Discover the transformative power of ZBrush, the leading digital sculpting software favored by professionals in the gaming, film, and animation industries. Whether you’re a novice or looking to refine your skills, this guide will direct you to the best online courses available to master 3D model sculpting in ZBrush, from shaping basic forms to fine-tuning intricate details.
Pro tip: Engage with the ZBrush community online for support, feedback, and creative inspiration. A great place to start is r/ZBrush on Reddit.
Official Platform to Start
We recommend beginning your journey with Maxon’s official platform, Cineversity. Offering detailed tutorials and courses for both beginners and advanced users, Cineversity not only covers ZBrush but also includes other Maxon products like Cinema 4D.
A Rich Variety of Learning Options
Recognizing diverse learning preferences and expertise levels, we’ve curated a list from Class Central’s extensive catalog of over 500 ZBrush courses, featuring top-rated offerings from platforms like Skillshare and Udemy. We’ve also incorporated community recommendations to provide a holistic learning experience.
Here are Our Top Picks
Explore these standout courses:
Why Trust Us?
Class Central, often referred to as the Tripadvisor for online education, has assisted 80 million learners in finding their next course. With over a decade of experience, we’ve compiled a robust catalog of 250,000 online courses and accumulated 250,000 user reviews. Our team is composed of avid online learners who have collectively completed over 400 courses, including online degrees.
Courses Overview
- 1 free course and 7 paid options
- Over 1.3K learners following the ZBrush subject on Class Central
- Courses have garnered more than 47K enrollments and views
- Udemy is the most featured provider with 4 courses.
Absolute Beginners Zbrush Course by Nikolay Naydenov
This beginner-friendly course, taught by seasoned 3D character artist Nikolay Naydenov, is perfect for those new to ZBrush. You’ll be guided through the basics, from modeling heads and horns to sculpting armors, swords, and capes.
| Provider | Udemy |
| Instructor | Nikolay Naydenov |
| Level | Beginner |
| Workload | 9 hours |
| Enrollments | 5.2K |
| Rating | 4.3 (1K) |
| Certificate | Available |
Learning Zbrush from Scratch by James Leiske
Offered by Skillshare, this course by James Leiske is another excellent starting point, covering essential tools and techniques in an easy-to-follow format. You’ll learn everything from importing data to sculpting, applying textures, and exporting models.
| Provider | Skillshare |
| Instructor | James Leiske |
| Level | Beginner |
| Workload | 8 hours |
| Enrollments | 3.7K |
| Rating | 100% positive (41 reviews) |
| Certificate | Available |
Getting Started with ZBrush by Ana Carolina
This free course on Cineversity is led by professional 3D artist Ana Carolina. Perfect for beginners, it breaks down complex concepts into manageable lessons, covering the basics of the ZBrush interface, materials, textures, and exporting models for further processing or animation.
- Introduction to ZBrush interface
- Creating and sculpting 3D models
- Applying materials and textures
- Exporting models for rendering or animation
Sculpting in Zbrush – Ultimate Course for Beginners/Intermediate
Learn from an award-winning digital sculptor with over 15 years of industry experience. This Udemy course covers essential tools and techniques, workflows, and insider tips.
| Provider | Udemy |
| Instructor | Milivoj Popovic |
| Level | Beginner/Intermediate |
| Workload | 34 hours |
| Enrollments | 19K |
| Rating | 4.9 (4K) |
| Certificate | Available |
Modeling Realistic Human Characters in Maya and ZBrush by Nalini Jena
This course takes you through the process of creating realistic human characters, covering fundamentals like skin, hair, and clothing. It’s tailored for beginners who aspire to build a portfolio in 3D modeling and texturing.
| Provider | Udemy |
| Instructor | Nalini Kanta Jena |
| Level | Beginner |
| Workload | 21 hours |
| Enrollments | 9.7K |
| Rating | 4.6 (1.5K) |
| Certificate | Available |
Zbrush: Hard Surface Sculpting for All Levels by Sean Fowler
Mastering hard surface sculpting in ZBrush is made easy with Sean Fowler’s Udemy course. Learn basic techniques, use of Booleans, Gizmo 3D tool manipulation, and how to model a sci-fi helmet from scratch.
| Provider | Udemy |
| Instructor | Sean Fowler |
| Level | Beginner |
| Workload | 10 hours |
| Enrollments | 7.2K |
| Rating | 3.9 (899) |
| Certificate | Available |
3D Creature Design with ZBrush and Photoshop by Rowena Frenzel
Take your imagination to the next level by learning to design detailed 3D creatures inspired by nature with Rowena Frenzel’s course on Domestika. This course will guide you through the process of sculpting, posing, and rendering your projects using ZBrush and Photoshop.
| Provider | Domestika |
| Instructor | Rowena Frenzel |
| Level | Beginner |
| Workload | 6-7 hours |
| Enrollments | 1.8K |
| Rating | 98% positive (52 reviews) |
| Certificate | Available |
