Zbrush Vs Nomad Sculpt which will you use

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As 3D Sculpt Enthusiast, I was super excited when I discovered Nomad Sculpt, Zbrush, and Forger a few years ago.

I always wondered if there was any way I could sculpt on a tablet and push it as close to Zbrush quality. Forger was good and the main reason for choosing forger against nomad was the price.

Nomad is pricier but better I did not realize it then. Having learned Zbrush I was looking for something closer to it and I eventually found nomad was the best substitute.

Of course, Zbrush is the industry standard and has way many options and tools, it is not really fair to compare with Nomad but as long as light sculpting and reasonably good render experience are concerned Nomad is the best in the market for mobile devices.

Nomad Sculpt App + Apple Ipad + Apple Pencil is a monster combo and gives a lot of power in your palm to create anything you want.  Below is sculpted, painted, and rendered in nomad I did recently.

Since the advancement in technology made by CPU, GPU, and increased RAM, applications targeted specifically for Modelling, Digital art (Including Hand Drawn) and sculpting have become increasingly popular. Forger and Nomad are popular choices.

Nomad Sculpt is a fantastic tool for learning about 3d sculpture, but ZBrush and Blender offer so many more capabilities that you will ultimately want to include them in your toolbox.

Because of your decision, you can now concentrate on learning to sculpt in Nomad while you save money for the next piece of gear and software that you will need.

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Your journey towards 3d Sculpt will begin with achieving your stated goal, and you will progress through the process of learning how to sculpt while adding extra software and hardware as you gain experience. The sculpting abilities you develop in Nomad will be transferrable to future applications.

If you are serious about 3d Sculpting and want Kick start your 3d sculpt Journey – check out my You can sculpt anything eBook with all the latest Updates… Learn more about the “You can sculpt Anything” eBook here..

Unfortunately, the unfortunate reality of computer art is that you are always switching from one application to another and from one machine to another.

A computer and an app are purchased on the same day; thus, saving for the following app and computer begins on that day as well.

However, ZBrush is twenty years older than Nomad and is capable of performing tasks that Nomad cannot…yet.

As a complicated program/software with a steep learning curve, ZBrush might be intimidating.

The fact that you’ll already know how to sculpt in Nomad will help you to decrease the length of your ZBrush learning curve, as you’ll be able to focus on the new software.

Just sculpt every day for the time being.

We will discuss in this article whether is Nomad sculpt worth it compared to other apps like Forger or Zbrush

Check out our Blog on The 10 best Wacom Tablets for Graphic design and Digital Art

The Comprehensive Guide to Learn Nomad Sculpt has landed & selling fast! 500+ Downloads in 7 Countries across the globe!!…

What is Nomad Sculpt

Nomad Sculpt is an Android and iOS software for 3D modeling, texturing, and rendering.

As if modeling clay, you may create models with as many as millions of polygons in Nomad.

It uses a PBR-based texturing approach and can render in real time.

The Former Sketch fab developer Stéphane Ginier has developed and released Nomad Sculpt, a highly promising new digital sculpting app for iPads and Android tablets.

This $14.99 app enables artists to sculpt and paint organic characters on the move, then export the results in OBJ or glTF format to refine in other DCC software.

Nomad Sculpt has a comprehensive set of digital sculpting, 3D Painting, and Remeshing tools.

Nomad comes with a comprehensive set of sculpting tools that can be used on a touchscreen or with the iPad’s Apple Pencil stylus.

This includes a basic set of brushes such as Clay, Crease, Move, Flatten, and Smooth, as well as falloff, standard control parameters, alphas, and masking, as well as line and curve cutting tools.

The app employs a dynamic tessellation system similar to that of desktop tools such as ZBrush or Mudbox, which automatically changes the resolution of the part of the mesh being sculpted to accommodate new details.

Is Nomad sculpt worth it? The Complete Guide

What is ZBrush

When it comes to sculpting, Zbrush has long been ruling the Digital market, but as technology advances, the idea of not being tethered to a desktop or laptop is becoming a reality.

