Sculptris: Free 3D Modeling Software - Windows & Mac
Sculptris: A Free Digital Sculpting Experience
Sculptris represents a 3D modeling application developed by Pixologic, the company renowned for its professional-grade ZBrush software, which is priced at $699. While originating from the creators of a premium product, Sculptris distinguishes itself by being available at no cost.
Although previously featured on MakeUseOf back in 2012, this article will provide a more comprehensive exploration of the application and its functionalities.
Downloading and Accessing Sculptris
It’s important to note that obtaining Sculptris requires submitting a valid email address to Pixologic. However, users have the option of utilizing a temporary or disposable email address if they prefer.
The software offers a streamlined approach to digital sculpting, making it accessible to both beginners and experienced artists.
Sculptris’s intuitive interface allows for a rapid learning curve, enabling users to quickly begin creating and manipulating 3D models.
Despite being a free application, Sculptris boasts a robust feature set, capable of producing high-quality results.
Getting Started with Sculptris
Unlike many other 3D modeling applications, such as the open-source Blender, Sculptris doesn't begin with an empty canvas. Instead, users are presented with a sphere of material bisected by a symmetry line.
The primary tool initially available is the “draw” brush, though a total of eight distinct brushes are included for diverse sculpting needs.
The screenshot above also showcases a portion of the top toolbar, illustrating the level of control offered for each brush. Brush size and strength are readily adjustable via sliders.
Shortcuts further enhance control; holding Shift while scrolling adjusts brush size, and Ctrl modifies brush strength. Once the brush settings are to your liking, simply drag it across the material to witness immediate transformations.
The sculpting process genuinely mimics traditional sculpting, particularly when utilizing a trackball. I was able to create a rudimentary humanoid head in under twenty minutes.
The initial outline – including features like the nose and eyes – took approximately three minutes, but refining those details proved challenging.
My difficulties stemmed from Sculptris’s dynamic tessellation feature. This refers to the program’s ability to increase polygon density as detail is added to the model.
The image above displays a mesh view of the figure, revealing its underlying polygonal structure. This specific model comprises 130,674 polygons.
Areas with greater detail, such as the eyes, nose, and cheekbones, exhibit a higher polygon count, appearing brighter and more “shiny”. This was caused by employing brushes with high strength and small size for intricate work, resulting in an excessive number of polygons.
Sculptris includes an Undo function (Ctrl+Z), but its effectiveness is limited by the number of undo levels. I found myself needing to manually reduce the polygon count.
Two tools proved invaluable for this task:
These are the Reduce Brush and Reduce Selected tools. The latter reduces polygons across the entire object, while the former allows for targeted reduction. The screenshot shows a “before” image, prior to polygon reduction.
Observe the effect of using the Reduce Brush:
The result is a simplification of the model, reducing complexity and improving overall quality. The unnecessary complexity was removed from the specific area.
Here’s the same model after significant simplification:
Comparing this image to the previous one demonstrates the reduction in polygon count.
Material Selection in Sculptris
Sculptris provides users with an integrated collection of materials that can be applied to their 3D models. Each individual object within a Sculptris scene can be assigned a single material.
Applying a Material
In this instance, a single object is present, and the "skintone" material has been selected for it. The application of a material results in an immediate update to the preview displayed within the Sculptris interface.
This allows for real-time visualization of how the chosen material affects the object’s appearance.
The initial image demonstrates the model before material application.
Following the selection of "skintone", the preview is updated to reflect the new material’s characteristics.
Applying Color to Your Creation
Following the completion of the modeling phase, the next step involves adding surface details through painting. Initiate this process by clicking the Paint button. Sculptris will then display a cautionary message.
Ensure you are satisfied with your model’s form before proceeding, as this action is irreversible. A backup copy of the model was created as a precautionary measure. Sculptris will then begin a computational process.
This is a potentially lengthy operation; while Sculptris doesn’t explicitly state it is rendering, the duration suggests this is occurring. On the system used, this process required 20 to 30 minutes for a model containing 117,946 polygons, and notably extended beyond the 100% completion indicator:
Upon completion, the model’s visual representation changes, and a new set of tools becomes available.
Observe the subtle checkerboard texture applied to the model, indicating its transition into a coloring mode. The toolbar at the top now provides options for color selection, brush customization, and texture application.
You can now apply a base color to your model and begin painting in finer details. Material properties can also be adjusted at this stage if desired:
While artistic skill isn’t a strength, it is hoped that this demonstration illustrates the power and intuitive nature of Sculptris. The software truly delivers professional-grade results.
This exploration was merely a brief introduction, showcasing the capabilities of Sculptris with a single object and limited experience.
If you utilize Sculptris to produce compelling artwork, please share a link to your creation in the comments section!
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