Winning the Maxom ZBrush Sculpt-Off 2025 was a great experience again. I already had the privilage to win the Sculpt-Off back in 2017, so doint it again was a big suprise
The theme was Magic Cards and instead of going the obvious route (like a detailed human portrait or wizard character), I decided to take a different path.
I went for a stylized wolf.
Why I Chose to Do Something Different
When you’re in a competition like this, it’s easy to fall into what’s expected polished human faces, hyper-real likeness, or classic fantasy tropes.
But I felt like doing something different.
I wanted to:
- Break away from the typical “hero face” approach
- Explore stylization more freely
- Push saturated colors and graphic shapes
That decision alone made the whole process more fun—and honestly, more me.
Fast Blockout with Dynamesh
Time is everything in a sculpt-off.
To move quickly, I relied heavily on Dynamesh techniques to block out the wolf. This allowed me to:
- Iterate fast without worrying about topology
- Focus purely on silhouette and volume
- Keep everything fluid and adaptable
The goal early on wasn’t detail, it was getting a strong, readable shape as quickly as possible.
Hard Surface Details with ZModeler
For the chain and lock elements, I switched to ZModeler.
This gave me:
- Clean, controlled hard-surface geometry
- Fast iteration for mechanical shapes
- A nice contrast against the organic sculpt
Mixing organic Dynamesh sculpting with precise ZModeler elements helped create visual interest and storytelling.
Creating Ghosts with Simple Techniques
Sometimes the simplest tricks are the most effective.
The ghosts in the scene were created using:
- Basic spheres
- The Snake Hook brush to stretch and shape them
- A cool material to give them that ethereal look
No overcomplication—just smart use of tools to get the desired effect quickly.
The Real Trick: NPR Rendering & Filters in ZBrush
What really made the piece stand out was the Non-Photorealistic Rendering (NPR) approach.
Instead of relying on traditional rendering, I pushed ZBrush’s built-in NPR settings and render filters to get a more stylized, graphic look.
This is something I highly recommend if you want your work to stand out.
Some Filters & Settings to Explore:
- Outline Filter → Enhances silhouette and gives a graphic, illustrated feel
- Color Balance Filter → Great for pushing saturation and mood
- Contrast Filters → Helps separate shapes and improve readability
- Edge Enhancement → Accentuates forms and sculpt detail
- Noise Filters → Adds subtle texture variation for stylized surfaces
By stacking and tweaking these filters, you can get surprisingly powerful results directly inside ZBrush—no external renderer needed.
Playing with Saturated Colors
Another key aspect of my entry was color.
Instead of going realistic, I pushed:
- Highly saturated tones
- Strong color contrast
- Stylized lighting
This helped reinforce the “magic card” vibe while keeping the piece visually striking and memorable.
Full Process Recording
If you want to see the entire workflow from start to finish, I recorded the full session live:
Watch the full sculpt-off recording here:
ZBrush Sculpt-Off 2025 Full Recording
Key Takeaways from the Sculpt-Off
1. Don’t Follow the Obvious Path
Doing something different can make your work stand out instantly.
2. Speed Comes from Simplicity
Dynamesh + simple brushes can get you very far, very fast.
3. Rendering Matters More Than You Think
NPR filters inside ZBrush can completely transform your final result.
4. Have Fun With It
At the end of the day, the energy you put into a piece shows.