ZBrush is a Digital sculpting tool that supports mesh detailing, HD geometry, poly paint, a preview rendering system, and a noisemaker.

Zbrush is the most specialized 3D software for sculpting and painting models and textures with a high level of detail. It is simple to set up and comes with comprehensive documentation.

The best feature of Zbrush is its customizable brushes for sculpting, texturing and painting realistic and complex 3D models.

It can generate a high-quality base mesh for mesh detailing from imported models. It has built-in 3D painting and texturing tools that enhance poly painting and UV mapping. Zbrush is simple to master due to its community, documentation, and tutorials.

Zbrush is incapable of rendering photorealistic 3D models.

Although Zbrush has more features, the ease of use and low cost of Nomad Sculpt makes it a compelling competition for 3d sculpting.

In this article, we’ll look into the differences and see if Nomad and Zbrush are comparable when it comes to sculpting, and which one you should choose.

So, What do we know about Zbrush?

When it comes to 3d sculpting, Zbrush is the industry standard. It’s been around for more than 20 years, during which time it’s been constantly improved and refined.

You’ll need a PC or a Mac to utilize Zbrush.

Pros of Zbrush:

Zbrush’s customizable brushes sculpt, texture, and paint realistic 3D models. Imported models can be used to produce a high-quality basis mesh.

Its 3D painting and texturing capabilities can improve poly painting and UV mapping. Zbrush’s community, documentation, and tutorials make learning easy.

Cons of Zbrush

Scope and capabilities make the learning curve difficult. An annual license costs $895, which is pricey.

UI can be overwhelming without customization

The system contains more software documentation than a website.

Like other long-lived software solutions, the UI requires a revamp to better organization.

Resources:

Check out the Comprehensive List  of  Digital Resources needed to Start your Digital Art & Digital Sculpt Journey:

• How to get started with Digital art- A Beginners Guide
• The best iPad for Nomad Sculpt- 3D Art
• The best ipad for procreate
• Top 10 best Tablets for Digital Artists
• The Best Human Anatomy Books For Digital Artists
• Essential & Must have tools for Digital Artists

Is Nomad Sculpt good enough to be used professionally?

Nomad can surely be used as a wonderful beginning point for professional work If you ask me!. My fantasy of being able to sit on the couch and relax while sculpting is full-filled with Nomad Sculpt. Read my blog – What can you do with nomad sculpt? 5 Cool Things you can do with Nomad sculpt

The workflow is similar to sculpting in Blender (Free) or Zbrush, but considerably more user-friendly..

You can finish your sculpture in Nomad and then export it to Blender or Maya to Retopologize, unwrap, and texture it.

Of course, if you want to use vertex paint, you can do it in Nomad, export to Blender, and even transfer the vertex paint to UV maps after the model has been unwrapped.

Read my Blog – How to get Started with Nomad sculpt – The Complete Beginners Guide

(Vertex Paint: Painting on 3D mesh could be more complex than you think. Vertex painting is when you are able to paint on 3d mesh as it is. 

While industrial painting software like Substance Painter ( Also Mobile Devices App – Procreate) utilizes UV texturing. So you basically sort out your mesh by unwrapping UVs within Maya or Blender before painting on it). 

Why I feel my art is not good enough- Explained

Nomad Sculpt is an excellent tool to start learning to sculpt, but ZBrush and Blender have so many more capabilities that you’ll want to add to your skill set in the future.

The benefit of your choice is that you can now focus on learning to sculpt in Nomad Sculpt while saving for new hardware and software.

As you indicated in your aim, you are on a trip to learn to sculpt, and as you progress, you will add new software and hardware.

You’ll be able to use the sculpting abilities you acquire in Nomad in future applications.

The unfortunate reality of computer art is that you are constantly switching from one app to the next and from one computer to the next.

You begin saving for the next app and computer the day after you purchase an app and a computer.

Nomad is fantastic, and I adore it, however, ZBrush is twenty years older and capable of performing tasks that Nomad cannot…yet.

ZBrush is a sophisticated beast with a steep learning curve.

