Course Outline of Record

Item	Value
Eff Term	Fall 2026
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	12/3/2025
Top Code	101300 - Commercial Art (CTE)
Units	3 Total Units (Lecture Units 1.5;  Lab/Other Units 1.5)
Hours	108 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 27; Lab Hours 81)
Total Outside of Class Hours	54
Total Student Learning Hours	162
Course Credit Status	Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee	No
Basic Skills	Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable	No
Open Entry/Open Exit	No
Grading Policy	Standard Letter (S)

Course Description

This advanced course focuses on creating detailed characters in ZBrush with emphasis on surface textures and patterns. You'll learn to sculpt realistic skin, scales, fabric, armor, and other materials that make characters look professional. Students will explore both stylized and realistic approaches to character design while developing skills in surface detailing. The course covers digital rendering and 3D print preparation, helping you build strong portfolio pieces for games, animation, and collectibles. Transfer Credit: CSU.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

1. Create detailed characters with varied surface textures like skin, scales, fabric, and armor suitable for portfolio work in games and animation.
2. Develop stylized characters that show personal artistic style while maintaining good surface detail across different aesthetic approaches.
3. Produce portfolio-ready sculptures with complete detailing for both digital rendering and 3D printing.

Course Objectives

• 1. Use advanced brushes and alphas to sculpt surface details including pores, scales, wrinkles, fabric weaves, and material textures.
• 2. Create stylized characters with strong forms and appropriate surface treatment across different styles from cartoon to realistic.
• 3. Build complex surface patterns including tattoos, scales, feathers, and decorative elements using custom brushes.
• 4. Make convincing materials like leather, metal, cloth, and organic tissue through proper detail work.
• 5. Apply finishing techniques including polypainting and detail refinement to improve character quality.
• 6. Prepare detailed models for presentation and 3D printing, including optimization and documentation.

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Lecture Content

Character Surface Fundamentals

• Understanding detail hierarchy: large, medium, and small details

• Balancing detail across character surfaces

• Stylization vs. realistic surface approaches

Brush Techniques and Customization

• Standard brush settings and control

• Dam Standard and Clay brushes for detail

• Creating custom brushes from sculpted elements

• Alpha creation and management

Organic Surface Details

• Skin: pores, wrinkles, and imperfections

• Scales and reptilian textures

• Facial features and expression details

• Creature surfaces: feathers, fur indication

Fabric and Material Surfaces

• Fabric weave patterns

• Leather stitching and tooling

• Metal surfaces: polished, hammered, damaged

• Wear and weathering effects

Pattern Application

• Tattoo and body paint techniques

• Ornamental patterns using symmetry

• Relief carving and surface decoration

• Radial patterns and tribal designs

Polypainting and Color

• Basic color theory for characters

• Material definition through color

• Cavity masking for detail enhancement

• Texture projection techniques

3D Printing for Detailed Models

• Detail size considerations

• Managing undercuts and supports

• Testing detail samples before full prints

Lab Content

Surface Texture Studies

• Skin texture practice across different types

• Scale pattern variations

• Fabric and metal sample creation

• Building a personal texture library

Custom Brush Creation

• Making brushes from photos and sculpts

• Building alpha libraries

• Insert Mesh brushes for repeated details

• Organizing brush collections

Stylized Character Detail Project

• Cartoon or anime character with full details

• Simplified forms with surface interest

• Costume and fabric details

• Polypaint color application

Realistic Character Detailing

• Adding full details to base character

• Facial detailing: pores and wrinkles

• Hand and foot surface work

• Maintaining detail consistency

Creature Design Project

• Fantasy creature with multiple surface types

• Mixing different textures believably

• Creating unique skin treatments

• Asymmetrical organic details

Armored Character

• Character with costume and armor

• Metal engraving and decorative work

• Leather details with tooling

• Fabric underlayers with weave patterns

3D Print Project

• Character bust optimized for printing

• Testing minimum detail sizes

• Segmenting models for printing

• Planning for painted finishes

Complete Character Portfolio Piece

• Concept to final character with full details

• Multiple material types

• Rendered presentations showing detail work

• Both full character and close-up views

Portfolio Documentation

• Creating detail breakdowns

• Before and after comparisons

• Close-up renders of surface work

• Process documentation

Method(s) of Instruction

• Lecture (02)
• Lab (04)

Instructional Techniques

Demonstration, Observation, Individualized instruction, Student presentations, Supervise student use of equipment, Show instructional videos, Lecture, Discussion, Feedback/evaluation of skills practice

Reading Assignments

Students will read on average 1-2 hours per week from online resources in Canvas as well as other online tutorials.

Writing Assignments

Students will research assignments and provide analysis and reflection on content.

Out-of-class Assignments

Students will continue design and modeling assignments outside of class, and are expected to spend 1-2 hours per week on out-of-class assignments. Student will have access to the OCC Art/DMAD digital lab during their scheduled lab time and during open/arranged lab times.

Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended

54

Methods of Student Evaluation

• Projects (Individual/Group)
• Problem Solving Exercises
• Oral Presentations
• Skills Demonstration

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Students will demonstrate critical thinking by analyzing how different surface textures, materials, and design elements work together to create believable characters, then making informed decisions about detail hierarchy, stylization approaches, and technical workflows to solve complex sculpting challenges. They will also evaluate their work against professional standards and make adjustments based on aesthetic goals, technical constraints for different outputs (rendering vs. 3D printing), and portfolio presentation requirements.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Complete assigned projects, creating 3D sculpted representations of objects in the Pixelogic Z-Brush software application space.

Resources Subscreen

• Textbook: Keller, Eric Keller. Introducing ZBrush. Sybex (2012).
• Other: . . ().
• Other: . . ().

Eligible Discipline(s)

• Commercial art (sign making, lettering, packaging, rendering): Any bachelor’s degree and two years of professional experience, or any associate degree and six years of professional experience.