Planetside Software Forums

General => Open Discussion => Topic started by: Upon Infinity on March 10, 2015, 06:23:56 PM

Title: Speed retopology.
Post by: Upon Infinity on March 10, 2015, 06:23:56 PM
Tedious, tedious, tedious.  And exactly the kind of work that makes me question why I got into this 3D game in the first place.  Worth it in the end, I guess.

Oh, and I sped it up this time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XxGme7pC0o&feature=youtu.be
Title: Re: Speed retopology.
Post by: PabloMack on March 12, 2015, 09:17:32 AM
What SW package is that? I don't recognize the user interface. I guess my idea of what the word "retopology" is not exactly correct. Its not in dictionary.com and I thought it implied some sort of automatic (and not manual) operation. I was under the impression that voxel-based modelers used the word to mean the process of converting a voxel-based object into a polygon-surfaced object. I could be wrong. I have never seen the word defined; only used.
Title: Re: Speed retopology.
Post by: zaxxon on March 12, 2015, 10:38:44 AM
Looks like 3D Coat to me.  A nice package with a growing toolset. I've relied on UVLayout and Topogun to perform similar functions, but I'm interested to see how this one evolves. To create a new mesh topology either from a high-res, or point cloud meshes can be generated automatically by many packages, however to facilitate the animation of dense meshes lower poly objects with edge loops and appropriate detail in specific areas still requires some manual 're-topologizing'.
Title: Re: Speed retopology.
Post by: Upon Infinity on March 15, 2015, 05:35:18 PM
It is in fact 3DC.  It does have an automatic function to convert the voxel object into a polygon surfaced object.  However, that automatic function is not without flaws.  For many purposes as Zaxxon noted, it is preferable to do it manually.  In my case, however, I have found the only way to guarantee perfect, flawless topology that works and doesn't leave "burn marks" (dark spots on the object left from incorrect topology during baking), it is in many cases, better to do it manually, as well.  I have been getting quite frustrated with the autopo routine lately, and found that it can take just as long or longer than doing it manually.  So I'm trying manual for awhile.