Maintaining quads / adding geometry for more detail question

# 1 29-06-2007 , 12:00 PM

Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007

Posts: 1,055

Maintaining quads / adding geometry for more detail question

Hi,

I'm in the process of modeling a head and am trying to maintain quads. I'm finding this a little difficult.

On the image of the eye below, you can see how I've tried to build quads on the outer edge of the eye, though it is not succesful. I am still wondering how to do it on the inside edge of the eye. I could create new edge loops all the way around but would like to avoid this.

Are there any techniques anyone could recommend for maintaining quads, especially between areas of greater and less detail? I guess it is common to have detailed areas, and not have all the line on them be edge loops around the whole object.

Thanks in advance,

gubar.

Attached Thumbnails

Click image for larger version

Name: face jpeg copy.jpg
Views: 661
Size: 74.3 KB
ID: 35138

Quote

# 2 30-06-2007 , 01:44 PM

Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006

Location: Sweden

Posts: 482

Well there is no magic trick and how to mantain quads is something you learn by experience. I personally prefer sacrificing a few quads instead of excessive use of loops.

I recomend that you look at other peoples topology, copy then after a while you learn how to more succesfully make quads.

Good luck. user added image

Quote

# 3 01-07-2007 , 01:31 AM

Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007

Posts: 1,055

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah, going to start looking at other people's meshs. I'm sure I seen a guide once a while ago, can't remember where, that gave techniques on how to break meshs down into more detail but still maintain quads, without adding edge loops.

If I can dig it out I'll post it's name/link up here.

cheers,

gubar.

Quote

# 4 06-07-2007 , 09:43 AM

Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004

Posts: 408

Why try to maintain quads?

Sure they smooth better than triangles and n-sideds... but it will smooth a lot worse if the vertexes aren't even in the right places.

If you need to make triangles to get proper topology... do it IMO. Topology is the only thing people sees, not wireframe.

Its like the old polycount adage -- what's the better sphere? A 60-poly sphere, or a 500-poly banana...?

Quote

# 5 06-07-2007 , 01:05 PM

Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007

Posts: 1,055

Hi,

that was my initial thought. It's just that I've read some tutorials that stress the importance of this. I have found some info re how to maintain quads without adding too much extra geometry - I'll try and post up some images later.

thanks,

gubar.

Quote

# 6 07-07-2007 , 03:38 AM

Subscriber
Join Date: Nov 2003

Location: Sweden

Posts: 326

Tri's vs quads is a topic for half a book. I recommend reading up on boxmodeling, face loops, and pole's. Get as much hands-on modeling experience as you can. It does get easier and easier in my humble oppinion.

Here's some quick examples when you should avoid tri's:
If you want to take the model into ZBrush.

If you plan to animate the character (tri's can be used but best be hidden in areas that does not deform and preferrably where it's not seen (inside nose, mouth, eye sockets)

Triangles can create uggly pole's on a mesh, but does not necessarily have to. Most game models are triangulated etc. This is another several chapters long topic.

If you are planning to convert the model into different formats, or go between nurbs,poly's, sub-divisions).
Again with reservation. Some convertions works just fine with tri's.

When to use tri's:
If it's a still image and it's not visible in the result, use as many tri's you want.

If the faces they make up are somewhat planar and does not deform at all.

If they are temporary geometry that you will later fix. There's no reason to keep a triangle that could be made into a quad, but they can be useful in the modeling process temporarily. Many prefer to kill the last 3-4 tri's at the end of the modeling stage when all geometry and loops are in place, and you have the flow that you want. Again if it's not easy to kill, hide it if you can.

Here's a way you can go from areas of higher resolution (more faces) to a lower resolution.

Attached Images

Currently working on reclaiming Space
The Salvation Prophecy

Last edited by AlphaFlyte; 07-07-2007 at 04:17 AM.

Quote

# 7 07-07-2007 , 03:45 AM

Subscriber
Join Date: Nov 2003

Location: Sweden

Posts: 326

and here's a technique to kill triangles (there are many): The T-split.

Attached Images

Currently working on reclaiming Space
The Salvation Prophecy

Last edited by AlphaFlyte; 07-07-2007 at 04:10 AM.

Quote

# 8 07-07-2007 , 01:32 PM

Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007

Posts: 1,055

Thanks Alphaflyte,

the last one you show - the T-Split - is the one that I had read about. I hadn't seen the first one before, so thanks for sharing it.

I'm having trouble mirroring/duplicating geometry and am going to start a new thread - if you can help there that would be great too.

thanks again,

gubar

Quote

# 9 07-07-2007 , 05:04 PM

Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006

Location: Sweden

Posts: 482

By the way, the T-split looks weird in Zbrush. :p

Quote

# 10 07-07-2007 , 06:46 PM

Subscriber
Join Date: Feb 2006

Posts: 1,937

Heres another easier way to kill triangles ...

Merge the two vertices which are marked red

user added image

Quote

# 11 07-07-2007 , 07:10 PM

Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007

Posts: 1,055

This is all really good stuff to know, and I was surprised that there was not a thread like this already. The more different ways I can see of doing this, the better.

cheers,

gubar

Quote

Maintaining quads / adding geometry for more detail question

Posting Rules Forum Rules

Similar Threads

Topics

Free Courses

Full Courses

VFX News