Reply To: Blender vs. Zbrush

[Kent Trammell]

@Bee Hive Great question with an involved answer…Which is the better sculpting app? Zbrush. It’s got loads of tools, features and is super efficient with handling massive polycounts. Since Zbrush devs are primarily focused on sculpting, it only makes sense that it’s the best in the business. Though coyo is also right that Zbrush has a notoriously odd user experience. But the app is so powerful that artists still chose to favor it despite complaints.

Zbrush has always been my favorite of the commercial apps. It was the only app I purchased a license for after college. However since discovering Blender, I’ve never needed Zbrush again. To me that’s a significant reality. It aligns with Omar’s car analogy. Zbrush is like a lamboroghini and Blender is like a Toyota Camry. Obviously the lambo wins in a race. But for 99% of my travel needs, the Camry does perfectly well.

Which brings me to my personal standard for software choice. To me it all comes down to competency. Generally we can expect commercial apps to be competent as they’re backed by paid development. This is where open source apps can struggle to achieve competency. It’s a ‘you get what you pay for’ situation. However Blender is a unique example of open source success that has man aged profound competency in my experience.

When I tried Blender for the first time I put it through it’s paces, expecting it to fail in any of the many facets of computer graphics workflow. I was shocked when Blender handled every task I threw at it, including sculpting. After 12+ years with Blender, I’m perfectly content using a competent app even when I know it’s not “the best”.

Nothing wrong with choosing a Lamborghini though. If you can afford it.