How to Create a Stylized Vampire with Free CC Character Base & ZBrush

Introduction

Hello, I’m Gerard Martínez, a 3D artist from Barcelona specializing in cartoon-style characters and a passionate teacher. I currently teach at various universities in Spain and I do online classes with Libel Academy in Latin America. 

In this article, I'll guide you on how I used the free Character Creator base to speed up production times through an optimized topology and full face and body rig, to create Ravenna – a stylized vampire character, using Character Creator 4, ZBrush, Substance 3D Painter, and Maya.

Character Creator 4 not only simplifies the technical process but also enhances the artistic aspect, allowing artists to focus on creativity and design. I appreciate how the free Character Base with its optimized topology and full rig, integrates seamlessly with tools like ZBrush and Substance 3D Painter. 

Step-by-Step Guide

1. References

The foundation of Ravenna's creation was built on visual references. I sought to capture a stylized, movie-like touch, blending classic vampire elements with modern aesthetics.

• Vampires in Art and Popular Culture: Images from movies, TV series, and concept art.
• Illustrations and Cartoons: A variety of stylized looks from cartoonish to gothic.
• Facial Structure and Expressions: Photos of people with interesting facial features
• Gothic Clothing and Accessories: Corsets, capes, and jewelry.

I organized these references in PureRef and worked with my partner, Ivet Macias, to sketch Ravenna’s look.

2. Character Creation in CC4

Character Creator 4 (CC4) played a crucial role in creating Ravenna. Here’s how:

• Download and Import Base Model: I used the free base model 04_Toon Neutral_F from CC4. This base model provided an optimal topology, ideal for animation and sculpting.
• Adjust Materials and Morphs: I reduced texture intensity and adjusted the diffuse color to focus on volumes. The versatility of CC4 allowed me to modify every detail of Ravenna, from body structure to facial features, using the Ultimate Morphs pack.
• Refine Shape in ZBrush: Exported to ZBrush using GoZ for detailed sculpting. The seamless integration between CC4 and ZBrush streamlined the workflow.

3. Sculpting in ZBrush

I focused on refining Ravenna's shape using ZBrush’s sculpting tools:

• Basic Shape: Used brushes like Move and DamStandard at subdivision level 1.
• Facial Features: Focused on proportions and secondary details like eyes, ears, and mouth.
• Hair Design: Inspired by Count Dracula’s hairstyle from Bram Stoker’s film.

4. Clothing and Accessories

I used ZBrush's tools to create stylized clothing and accessories:

• Extract Tool: Defined base clothing shapes.
• Panel Loops: Added thickness and defined seams.
• Support Loops: Prevented deformations during subdivision.

5. Texturing in Substance 3D Painter

Substance 3D Painter was used to texture Ravenna’s skin, eyes, and clothing.

• Skin Texturing: Applied smart materials and adjusted layers for a detailed look.

• Eye Texturing: Created textures in Photoshop and projected them in Substance 3D Painter.
• Cloth and Accessories: Used stylized materials and added color layers.

6. Importing and Final Adjustments in CC4

The textured model was re-imported into Character Creator 4 for final adjustments.

• Import Character Parts: Imported the character, hair, and clothing separately.
• Adjust Weights: Ensured proper fit and movement with the Transfer Weights tool. CC4's tools for adjusting and fine-tuning character parts were invaluable for achieving the desired look.

7. Importing and Final Adjustments in CC4

Character Creator 4 made posing Ravenna an intuitive and creative process. Here’s how I did it:

• Selecting Poses: I experimented with different Motion Packs from the Reallusion Content Store, such as "Evil Diva Moves" and "Egocentric Moves". These packs provided a wide range of animations and poses suitable for Ravenna's character.
• Customizing Poses: With the character selected, I accessed the Motion tab and clicked on Edit Pose. This allowed me to move and rotate the joints as needed, using both IK and FK modes. I also applied various body poses and hand positions from the Content tab to refine her stance.
• Facial Expressions: To give Ravenna her distinctive look, I edited her facial expressions by navigating to the Motion tab and selecting Edit Facial. I adjusted the muscles, applied predefined expressions, and used sliders for precise control. The goal was to convey a flirtatious smile, intense gaze, and confident demeanor.

8. Lighting Setup

I aimed to create a dramatic and mysterious atmosphere by combining warm and cool tones:

• HDRI Lighting: I used a low-intensity HDRI from HDRI Haven to provide subtle reflections and ambient light. This setup added a natural look to the scene.
• Key Light: An Area Light was placed to illuminate Ravenna from a specific angle. I adjusted its intensity, color, and temperature to achieve the desired dramatic effect.
• Fill Light: Positioned opposite the Key Light, the Fill Light softened the shadows and balanced the lighting.
• Rim Lights: Two Rim Lights were added behind and above Ravenna to create a glowing edge around her, simulating candle lighting. This enhanced her silhouette and added depth.
• Bounce Light: Used to simulate light bouncing off surfaces, creating a more natural and immersive effect in the scene.

9. Shading

To achieve the desired look for Ravenna, I used the aiStandardSurface material in Arnold:

• Base Color: Applied the texture maps to the base color node and the subsurface color node to add depth and realism.
• Roughness: Connected the roughness map to control the reflectivity of Ravenna's skin and clothing.
• Metalness: Applied the metalness map to define the metallic properties of accessories and elements of her attire.
• Normal Map: Connected the normal map to add fine details and depth to the character’s surface, enhancing the overall realism.

10. Post-Production

After rendering in Maya, I moved to Photoshop for post-production to add the final touches:

• Background Addition: I added a window background with ominous clouds and a full moon, enhancing the gothic atmosphere of the scene.
• Mist and Atmosphere: Added layers of mist to create a more mysterious and haunting effect.
• Color Correction: Adjusted the colors and contrasts to ensure the final render had a cohesive and striking appearance.

Thanks to Eliant Elias, who assisted with post-production, we achieved an incredible window with those ominous clouds and moon, enhancing the atmosphere and visual impact of the final render.

This detailed lighting and shading setup in Maya, combined with final adjustments in Photoshop, brought Ravenna to life with a dramatic and immersive visual presentation

Conclusion

Creating Ravenna was an incredible experience, blending artistic creativity with technical skills. Character Creator 4 significantly simplified the process, allowing me to focus on design rather than technical details.

Advantages of Using Character Creator Bases:

• Speed: Efficient character creation. CC4 allowed me to quickly set up a base model with optimal topology, saving time on technical processes.
• Ease of Use: Intuitive tools and morphs. The Ultimate Morphs pack in CC4 provided extensive options for customizing every detail.
• Versatility: From stylized to realistic characters. CC4's integration with ZBrush and Substance 3D Painter enabled seamless transitions between tools.
• Integration: Seamless with ZBrush and Substance 3D Painter. The GoZ feature facilitated easy exports and imports between CC4 and ZBrush, enhancing workflow efficiency.
• Quality: Optimized topology and detailed anatomy. CC4's base models provided an excellent foundation for sculpting and texturing.

Character Creator 4 not only simplifies the technical process but also enhances the artistic aspect, allowing artists to focus on creativity and design. I am grateful to the team at Reallusion, my partner Ivet Macias, and my friend Eliant Elias for their invaluable contributions to this project. 

Thank you for joining me on this creative journey, if you are interested in the detailed making process, please see the full article and get more insight.

Gerard Martínez, 3D Character Artist