Once the preliminary sculpts were completed, I retopologized them in ZBrush using ZSphere > Edit Topology. After this was done, I brought the models into Maya to create UV maps and into Photoshop for texture painting. It was important that the textures for these models got done immediately as I would use their modified gray scales to create alphas – a jumping off point for the higher res sculpts (Fig.06).



In ZBrush, I imported the UV'd models in tandem with dialing up their subdivisions. Subsequently, I brought in the flipped grayscale maps, masked by alphas, and then used the Inflate Geometry slider to displace the surface for each one. Using the Dam Standard, Clay Tubes and Rake tools, as well a projection painting, I went in to shore up any glaring texture seams along with gradually building up the bark texture (Fig.07).