I found tools to paint all sort of material setups, spec, color, reflection and much more. But I dont know why I should paint normal maps there.

I just found out that there is a HD sculpting mode, where ZBrush creates even more subdivisions dynamically only for the region where you sculpt. So you can even sculpt with virtually billions of polygons, not only millions. This is very impressive:
http://www.pixologic.com/docs/index.php/HD_Geometry

Impressive !

Well painting on normal map, you can add lot of details just by drawing with pencil or 2D Shapes !
Ok with HD geometry of Zbrush, well you can paint micro details directly in 3D !

Well, i'll have to buy it , but that's just the price that really stop me a little : more than 500 Euros !

Waht is cool : even beginners in 3D Sculpting with latests toolset can really make amazing things.
For a character for example :traditionnal polygons modeling tools really asks talent and lot of practice : take a look at the old tutorial Johan of Arc (never made it , even half part) !
With tools like Zbrush, you just need to know human morphology and practice on using brushes.


But again a point 3D Coat have :
If you need for eaxmple to add a cylinder to your model, you can do in any step of you sculpt process.
With Z brush, you have to figure out general geometry first, i don't think you can add big parts on your model once you have turned Zspeheres to polygon sculpting ?

i love using zbrush but the meshes are too high-poly when i convert them to 3ds max 2010

@Zeusk :
In fact, you need to use retopology to make the low polygon version and bake the normal map.
Or just sculpt,add details over a ready to go low poly version.

Just bought it (too much high price ), but it's an investment for years !
It's new ZBrush capabilities are really top notch.

You can even go down to a low res version after sculpting. It does not destroy lower subidivision versions. They are still there. So if you don't want to make a re-topology, then you can start with a low res model in ZBrush. There are lot of possibilities.

Ratchet: You will see that there are tons of nice tutorials. Even the online manual has lots of tutorials integrated and they are all fun to work through. In fact I used lots of 3d tools but the the manual and the tutorials of ZBrush are simply the best.
So I am sure you will not regret to be a ZBrush user

And the good thing is: Since you bought this tool you will appreciate it more than any warez user ever will. While a warez user will probably stop working if a problem occurs you will ask yourself and the forums how to overcome this problem since you paid for it. I am sure, you did the right thing to keep motivation on high level.
By the way: You have to register for the premium support. Then you can use their support ticket system.

About Warez, my personnal politic is no illegal software : only free or affordable
That's why i talk a lot about Blender,Gimp or affordable 3D Coat : they are great tools.
Warez is for idiots, you can't share work with serious people or work with a team of serious people if you use Warez.

That's for newbbies or people just playing with 3D , once you plan becoming serious , perhaps making and if lucky selling a game, you can't go illegal way, that would be incredibly stupid!
People even with no budget can find tools and software to produce great games if they have ideas and skills !
Blender,Gimp, Ogre3D, there are no budget big tools.
Warez should not exist in 3D game making domain !

and when you pay for a tool, i think you support it in some way.
And tools like 3D Coat, or Zbrush really deserves their price.

@Frank_G:
For Z Brush :
Once you have defined basic volumes to sculpt on, you can't go backward without loosing details.
In 3D Coat, you need to add a big Cylinder on middle of your creation that is already fine detailled in resolution : Just add it !
You can't do that on Zbrush ?
Perhaps a way would be :
- copy the whole part you want to keep on a layer
- delete or flatten the parts you don't need, where to add the cylinder
-creat a new layer and add a cylinder
-merge the two layers

Well 3D Coat is a cool tool also, i don't regret to have buyed it, it is lot more easy to understand and find menus.
It's retopology is the best and works as a charm.
You bring easily the normal map in some clicks

I know Zbrush have big power and features , tried some cut and plane brushes : it allow hard edges easily.
It's powerfull and fast , specially for high polygons volumes.
I'm just at the begining of it.
I don't know how to use layers,retopology ,normal maps etc ... !
I just need to practice , practice a lot , to be really familiar and enjoy it lot more.

I'm following , basic Zbrush video tutorials.

Just amazing how you can easily do your 3D Alpha brushes and what can be done with them

Just discovering the tool.

Yes, I told you. It feels like magic and tutorials are very good, the best ones for all 3d applications, not only at the calssroom website, there are also lots of tutorials in the manual to describe every feature with examples. I would like to have such quality for every tool especially game dev tools.

Don't knwo where it have used Zbrush, many hard edges :
Incredible stuff , crazy work





Bigger pictures and details : normal maps, diffuse , concept :
Dominace War 4 Entry

The guy is a Senior 3D character artist : indeed

I think it represents the next step on game graphics incoming :
Bigger textures and more polygons !

Good example how far Zbrush can go with hard surfaces

All done in Zbrush

Well Zsphere 2 :
Yes it's really like adding volume in space like Voxels of 3D coat, but in 100 times more smooth and fast
That has always been the strong point of Zbrush.

And yes i can do hard surfaces in Zbrush, and more hard than
in 3D Coat !
In 3D Coat you'll have to increase resolution , and each time you can divide by two the size of brushes, or tyou can't work, too slow !!

Zbrush is a lot more complicated tool ,not as friendly as 3D Coat : but it has big big power