Whether you are new to 3d Modelling, looking to further your skills or just learn a new program, it is inevitable you will eventually be faced with the dilemma. What program of what program you should use?
Both Blender and Zbrush are popular programs in the CG community and which is better, or which is easier is heavily debated. Through my experience and research I have been able to ascertain the following.
Blender is a more all round piece of software capable of performing most tasks in a CG Pipeline. Zbrush is a specialized piece of software great for the modelling and sculpting aspect of the CG Pipeline.
In this article we will discuss the key differences between Zbrush and Blender and what aspects of each program are better.
Key Differences
Lets start with the most obvious difference Blender is Free!! Zbrush will set you back from $200 to $900 USD depending on the version you choose.
There are many differences between Blender and Zbrush and below is a table. It outlines each of the major functions in a pipeline whether the program is capable of performing it, and if so which is better.
| Function | Blender | Zbrush | Which is better |
| Modelling | Yes | Yes | Equal |
| Sculpting | Yes | Yes | Zbrush |
| UV’s | Yes | Yes | Blender |
| Texturing | Yes | Yes | Blender |
| Rigging | Yes | No | Blender |
| Animation | Yes | No | Blender |
| Rendering | Yes | Yes | Blender |
As you can see it is somewhat unfair to compare Blender with Zbrush as their functionality is different. Zbrush can 3d model with some ability to do other parts of the pipeline. Blender can do it all however not as specialized as Zbrush in the 3d modeling part of the pipeline.
Where Blender does compete with Zbrush is in a few areas and I will outline my rationale for my opinion.
Modelling in Blender Vs Zbrush
By modelling in this case I am referring to the more traditional modelling techniques such as box modelling. Both programs have functionality and both work well this really comes down to personal preference.
Sculpting in Blender Vs Zbrush
Probably the biggest difference between Zbrush and Blender is when it comes to sculpting. Zbrush has focused the majority of its development to enhancing the sculpting process whereas Blender has split its attention across the whole CG pipeline. Blender is quite capable of creating excellent sculpted models however it is by far no match to Zbrush.
There are several reasons why Zbrush is better for sculpting and the biggest being the difference in computational power between the two. Zbrush can handle multiple million polygons whereas Blender clearly struggles when the poly count gets high. This is primarily because of the way ZBrushes algorithms render images on screen as opposed to Blender.
Another huge difference is the available tool set. Zbrush has hundreds of brushes and tools available where as Blender is limited. The tools and brushes don’t necessarily make great art but they go a long way in making a more seamless sculpting process.
While I think you will find most people will tell you Zbrush is better for sculpting, there is still a lot of merit sculpting in Blender. There is the obvious reason being it is free, however it is still a great piece of software for sculpting. Personally I have not used it a lot, but I highly recommend you check out YanSculpts YouTube Channel. He specializes in sculpting in Blender and his art and tutorials are amazing.
Texturing In Blender Vs Zbrush
Both programs have the ability to texture however the way that the do it is different.
In Zbrush you can only paint your textures on the model there is not ability to manipulate UV’s to apply texture maps. You can import textures into Zbrush however you can only use Color Maps. Material effects are achieved by applying different preset materials to your model.
Blender can do it all. You can paint directly on your model, manipulate textures and apply other texture maps to give more control over the look of your materials. It is for this reason Blender by far is better at texturing compared to Zbrush.
Rendering in Blender Vs Zbrush
If Blender has specialized in anything it is Rendering. It has 2 mains rendering options available. The first is Eevee which is a real time rendering option. The second is Cycles which is a physically based path tracing option, of which you can CPU and GPU render.
Zbrushes options are basic. In fact Zbrush has partnered with the makers of a program called Keyshot to create a bridge to easily render through their software at a cost.
Which is Easier to Use
This is a difficult comparison to make as the programs functions are somewhat different. Which is easier comes down to personal opinion.
In my opinion because Blender is a more all round piece of software as such I would have to say Blender is more difficult to learn. There is more theory, menus and functionality to learn. Where as Zbrushes specialized focused approached is more cohesive and easier to pick up.
Where you are likely to struggle with Zbrush however is finding your way around. It is far from intuitive and a lot of great functionality is hidden in ambiguous menus. To get started is easy but understanding exactly what it is capable of takes a lot of time.
Which Should You Learn
If I were to choose a learning path I would first learn Blender and become familiar with the 3d pipeline and its theory. I think it is important to learn the fundamentals before moving to Zbrush.
Zbrush is primarily a modelling software so if your interests lie in other parts of the 3d pipeline Blender will expose you to this. Once you become more serious about 3d modelling I would then highly recommend Zbrush.
Why Use Blender
Well there is the main reason being its FREE!!! It is a powerful piece of software comparable to paid options such as Maya. It has the ability to to perform all tasks required of a CG pipeline. While it isn’t the best at all aspects of the pipeline it does a solid job.
If you’re just starting out I would see no reason not to learn Blender its benefits are simply stacked in its favour.
Why Use Zbrush
Simply because it is superior at 3d modelling. While Blender is great at performing everything Zbrush is highly specialised at one thing. If you are serious about the 3d modelling aspect of the CG Pipeline I couldn’t recommend a better program.
Can you Use Blender with Zbrush
I would certainly recommend using both. While it is not ideal to switch between programs it simply just makes sense to work to each program’s strengths.
Do your initial model in Zbrush then export it into Blender for UV’s, Texturing, Animation and Rendering. Unfortunately there is not a perfect program.
Personally I primarily use 3 programs. I use Zbrush for modelling, Blender for UV’s, animation and rendering and Substance Painter for texturing. This gives me great results and plays to each program’s strengths.
If you haven’t heard of Substance Painter yet I highly recommend you check it out. You can find an article I wrote on it here outlining its advantages.
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you make a decision on whether Blender or Zbrush is right for you. They are very different programs and I think understanding that will give you the correct perspective when you are deciding which to learn.
They are both great and used commonly in the industry. The best piece of advice I can give is just pick one and learn it. You are never locked in on a specific piece of software. The fundamentals you learn will help you transition to any other software in the future. Its not always the tools it’s the artists.
Good luck and have fun.