ZBrush

[Hunter]

Okay, does anyone use this? I don't understand how to add detail to low poly models, because the tools just move the faces around. Do I need to mesh smooth the model?

Also, when I change tools sometimes I cannot rotate the object, and how do you zoom in and out, would be so much better if the navagation tools where like max's.

[DEElekgolo]

much smooth your model to make sure that your model will actually be sculptable once it is in zbrush. Chamfering edges allows you to make the edges to show up harder once its smoothed. Once you have your high poly model sitting in zbrush then you can use the tools. Then if you want to start bakeing your model into a normal map, put your model into its lowest sub div level and click the zmapper tool and press the giant button that says "create normal map"

http://www.pixologic.com/zclassroom/
http://www.zbrush.info/

[Hunter]

Is it best to make sure the low poly model is unwrapped first, then make it high poly?
Also, how do I render in ZBrush?
And how do I get back into edit mode?

[DEElekgolo]

The low poly should be unwrapped first. Depends in your work flow.
If your work flow is:
1.low poly
2.high poly
3.bake/texture
Then the low poly should be unwrapped first.
If your workflow is
1.High poly
2.Make low poly(retop)
3.bake/texure
Then you can UV your low poly in between steps 2 and 3.
The render tab is shown on the top of the screen. Once you render click Texture>grab Doc and then click Texture>export.

To go in edit mode, there is an edit button next to the draw one. Once you click on it, it should look like this:
http://www.pixologic.com/docs/images/7/77/Edit-draw-mode.jpg

[Hunter]

That edit button is not highlighted.

[DEElekgolo]

Then you are still in 2.5d mode. You need to use a tool and then click edit mode. On the right click any 3d tool(sphere, box, etc) and then click and drag it into the canvas. Then edit mode will show up and you can then edit the object. Same thing with importing models.

[LlamaMaster]

http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?t=53087

CannedMushrooms is amazing; his videos will answer the vast majority of your problems.

[Hunter]

Cheers, I aint going to use it on my models now anyway, can't be bothered. Its more for organic objects.