Polybrush: Painting with 3D

Arseniy Korablev from Moscow talked about the production of Polybrush – a new tool,which allows you to paint in glorious 3d. In this interview he told us about the way you can use it and benefit from its various features.

Introduction

Hello everyone! My name is Arseniy Korablev, I’m 22 years old, now I live and study in Moscow. As of now I don’t work. I am doing CG for myself, increasing my skills for 10 years, i.e., since 12 years old. During this time I got a lot of 3d awards and was published in many CG magazines. I got my first serious Award at CGSociety, when I was 16 years, and got published in the Digital Art Masters with that work at 17. You can see my artworks on ArtStation. I also a little bit animator, that’s one of my animations, which I did as a fan-art for StarCraft more than a year ago:

One of my artworks:

Building New Software

I have an idea of drawing in 3D space, I found it very intuitive and natural. I don’t understand why there is no worthy software for this. I was planning Polybrush as a very simple program that allows to draw strokes in 3D space and nothing else.

First concept of polybrush, about 2 years ago:

I thought that would be enough for the three-dimensional concepts. In fact, the first prototype was ready in 2 weeks, but it was impossible to draw something worthwhile.

One of first versions (panels file, view, modifs are empty):

By making it more convenient, it struck me a lot of different ideas. For example, over time there were too many brush parameters , and I decided to make them as modifier stack, which subsequently greatly changing the principle of work and increasing possibilites of program.

Gradually Polybrush became a full 3D editor. I wouldn’t say that Zbrush or 3dsmax as easily cope with the Polybrush tasks . Only using Polybrush you can literally draw in 3D.

Screenshot from last Polybrush version:

Polybrush trailer:

Using Polybrush

Polybrush is very simple and has only one main tool – 3D brush. 3D brush settings are endless. You can create an infinite number of different brushes for specific tasks. This is the main advantage Polubryush – easy to set and practically unrestricted possibilities to create models. Brushes for three-dimensional sketches in pencil, for silhouettes creation, for robot modeling or for sculpting.

Polybrush was originally intended for the early 3D modeling stages, for fast prototyping and creating concepts. But also it can be used for modeling and sculpting, everything depends on the brushes you’ve created. Many models, which are drawn in a few strokes using PolyBrush you would be making the whole evening in other software.

3D Brushes

To simplify the explanation, think about the way brushes work in Photoshop. There is a sample, such as a circle that is copied along the path and forms a smear. Thus it can change his radius, and color depending on the parameters.

Now imagine this sample is three-dimensional and it’s copied on the pathaw in 3D space. There are much more brush dynamics parameters so initially they have been removed, and only a few have been left. You can add your own necessary settings and combine them in a different order. These options are presented as a stack of modifiers, such as, for example, in 3dsmax.

As the sample (a form of brush), you can use any 3D object, in addition, you can use multiple objects inside one brush. You can add parameters (modifiers) for all forms together or for some of them.

You can also create brushes for sculpting, it’s very simple. Just add the modifiers to the stack “Modify around” and this modifiers will not change the objects inside brush, they will change one on which you draw.

Artists can make a set of brushes before a project and quickly create complex scenes. This greatly saves time in comparison with other 3D editors.

More clearly you can see principles of work in Polybrush in this basic tutorial:

Polybrush’s Usability

Polybrush is easily integrated into the process of creating models because it saves models in *.obj files.This format is compatible with the majority of 3D editors. You can modify the model after Polybrush in another program without any problems.

Perspectives

The most important development priority is to fix the remaining bugs and improve the convenience of already existing functions. I do not plan radical changes in the near future, but I have a lot of ideas.

Most of these ideas concern more accurate conception and hard-surface modeling, I will develop tools in this regard. The main development is about adding new modifiers, it will increase opportunities of brushes.

Furthermore, despite the PolyBrush simplicity, I think I need to do a lot of lessons and examples of artworks. Maybe I will take part in the CG-competitions, using my program.

I plan to extend the beta test, and then make a paid version. I still think about the price, but it will be not very expensive, maybe $20.

Thank you for you attention, Good luck in CG!

Arseniy Korablev, Polybrush

INTERESTING LINKS

POLYBRUSH: USEFUL SOFTWARE FOR 3D SKETCHING

POLYBRUSH TRAILER