If you’ve played any recently, you know there are two types of guys in video games – ripped superheroes, and bulging Hulks. Check this vid for the process I use to sculpt characters like this in Mudbox.
Performance-enhancers not required
Five easy steps for sculpting muscles in Mudbox:
- Photoreference texture
- Wax brush
- Smooth brush
- sharp negative brush
- Pinch brush
Using this approach I sculpted this guy out in under an hour. Watch the video! Better to show than tell and all that.
Allow me to elaborate on those five steps here:
First, I start with photoreference and project it quickly onto the surface. I don’t worry about getting it right – I am only using it as a guideline for where I want to place muscles.
Second, I block in muscle shapes with the Wax brush, trying to create strokes that follow the direction of the muscle fibers.
Third, I smooth to blend it all together.
Fourth, I use a sharp, negative brush to carve detail around the muscle mass I’ve already made. I use the Foamy brush for this, because I always have it set to use the sharpest falloff. But any brush will work!
Fifth, I pinch everything to create a more crisp looking mesh.