painting for Mudbox is associated with the pre-renedered side. You can paint colour, specular, normal reflection mask as well as opacity maps for special effects and approximating the look of  model with different viewport and lighting filters.
• If you require 3 dimensional texture painting and normal displacement map creation, this painting and sculpting tool is a perfect it. It can be used as a standalone application or part of an entertainment creation suite.
• Another new feature are the sculpting falloff options. The choice can be made between volume and surface falloff options for brushing as well as the default hybrid mode. Within the volume falloff, that which is within the brush radius is impacted by the brush stroke. This is despite the connection between surfaces or the lack thereof.
• Surface falloff mode provides greater control using the centre point of the brush to impact the area affected. The Constrain to surface can be tried out in a new Relax Brush for making modifications between vertices making slight changes to the mesh’s original structure.
• Twist feature in the Grab tool is helpful for twisting the vertices within the context of the sculpting brash fallout radius in counterclockwise or clockwise direction. This can be used to create special objects and modify features of character’s heads.
• For creating, texturing and painting specifically onto 3-dimensional models, artists can use digital sculpting and painting toolsets to help artists create realistic models. These models have the ability to engage in different kinds of movement such as pinching, pulling, grabbing, smoothing as well as scraping.
• It is also perfect for creating top quality meshes from data which is scanned, imported or sculpted using automatic as well as manual curve guided retopology tool.
• You can also import and paint effectively onto 3D models creating Max, Maya effects in a workflow that has high resolution and excellent 3 dimensional qualities.
• Detailed texture can be added to assets and time can be saved with texture baking tools using Map Extraction for the creation of high quality meshes rendering more efficiency. Work comes together through sculpting and painting using intuitive multiple touch interfaces rendering top quality results within the viewport.

