![Complete ZBrush and Substance Painter workflow for creating Kratos | King of Midgard](/content/images/size/w1000/2020/04/kratos-face-the-rookies.jpg)
Massimiliano Bianchini is a 3D artist from Italy. Like all incredible digital artists, he always spent his time drawing as a child. It was only recently that he decided to jump into the world of 3D and we couldn't be happier he made the decision and is sharing his workflow for Kratos | King of Midgard.
Gathering Reference
Gathering reference is one of the most important part when you start a new project. I’ve spent hours looking for references, more you have better is.
I use PureRef for display all my references, for this project I gathered like three hundred images. This is an example:
![](https://discover.therookies.co/content/images/2020/04/pureref.jpg)
Modeling and Blockout stage
Blocking out the model is the key to achieve a good final look, you will define proportion and look of your model. This is why this part is so important.
In this phase I used ZBrush to keep playing with proportions working with rough mesh, no detail, only primary forms. I started creating an anatomical correct body, then layering on top of this the armor. Props and weapon made in the same way, in different Ztool files.
![](https://discover.therookies.co/content/images/2020/04/Blocking.png)
Modeling Secondary and Tertiary shapes
Once the blocking is done, I started gradually adding details. While I kept symmetry on the armor and other props, I started work without on the body.
You can record a layer with symmetry on so you can step back. Anatomy is fundamental, I used a lot of anatomical references, is necessary to study and understand each muscle, even watching video of muscles work.
This is how I get some of the details:
![](https://discover.therookies.co/content/images/2020/04/head.jpg)
![](https://discover.therookies.co/content/images/2020/04/massimiliano-bianchini-01.jpg)
![](https://discover.therookies.co/content/images/2020/04/Detail-1.jpg)
![](https://discover.therookies.co/content/images/2020/04/massimiliano-bianchini-02.jpg)
Retopology and UV
I like work with clean topology and subdivision levels, so once I finished the blocking I start creating mesh with correct topology with Zremesh or Quad Draw tool from Maya.
![](https://discover.therookies.co/content/images/2020/04/uv.jpg)
Texturing and Materials
All the texture was made with Substance Painter, skin texture was a base between a polypaint in ZBrush made with Texturing XYZ map and procedural/hand-painted texture on Substance.
For this I created a lots of smart material, usually I use a procedural base then a mix of hand-painted texture to get a more realistic look. When I’m creating a new smart material, I work with different different folder with separate channels(base/roughness/height) and if needed layering different kind of materials.
![](https://discover.therookies.co/content/images/2020/04/substance.jpg)
![](https://discover.therookies.co/content/images/2020/04/Mat.jpg)
Shading and Lighting
When I have some base texture ready, I start creating the shaders and setting up different lights set and HDRI.For this project I used a filler HDRI with very low intensity, and other five area light(Key/Filler/Rim/Eyes Specular).
Here there’s how the skin shader looks like on the Hypershade, two aiStandard surface(ash and skin) mixed together.
![](https://discover.therookies.co/content/images/2020/04/Shader.png)
![](https://discover.therookies.co/content/images/2020/04/Lookdev.jpg)
Grooming Development
Made with Maya Xgen, subdivided in three different Collection: Kratos, Mimir, Cloth. In each Collection I’ve got different description like eyebrows, beard, wink, moustache, peach fuzz and chest hair.
Kratos beard is made of two description instead of paint a color map, so I splitted in brown and white hair.
![](https://discover.therookies.co/content/images/2020/04/guides.png)
![](https://discover.therookies.co/content/images/2020/04/kratos_face.jpg)
Final Compositing
The final stage, I added some layer in Photoshop. Like a background, some passes and a gloom effect on the Rim light side.
![](https://discover.therookies.co/content/images/2020/04/comp-1.jpg)
You can check out more of Massimilliano's work here, here and here.