Source: Eun, C. 2023 (cganimator.com blog)
Retopology:
The next stage in the pipeline was retopology; a process which creates more optimal geometry, and a clean, quad-based mesh. However, as some detail may be lost when retopologising the model, additional sculpting is often subsequently required to add this in again.
Understanding that, as it not only determines how the model looks, but also how it behaves when rigged, that creating good topology plays a vital part in 3D modelling, I’d taken particular care when sculpting to ensure the level of retopology required would be minimal, and on checking my model, despite not having used the ZBrush ZRemesher feature when sculpting these parts, I found the skull already comprised of an entirely quad-based mesh, and the tail appendage to have only a few ‘tris’ at the tips of the talons, and on the top extremities, which I then corrected manually.
Skull
Tail Appendage (Before)
Tail Appendage (After)
However, while the topology of the the body and tail was in the main quad-based, sculpting used to exaggerate the anatomy had caused some issues, and while class exercises had taught how to manually create topology junctions on planes and cylindrical forms to correct these, given the time constraints, I chose to instead export the .fbx file for the body and tail back into ZBrush, use the ZRemesher feature to resolve the issues, and to then export the retopologised mesh back into Blender in the same way.
Body and Tail (Before)
Body and Tail (After)
The final step was to check the level of detail had been maintained on the retopologised model by way of a 360 degree turntable, and to recreate any detail that had been lost.
Changes following tutor feedback, which advised me to bulk up the shoulders and chest area of my model in order to have the creature appear more powerful were also then implemented, before taking the model across as an .fbx file into ZBrush for the next stage of the pipeline, UV mapping.
References:
Eun, C. (2022). 3dsMax 2023 Retopology 1.2 – Changsoo Eun. [online]. [Accessed 29 October 2024].
Image available at: https://cganimator.com/3dsmax-2023-retopology-1-2/