How to Create Excellent Topology
We often get caught up trying to make our topology look beautiful. It's in our human nature to create order, striving for evenly spaced loops with all quads. But this is a trap. Insteawd think about topology in a different way: Good topology is topology that gets the job done.
Designing topology that looks great is as important as making sure the engine of a car is beautiful. While it's a good bonus, it's far more important that it gets the job done. And like an engine, different tasks require different engines.
Focusing on Function Over Looks
If you're creating a model for a stylized VR game, the topology needs to be drastically different compared to a high-end VFX character. The best topology in the world for a VFX character wouldn't even be able to run in a VR game. Good topology is entirely dependent on the end result.
Key Tips for Practical Topology
Start with the End Goal in Mind: What you’re building the model for? Is it meant for film, games, or real-time applications? Design your topology with that final goal in mind.
Keep it Light: Don’t pack in unnecessary loops or edges if they’re not needed. Fewer polygons generally mean faster performance and easier manipulation. Make it as light as possible while still getting the job done.
Test It Early: Topology always has a goal, and you must test the topology early to make sure it reaches the goal. For a character, you'll need to test the topology deforms well and runs smoothly in a rig. For props and environments, it's often down to them hitting a certain polycount to make the game or scene run smoothly.
A Simple Solution for Good Topology
If you find you’re spending too much time making everything 'perfect', try this:
1. Sketch the Big Shapes: Use simple geometry first, focusing on the main silhouette.
2. Add Details Where Needed: Only add edges or loops in high-deformation areas (like joints) or support loops to make sure the model retains the shape while in subd.
3. Remember the Technical Goal: It's easy to get carried away, so always make sure you remember the purpose of the model. Topology is a technical tool which always has a specific goal in mind.
Your topology doesn't need to look beautiful. Instead, focus on building something that’s optimized for your project. That’s how you’ll save time, get great results, and make sure your models fit exactly where they’re supposed to. Remember: good topology is the one that simply does its job - no more, no less.