The Zbrush interface is overwhelming and intimidating besides it is impossible to sculpt in Zbrush unless you have Wacom Tablet or a substitute.

This problem is solved when you are sculpting on your tablet sitting comfortably on your couch while watching Netflix.

Besides, you’ll shorten your ZBrush learning curve by learning to sculpt in Nomad Sculpt because you’ll already know how to sculpt and can focus solely on the new software.

Pro Note:

Pixologic.com has Introduced a Mini version of Zbrush called ZbrushCOreMini( Free). You’ll need Mac or Windows computer to use it.

Enjoy a true ZBrush experience as you take your first steps into the exciting world of digital sculpting with ZBrushCoreMini… completely free!*

Download here for free

What do you think about Nomad Sculpt in the future? Will be an alternative Blender or Zbrush

To begin with, two things can exist without one being worse than the other. However, knowing the differences between the two tools can be relevant and sometimes beneficial.

This was undeniably the case with Octane and Redshift early on, and it is now with Nomad Sculpt and Forger.

While both are powerful tools for artists,  Many Pro artists like Glen S compare and contrast the two.

“Which iPad sculpting app should I use?” This is a question I am asked on a daily basis. Literally. Is it better to use Nomad Sculpt or Forger App?

Now, I believe it is time for me to respond, and there are a few reasons for this.

According to many professional digital sculptors that i have met on Facebook groups  – 3D sculpting software has changed so much in recent years, and a whole new sector of digital sculpting apps is just around the corner.

Nomad Sculpt Vs. ZBrush

Features

Nomad Sculpt is a great tool to learn to sculpt but ZBrush and Blender have so many more features that you will eventually want to add that software to your skill set.

The advantage to what you chose is that now you can concentrate on learning to sculpt in Nomad Sculpt while you save for the next hardware and software.

From the goal, you stated you are on a journey learning to sculpt and over time you’ll add other software and hardware as you learn.

The sculpting skills you learn in Nomad Sculpt App will translate to future software.

The sad truth about digital art is you always move from one app to the next and from one computer to the next.

The day after you buy an app and a computer is the day you start saving for the next app and computer.

Nomad is amazing and I love it, but ZBrush is twenty years older and can do things Nomad can’t…yet.

15 + Best Human Anatomy Books for Artists

Learning Curve

ZBrush is also a complex high learning curve beast.

By learning to sculpt in NomadSculpt you’ll reduce your ZBrush learning curve because you’ll already know how to sculpt and can concentrate on just the new software.

Pricing

Nomad is One Time Buy for USD 14.99 ( For iPad)and free for Android Tablets

Zbrush Pricing is shown in the below Image as USD 29.91 ( Billed Annually) Or USD 39.00 /mo if Billed Monthly

Is Nomad Sculpt good enough to be used professionally compared to Blender/ZBrush?

This depends on what is one expecting from a sculpting app

• Creating and sculpting 3D objects?
  Yes, Nomad Sculpt’s easy UI lets you achieve Creating & Sculpting 3d Objects. Check out my video here
• Can Nomad Sculpt do Painting?
  Yes, you have Basic vertex painting tools in Nomad, letting you achieve already amazing results.
• UVs for texturing?
  Yes ! since the latest version 1.6.2
• Can Nomad Sculpt help in Rendering?
  Almost yes. The results are breathtaking for a real-time output on tiny devices. But Subsurface scattering Just to mention one missing thing, is leveling up other renders.
• Adding easily fine detail objects, like hair, fabric, fur?
  No, Nomad Sculpt is on its way but not there.
• Can Nomad Sculpt help with Posing?
  Possible, but far away from optimal. However, you can use 3rd party tools like POSEit( Poseit is an App) to get the work done.

As an Illustrator Nomad Sculpt is maybe all you need – combined with painting and vector apps, for 3D, no.

But no sculpting app except blender is offering everything you need to solve all tasks in 3D. And blender is not perfect in any solution it offers.

My verdict

Nomad Sculpt lets you enter this amazing field of 3D sculpting with wonderful ease giving you the most satisfying results.

