Sci-Fi Character Creation with Photoshop and ZBrush
A course by Abrar KhanConcept Artist and Illustrator
A course by Abrar Khan, Concept Artist and Illustrator
Learn to create striking sci-fi concept art by combining digital techniques to design characters with a cybernetic feel
The sci-fi universe is vast, and the creative possibilities are endless. Learning how to use digital techniques can help you harness those possibilities to create unique characters and artwork. Abrar Khan is a concept artist and illustrator from India, currently based in Sweden. As part of his role as senior marketing artist at Ubisoft Massive, he has brought characters to life in games such as Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 and Avatar.
In this course, Abrar shows you the techniques he uses to create stunning concept art and design memorable sci-fi characters. Discover what 3D kitbashing is and how you can use it to give any character a mechanized look. Learn how to render and enhance your image using KeyShot and Photoshop. Turn an ordinary photo into a sci-fi scene with a cyberpunk feel.
What will you learn in this online course?
18 lessons & 19 downloads
Reference Gathering
12 minutes, 50 seconds
Researching the Base Photo
8 minutes, 47 seconds
Character's Personality
5 minutes, 13 seconds
Basic Blockout in Photoshop
5 minutes, 48 seconds
Kitbashing in ZBrush 1
19 minutes, 12 seconds
Kitbashing in ZBrush 2
19 minutes, 24 seconds
What's included in this course?
Get to know concept artist and illustrator Abrar Khan. Learn about his creative journey to becoming a professional artist and discover the influences that have shaped his style and the work he creates.
Start gathering images and create a reference board that helps you define your vision. Find the best websites for downloading high-quality photos and select your base image to work from, before defining the overall style of your artwork as well as your character’s personality.
Learn how to block out basic shapes in Photoshop using the brush tool. Then use ZBrush to understand the concept of kitbashing, and how it can be used to give characters a mechanized look. Render your image in KeyShot by matching the lighting to the environment of your base photo.
Begin post-production by using Photoshop to place and integrate the rendered assets. Then put the finishing touches to your work including layers and color correction to unify your image and give it a cinematic feel. To finish the course, Abrar shares his advice for using the skills you’ve learned to design organic characters and environments.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Give an existing photo a sci-fi, cyberpunk twist using digital design techniques.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in sci-fi art, or creatives who want to gain a better understanding of 3D kitbashing and other digital design techniques.
Requirements and materials
To take this course, you’ll need a basic knowledge of Photoshop, ZBrush, and KeyShot.
You will also need a computer with these programs installed.
Reviews
- 1 year ago
Un gran curso
- 2 years ago
Impressive
- 2 years ago
Me gusta mucho como enseña y el contenido es buenísimo
- 3 years ago
Super recomendado, era lo que estaba buscando.
- 3 years ago
Awesome course!
During his time at Ubisoft, Abrar has worked on a number of gaming projects including Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 and Avatar. He regularly shares his latest work on these projects, and more, across his social media channels.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Collecting References and the Base Photo
- Reference Gathering
- Researching the Base Photo
- Character's Personality
- U3
The Artwork
- Basic Blockout in Photoshop
- Kitbashing in ZBrush 1
- Kitbashing in ZBrush 2
- Kitbashing in ZBrush 3
- Rendering in KeyShot 1
- Rendering in KeyShot 2
- U4
Post-production
- Placement and Integration 1
- Placement and Integration 2
- Placement and Integration 3
- Placement and Integration 4
- Final Touch-UPS 1
- Final Touch-UPS 2
- Extra Tips
- FP
Final project
- Sci-Fi Character Creation with Photoshop and ZBrush
What to expect from a Domestika course
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FAQs
This course is ideal for artists with some digital art experience looking to advance their skills in photobashing, 3D kitbashing, and sci-fi concept design. Beginners may find it challenging but motivated learners can follow along.
You’ll need Photoshop, ZBrush, KeyShot, and Fusion 360 for the main workflows. Having PureRef and access to stock photo sites is also recommended for reference gathering.
Yes, the course covers portfolio building for artists, helping you create polished, industry-ready sci-fi and cyberpunk artwork to showcase your skills.
The course explores photobashing, 3D and hard surface kitbashing, mech and weapon design, integrating 3D assets into Photoshop, advanced rendering, and post-apocalyptic and cyberpunk art techniques.
You’ll learn systematic reference gathering using tools like PureRef, Pinterest, ArtStation, and Unsplash, plus tips for organizing and categorizing images for mood boards and inspiration.
Some familiarity with 3D modeling basics is helpful, but the course provides step-by-step guidance in using ZBrush, KeyShot, and Fusion 360 for concept art workflows.
Yes, the course demonstrates how to find and download high-resolution free stock photos from sources like Unsplash and military photo stock sites for photobashing.