This course is designed as a week by week introduction to Z-Brush to help you realize and explore your concepts efficiently in 3D.

ZBrush is an industry standard sculpting and 3D modelling application commonly used in animation, AR/VR, film/TV, illustration, jewellery design, prop making, and general sculptural practices. It is used as a tool to conceptualize and then fabricate those ideas, bringing them into reality.​

This course will be taught by Sean Forsyth, a leading 3D sculptor and educator in this area. Sean has worked as a 3D Modeller, Texture Artist, Fur Groomer, Technical Director, CG Supervisor and Art Director in the animation industry for over 14 years, supervising multi Emmy award winning television cartoons in that time.

At the end of the course, you will understand the interface and basic workflows required to continue using the software to create your own 3D models. Both organic and hard surface modelling techniques will be explained and explored.

The course will be delivered fully online over 16 Saturdays from February to June 2023.

Animation is a digital medium where 3D Modellers are a key component of the production pipeline. They are both the technicians and artists that sculpt in 3D; digital worlds, and everything we see in 3D animations, VFX and even films. They create not only the monsters and heroes but also the worlds around them and the objects they interact with. Animators then make them move.

It is critical that any 3D sculptor has the advanced skills needed to create convincing characters, worlds and their role. This requires them to command a variety of digital practices and technologies to the final completion of complex creative projects. This course is focused on that outcome.

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Evidence competency of the 3D software (Z-brush) in an appropriate context.
• Synthesize the various technical elements required of the 3D (Z-brush) production process.
• Evaluate the various roles and process required of a 3D (Z-brush) sculpting pipeline.

Assessment will be made based on the final content of your work. There are a few aspects to this, each weighted differently: a reference board, a journal, a cartoony character, plus your main project.

This course will be delivered fully online on Saturdays (16 weeks) from 9am to 3pm (including a one hour lunch break) on:

4^th, 11^th, 18^th, 25^th February 2023

4^th, 11^th, 18^th, 25^th March 2023

1^st, 22^nd, 29^th April 2023

6^th, 13^th, 20^th, 27^th May 2023

3^rd June 2023

Applicants must have an undergraduate qualification of 2nd Class Honours or higher at Honours Degree level.

Those without this qualification may be considered provided they can demonstrate Honours Degree equivalence, which can be verified through the RPL (recognition of prior learning) process.

As part of the RPL process, applicants in this category will be required to present a qualifying statement of a standard that demonstrates their ability to undertake work at Level 9.

Please also submit a CV.

Experience using a drawing tablet is a big plus not essential.

Each student must provide their own drawing tablet – examples include:

The Huion Inspiroy H950P or the Huion New 1060 Plus (both available for approx. €57 online).  Alternatives might be the Wacom One (approx. €59 online), or for those with a budget to spend and who want a professional version would be the Wacom Intuos 5 (approx. €400).

Please complete our IADT Application Form

Application deadline: Monday, 23rd January 2023 at 9am.

Fees for this course are €1,300.

IADT is delighted to announce Gréasán na Meán – Skillnet have come on board yet another of our exciting courses. This collaboration means that you will be able to apply for a fee reduction of 40%. If successful, the fee to be paid will be €780.

Details of how to apply for this fee reduction will be posted here soon. In the meantime, do not hesitate to contact us at iadt@creativefutures.ie if you have any questions.

CFA Scholarship:

A CFA scholarship encourages the participation of learners from sections of society that are significantly under-represented in higher education by offering one free place on all of our CFA short courses.

Find out if you are eligible to apply HERE

Fill in the CFA@IADT scholarship application form HERE

Please email any queries to Elena Somoza, IADT Creative Futures Academy Co-ordinator, at iadt@creativefutures.ie

Slideshow image credits:

Image 1: Lorcan Duguey

Image 2: Barry Wrafter

Image 3: Marie Gadsdon

Image 4: Paul Kelly

Image 5: Ciaran Patterson

Image 6: Marie Therese Clune