What are your thoughts on Z Brush?

[RoboBobo]

I'm seriously considering getting this program and wanted to know what everyone's pros and cons about it are (assuming you use it regularly). I've seen wonderful stuff come from it.

[Flake]

Pros-

Great fun
More intuitive than traditional 3d apps for anyone with a background in sculpting
3d painting function = no UV unwrapping \o/
Great for organic modelling


Cons-
Near vertical learning curve
Bizarre interface if you're used to traditional 3d apps
Not really suited for hard surface modelling
You probably need to understand quite a bit about 3d to get the best out of it.

Thing about Zbrush is unless you're making standalone illustrations with it, it's normally used in conjunction with traditional 3d apps, kinda like a really complicated plugin.
In most production environments it's an "icing on the cake" sort of application.

There's a 30 day demo version so you may as well go and have a play with it.
http://www.pixologic.com/zbrush/trial/

Note- I'm basing my opinions on the last version I tried (2.5?) much may have changed since then.

[RoboBobo]

Cool. Now can you sketch in it too?

[Mirana]

It's not as fun as sculpy...?

[unimad]

"Cool. Now can you sketch in it too?"
- Yes, with plugin called "Zketchpad", much like autodesk sketchbook pro!

PROS:

- Zbrush is greeeaaat, I promise fall in love with ZB after learning basic workflow, at first Zbrush UI looks little alien (compare to ordinary computer applications) and beginners confused about workflow...But after learning workflow, you understand how UI is artist-friendly!!
- You can Draw, Sculpt, Paint and Render all inside Zbrush, with Zsphere tool you can make any basemesh you want, from organics to trees, hair and so on...with topology-mesh-extraction you can build any kind of dress, clothes and props!
- You can Sculpt and Paint over high resolution meshes without lossing performance, from 5mil polygons on mid-end machine and up to 70mil polygon on high-end machines), also you don't need god damn UV baking!
- Render quality and performance is breathtaking, even with GI (global illumination) enabled and HD size render! (depend on machine)
- You can pose and rig your models with plugin called "transpose master" all inside Zbrush with help of Zspheres and topology!
- With plugin called "Zapplink" you can directly share Zbrush with Photoshop and paint your models inside Photoshop!
- ZB have tonz of material presets, from skin to metal, plastic and wood...and there are tonz of material resources for free download!
- ZB have nice community "zbrushcentral.com" with lot's of free tutorials, samples and online documents!
- Zbrush is monster of 3D organic modeling, actually there is no professional 3D organic artist without using Zbrush!

CONS:

- TonZzzzz of BUGZzzzz, ZB have lots of bugs and crashes!!
- You have hard time to make non-organic or hard-surface models



and finally if you want to start Zbrush seriously, I recommend to read "ZBrush Character Creation Advanced Digital Sculpting" from Sybex.

hope it helps!