In general, Nomad Sculpt is a reliable tool with a lot of experience. Shoot for the top of her head and her weapons should not provide an issue.

It’s not like taking fair battles is something you should do; instead, knock them on their asses first and then murder them to knock them over the edge of the planet.

Overall, I would say that it is a fantastic beginning place for professional work and should be used as such.

The approach is comparable to that of sculpting in Blender or Zbrush, but Nomad Sculpt is (in my view) far more user-friendly and straightforward.

In nomad Sculpt, you can create your whole sculpture and then export it out of the application, bringing it into Blender or Maya to retopologize, unwrap, and texture it.

Of course, if you want to use vertex paint, you can do it within Nomad, export it to Blender, and even move the vertex paint to the UV maps once the model has been unwrapped and rendered.

However, For More & professional Design Options ZBrush will be better.

Pro Tip: I would say, By learning to sculpt in Nomad Sculpt you’ll reduce your ZBrush learning curve because you’ll already know how to sculpt and can concentrate on just the new software & new/Complicated Features in ZBRUSH.

If you are keen on Learning Nomad Sculpt- get this ebook that can help you with the Basics of Nomad Sculpt. Click here to purchase the Nomad Sculpt Comprehensive Guide

Nomad Sculpt download in Apple store .. Click here

Is Nomad Sculpt Worth it?

Yes!!! I’ve been sculpting on Nomad Sculpt and am very impressed.

As I mention it’s not quite fair to compare Nomad Sculpt with Zbrush Or Blender, but it’s a really solid, capable program that goes far beyond what I thought was possible.

Nomad Sculpt is buttery smooth to work on, intuitive, and simple to learn. It has enough features to be useful such as a subdivision workflow, dynamic topology sculpting (similar to Zbrush’s Sculptris), alphas, and so on.

Best of all, it is constantly being updated with new features. There are Facebook groups and forums to join and share your work and tips on Nomad Sculpt.

I highly recommend watching my video below on YouTube, where I create some really cool sculptures using only Nomad Sculpt App. Also, Check out my eBook – Comprehensive Guide to Learn Nomad Sculpt for Further Learning about Nomad Sculpt.

Is Nomad sculpt worth it? The Complete Guide

Can Nomad Sculpt Be Used Professionally

Yes. I believe that many of these programs could be used professionally. As is the case with the majority of 3D programs, these are not stand-alone solutions.

Depending on the model’s purpose & requirements, you may need to send the outputs to other programs for processes like retopology or UVing.

The Future of Tablet-Based 3D Modeling

Mobile applications receive a great deal of investment and attention.

In 2021, Maxon, the creator of Cinema 4d, acquired Forger, one of the most popular iOS applications.

To my mind, with technological advancements and the attention of large companies, it’s only a matter of time before 3d art on mobile devices becomes more mainstream.

Final Thoughts

I hope this article has convinced you of the value of mobile modeling and sculpting. It’s a lot of fun and a dream come true for 3d artists (or at least me).

I strongly encourage you to give it a try with time and practice, regardless of your level of experience you will be amazed at what Nomad Sculpt App has to offer you and what you will be able to achieve.

I believe it will only grow in popularity in the coming years and only get better.

Resources:

Check out the Comprehensive List  of  Digital Resources needed to Start your Digital Art & Digital Sculpt Journey:

• How to get started with Digital art- A Beginners Guide
• The best iPad for Nomad Sculpt- 3D Art
• The best ipad for procreate
• Top 10 best Tablets for Digital Artists
• The Best Human Anatomy Books For Digital Artists
• Essential & Must have tools for Digital Artists

What are some alternatives to Nomad Sculpt:

When comparing forger and Nomad Sculpt, you can also consider the following products

ZBrush – ZBrush is a digital sculpting and painting software solution.

Blender – Blender is an open-source, cross-platform suite of tools for 3D creation.

meshmixer – meshmixer is an experimental 3D modeling tool for making 3D mashups without too much hassle.

Sculptura – 3D sculpting for everyone

Nomad List – Find the best place to live, work, and play

Putty3D – SCULPT ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

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