Difference between revisions of "Category:Topology"

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Topology is the layout of a model, how vertices and edges are placed to create the mesh surface. See the [[Topology]] page for tutorials.
= Category Topology =
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Topology is the layout of a model, how the vertices and edges are placed to create the mesh surface. Good topology is essential if you want fast framerates (realtime) and good deformation (both realtime and pre-rendered). For realtime rendering, bad topology can also create rendering problems, see [[GameRenderingTerminology]].
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== Pages in This Category ==
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These pages contain topology examples:
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== Rendering Topology Examples ==
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Examples of mesh topology used for rendering, as in film.
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* [http://www.hippydrome.com/ Hippydrome: Articulation - Modeling and Theory] by Brian Tindall, Character Technical Director at Pixar
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* [http://gotwires.blogspot.de/ gotwires.blogspot.de] Got Wires is all about Subdivision Modeling: Video Tutorials, Sub-D Wires and Modeling Resources.
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* [http://picasaweb.google.com/danwill/ReferenceTopologyResearch# Reference: Topology Research] - an album of great wireframes from Dan 'pointpusher' Will
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* [[attachment:SubdivisionModelingDotCom_Topology-Head.pdf]] (8MB PDF) - visual summary of the old CGTalk [http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=25&t=38469 Topology research] thread, from [http://mister3d.cgsociety.org/gallery/ Alexander 'mister3d' Alexandrov] on the SubDivisionModeling.com forum
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* [http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=7&t=108412 Body topology] CGTalk thread started by [http://www.androidblues.com/ Steven Stahlberg]
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* [[attachment:HDRI 3D Issue 8 - Go With the Flow.pdf]] (2MB PDF)[http://www.pushingpoints.com/?p=881 Go With the Flow] tutorial by [http://www.pushingpoints.com William 'proton' Vaughan]
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* [http://www.thehobbitguy.com/tutorials/polymodeling/index.html Dave K's Poly Head Modeling Tutorial] by [http://www.thehobbitguy.com Dave Komorowski]
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* [[SubdivisionSurfaceModeling#Primers]]
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== Realtime Topology Examples ==
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Examples of mesh topology used for real-time 3D, as in 3D games.
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* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5fOwSmSaW8 Youtube timelapse], [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=117608 Testing the new DX11 features of ma2013.5] Polycount Forum thread - Paul Tosca has released the source files for his Nyra character "to help others that might be on the road to becoming game character artists and want to check out the model/textures/psd layout".
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* [http://boards.polycount.net/showthread.php?t=61079 Low Polygon Joints - What is the best way?] from the Polycount Forum.
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* [http://en.9jcg.com/comm_pages/blog_content-art-180.htm Street Cop Workflow] by [http://www.fx81.com/ Mashru Mishu].
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* [[http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=80005|Face Topology [Community Breakdown] ]] thread on the Polycount Forum.
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* [http://www.pig-brain.com/tutorials/tut02-01/ Ancient-Pig's basic deformation tutorial] by [http://pig-brain.com Jonathan 'Ancient-Pig' Rush].
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* [http://boards.polycount.net/showthread.php?t=46031 shoulders from japan] from the Polycount Forum.
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* [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41232 Low-Poly Thread] from the Polycount Forum.
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* [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74450 Allods Online ingame artwork] from the Polycount Forum.
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== Principles of Topology ==
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Mastering good mesh flow takes time to learn. Just like any other discipline, learning about good topology usually requires making the mistakes yourself in order to experience first-hand what the results are, so you understand how important it is to avoid them next time. Most people learn by doing. Reading and research is very important, but after all the reading, make sure you attempt to do it. Nothing beats hands-on learning, and repetition.
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=== Topology Types ===
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Are you creating a base mesh for subdividing in Mudbox or Zbrush? Or are you modeling a low-poly model? Or is it going to be a base for modeling a subdivision surface model? Each has different needs in terms of topology.
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* If you're going into ZBrush, then you want to use quads as much as possible, to avoid pinching as you sculpt.
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* If you're modeling a low-poly game-ready mesh, then triangles are fine, but you want every edge to be there for a reason.
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* If you're making a [[SubdivisionSurfaceModeling|subdivision surface]] model, then proper edge loops are crucial. Subdivision tends to highlight every deficiency in your technique.
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=== Deformation ===
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Vertices and edges need to be in certain places to give good bending/compressing/stretching when the model is skinned or morphed. Topology is the most important where the model has to deform the most: crotch/hips/butt, shoulders/armpits, mouth corners/cheeks, knees, elbows, hands/fingers.
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=== Manifold Surfaces ===
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Avoid T-vertices, doubled faces, gaps, flipped faces, internal unseen faces, floating vertices, etc.
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=== Poles ===
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Poles can create dimples or bumps in a subdivided surface, they should be placed in flatter areas to hide them, and are best kept away from areas that deform. See [http://www.subdivisionmodeling.com/forums/showthread.php?t=907 The Pole] and [http://www.subdivisionmodeling.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8000 The Pole - revised] from the Subdivision modeling forum. See also [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1247603 Help with poles] from the Polycount forum.
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=== Polygon Density ===
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Add more polygons where there's curvature, less where it's straight, but balance this by the needs of the other priniciples.
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=== Silhouette ===
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Polygons define the shape of the model, don't waste polys where they don't add to the silhouette, depending on the requirements of the other priniciples.
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=== Vertex Splits ===
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See [[GameRenderingTerminology]]#Vertex_Splits
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=== Vertex Normals ===
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See [[VertexNormal]]
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== More Information ==
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* [[Category:CharacterModeling]]
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* [[Category:ReferenceAnatomy]]
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* [[Category:ReferenceCharacter]]
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----
 
[[Category:Character]] [[Category:CharacterModeling]] [[Category:EnvironmentModeling]]
 
[[Category:Character]] [[Category:CharacterModeling]] [[Category:EnvironmentModeling]]

Latest revision as of 08:45, 14 March 2015

Topology is the layout of a model, how vertices and edges are placed to create the mesh surface. See the Topology page for tutorials.


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