Retopologizing 3D Assets Using Blender - Article
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This article covers how to both retopologize a mesh to a clean, low-density model, and then UV unwrap that mesh to support adding texture maps to the new model. It also discusses the use of free tools like Blender* and its BSurface add-on for retopologizing a sculpted 3D mesh. ...learn more
Project status: Published/In Market
Virtual Reality, Game Development, Graphics and Media
Intel Technologies
Other
Overview / Usage
Retopology is the act of rebuilding a 3D mesh so it's lower in size and designed cleaner for use. Retopology may seem like just busy work in the 3D creator’s process, but it is a key task and also allows flexibility in working with your models. Most original meshes, built using 3D modelers, sculpted, or scanned, capture a level of detail to make the model look good. However that same detail creates a large file that is difficult on reads, writes, and memory for your target application. Also, most highly detailed meshes can have too much detail or be nonsymmetrical, creating odd or unwanted creases, folds, and movement when animating the mesh.
To avoid this, you’ll need to retopologize the mesh to a more basic, usable structure, and then transfer the detailed data about the color, bumps, and creases out of the 3D structure and into “baked” 2D materials maps. This allows the 3D mesh to be a much smaller file with fewer vertices, yet produce the same results in rendering. In the images above, the original mesh was reduced from 500,000 faces to 2,000 faces, yet the output looks relatively the same.
Methodology / Approach
The article linked below and videos will cover the process of taking a high topology mesh, then using B-Surface plugin for Blender to create a new lower topology model.
After that is done, the article will demonstrate how to add back the 3D details of the higher resolution model into a 2D UV Map, and how to wrap that on the lower topology model. That will give you the details of the original highly detailed model in a lower poly model that is smaller, lighter weight and easier to load into a game or VR scene
Technologies Used
What you need to get started:
PC, Mac*, or Linux* computer; Intel® Core™ i5 or Intel® Core™ i7 processor recommended
Blender 3D with the BSurface add-on enabled (free to download)
Blender* and BSurface
Blender is a free, full-purpose 3D modeling, rendering, and animation studio. With this powerful tool, you can create simple 3D objects or produce a full-featured animated film in Blender. For the purpose of this exercise we focus on the modeling side of Blender. If you have never used Blender before, I suggest watching this getting started video to learn how to set up Blender for good results.