Using Lightcap's in ZBrush

     It was very surprising to see all the other things that can be done in Zbrush other than just modeling. Zbrush can surprisngly be used for multiplw things, painting, illustration, 3d printing even jewerly. After researching multiple topics i decided on using the LightCap's to light the scene in ZBrush. I choose this because lighting is one of the other things ive learned while here in school that i find intresting since the lighting (along with the music) can make or break a scene, the entire feel of the scene can even be changed depending on how it is lit. Since XBrush can also do lighting i will dive into using it for the very first time and see how it moves and what the pros and cons are of the lighting system in ZBrush. 

 

    
        Once you load your model or a ready-made model you click on the light button, it is best to detach this menu and attach it to the side panel that way you will have an easier time accessing it and it will be faster as well. This is the best way to do it although you don't have to of course it is more of a preference, but I do recommend doing it.

        Once you have done that the next step would be to go under Geometry and click it, then you will click Divide a few times, if you are using a ready-made model you may need to do this, and you may get a warning telling you to raise your polycount once you reach a certain amount of clicks, since I am using a ready-made model for this I received that message so I was only able to divide mine two or three times max before I received the message, I left mine at the two or three divisions since I don't want to mess with the polycount. 

        

        I then began to place my lights, and I decided on using the three-point lighting, although I did adjust/change the positions slightly, I also decided on using the color temperate scale to give me an idea of which colors I wanted to use on my lights.  I used these because I wanted him to look happy and bright but also mysterious and slightly serious, since he looks so adorable I tried to give him a bit of an edge. Thus he has very bright lighting but also a good shadowing over a small part of him adding the mysterious/slightly serious look I wanted him to have. 

    Here is the final render and the video of me doing the lights. It was a delightful surprise to me just how easy lighting is in ZBrush, I will admit that getting them in the exact spot I want to create shadows was a bit difficult, but other than that it was incredibly easy, even easier than doing it in Maya. I would say for the most part it wouldn't be difficult to use even for a first timer but I would suggest working it some as it is good to get the lighting exactly as you like and that will take time. The only thing that is not as good as Maya is when you render it, it may take longer in Maya but due to the way it's set up it will just rerender when you move it, ZBrush does not do that if you move it that will completely reset it, so make sure to get it set exactly as you want before you render, however, the lights do not move so that is a plus.