Top Benefits of Mudbox

1. The graphic and creative designers do not have to create UVs prior to painting. You can also cut down or lower time for the tough tasks of creating UVs. Even complex assets comprising multiple meshes can be painted as well as loaded immediately. Resulting high quality textures can be exported within Ptex files for a completely UV less process or for a pipeline requiring UVs as well as baking into UV space once the UVs have been made. These can then be exported as image files.
2. Sculpting and painting models is now easy. Mudbox serves as the perfect clay for the creative artist and moulding 3 dimensional models that are quickly and accurately designed. Shape and texture can be developed together. Results are accurate, smooth and fast.
3. You can now get the pose you need, quickly and easily. You can form models in different designs across  regions undergoing occlusion. You can also present them for approval or map extraction. The complete skeletal system enables the creation, management of different kinds of joints in the graphics. So you can manipulate images whichever way you want.
4. If you want to take more creative decisions in lesser time period, Mudbox 3D environment has a high quality interactive display with effective 3D shadows and occlusion that has ambience. Mudbox even be customized to create a choice of light types. This includes HDR image based lighting. This enables people to observe how the model will look with render-quality results within the viewport. Additionally, Mudbox can be personalized with shaders and viewport fillers. What you see is what you get, quite literally with Mudbox. Developing work within viewing conditions that replicate final output and early problem identification  is possible. Presentations with 110% impact are the result.
5. Painting directly to 3D models is also possible  using Mudbox. You can create production ready maps that display texture using comprehensive painting tools that can relate high resolution 3D models with or without UVs and observe the result completely.  Selective editing is also possible as is manipulation of existing paint and photo based layers through brushes for adjusting brushes. Paintable layer masks and blend modes can be used to blend and edit paint in powerful ways that involve creation, not destruction.
6. Creating amazing details is possible working with meshes that are of high resolution. Large texture datasets are also another important feature. Mudbox employs a 3 dimensional engine with texture  and management systems for creating top quality hero assets needed for demanding productions. 3D engine can increase the capacity of loading and pushing polygons in interactive providing enough mesh resolution for detail and sculpting of the most fine intricate 3 dimensional models. One can display and paint assets with texture maps so that a rich and dynamic effect can be created.
7. Modeling toolbox involves sculpting and painting applications now. This is considered a major plus point now so who are the biggest players in the market? Well, ZBrush and Mudbox are the chief creation tools for 3D experts. For sculpting the model, one needs to have base geometry to function with. This geometry can undergo importing from other applications. It can also be created within the sculpting tool too. When it comes to ZBrush and Mudbox each has its own advantages and limitations.
8. Mesh creation options are available for people aplenty in tools like ZBrush.  This 3 dimensional tool can be used to construct character bodies or complex creature shapes through visual armatures. ShadowBox will permit masking to create complex hard surface pieces formed from intersecting between these masks. Dynamism is another integral part of Brush. This ability to break apart and reassemble the meshes easily. You can import base geometry created in different applications.
9. Mudbox on the other hand has a different workspace. Base meshes from another program like Maya or 3 dimensional Max can be imported while working with this painting and sculpting tool. Autodesk and other Mudbox applications can be closely integrated. Retopologization can be used for creating bases from sculpted models. For numerous options and flexibility, mesh creation edge reaches ZBrush, but it goes to a while new level with Mudbox.
10. ZBrush provides numerous personalized brushes available via the LightBox browsing otion. Many brushes can cull out overall shapes and create material within the surface. Sharp edges or creases can also be applied using brushes such as Dam Standard. Numerous choices are also there for modification of  brush parameters and stroke kinds along with the capacity to modify strokes using curves. While the 2.5 dimensional canvas differs from the there dimensional viewer, the sculpting is seamless and interactive. Mudbox offers the same brushes. Geometry can be moved using the Grab brush or creating material employing the wax brush. Limited brush parameters are focused on things required. Mudbox beats other tools when it comes to vector displacement stamping. With maps that are included, detailed creasing with overlaps and undercuts can easily be created. VDM stamps are amazing within Mudbox. This gives it an edge few can match.
11. Texture painting is another very important criteria on which this 3-D tool is judged. Texture painting is a part of a designer’s workflow. It is an important part of what applications perform.  A good point about tools like ZBrush is the polypainting feature for coming up with texture and coloration of models using resolution related features. A finely detailed texture is perfect for a high resolution sculpting tool.
12. Texture map exists when the painted detail is exported. UVs can be dealt with easily and sculpting as well as painting at the same time is important. But Mudbox beats the other tools at their game. It offers completely featured layer based texture painting workflow and the map is placed in relation to the material channel. Each channel has multi layers combined together.   Mudbox training also helps software professionals to see the effect of their maps within the model on an immediate basis. UVs can be given a wide berth so that when it comes to texture painting, Mudbox has the real edge.
13. New optimal topple is possible using both Mudbox and other sculpting alternatives. The only difference is that with Mudbox, your retopology will not be so complex. While tools like ZBrush use complicated features, Mudbox permits the creation of a new mesh topology.
14. Calculating the normal or displacement maps from high resolution sculpture creations is a key step. For mapping, high resolution sculpted are available and lower resolution retopolized geometrical figures.
15. ZBrush is about subdivision of the new mesh and projection of the detailing within the geometry that is subdivided. Normal and displacement apps can be calculated from this point. Other 3 dimensional applications such as Mudbox follow a very different system. They offer functionality in map baking. The same level of mesh or differing geometry is usable through Mudbox with a variety of bake settings saved for reuse.
16. Well, apart from Mudbox, what other choices are there for gaming and software professionals? 3 dimensional programs like CINEMA 4D, MODO and Lender have resolution sculpting solution of multiple types all integrated. Mudbox is one of ZBrush’s biggest rivals. Mudbox was originally created  wen the Lord of the Rings trilogy was being designed in New Zealand’s Weta Digital.
17. The industry’s favorite 3 dimensional animation packages can be complemented with Mudbox. Key data such as mesh component ID, UV testers coordinates, sets for selection, cameras, blend shapes and image planes also are available through Mudbox.  This 3 dimensional tool also offers interoperability with Photoshop.  You can also benefit from productivity using the Mudbox as a sculpting and painting tool.

Conclusion

Mudbox is perfect in many ways. The strength of this 3D sculpting tool is that it can be used without being sandboxed into any particular category restrictively. Mudbox has a complete plethora of solutions for creating texture, graphics and animation that breaks the mould. If you are looking for an out of the box 3D sculpting and painting tool, this is it.

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