Retopology in Blender (Beginner Tutorial)

[@AnonJuggerbot]

I have watched a dozen retopology tutorials and none of them have ever made the process seem less intimidating... Until now. This was an absolutely phenomenal video.

[@cgboost]

Thanks a lot for the kind words! 🥰

[@sicdrift97]

i completely agree, this is best video on this subject!

[@TheTyroofToriyama]

@@sicdrift97 If I disable snapping and Shrinkwrap, can't I just draw a mesh/object of any shape I choose, into thin air??

[@koigurlk7760]

I was on a hiatus on working on my project because I was really just lost & and didn't know the next step or how to do it so I just kept delaying progress, this video saved me, thank you.

[@cgboost]

🤗

[@gonderage]

This tutorial is a godsend. I've purposefully avoided BSurface because I couldn't find a good source on how it works, and using it myself left me confused. This explains so much, thank you 🥺

[@Ree1981]

Girls gotta die *bang bang*

[@sapienpark4481]

12:48 "Oh. Look at that. How satisfying it is to go over the geometry and smooth everything a bit." I felt that.

[@Jeahy.]

You're by far the most trustworthy source of blender technicalities online. Most prompt you in buying extremely expensive addons and so on, while you are doing the exact opposite and tell people how to do it simple and with more control. I've never done re-typology and was always scared to try it, until I found this video. After years of simple hard surface modeling to finally get into organic objects, creatures and more. I am exited to try sculpting next, this has to wait hence my budged is too low for your online course on it but I am sure the money won't be wasted.

[@cgboost]

Thanks for your kind words. 🥰 We do offer a student/teacher discount for our courses, let me know if this is interesting for you. You can contact us here: cgboost.com/support/

[@Jeahy.]

@@cgboost I'm not a student nor teacher as of yet. Blender has only been a hobby to me so far. But thanks for letting me know!

[@Fernanda-gs1qq]

I'm studying to make my first game-ready character and this tutorial truly saved me. CG Boost is one of the best Blender channels and I absolutely love the way Zach explain things. Thank you very much!

[@cgboost]

Glad you liked it so much! Good luck with the character! ~ Daniel

[@coolestardude]

This is absolutely insane. There are so many little tips in here that I use in ALL of my Blender-ing now, not just retopology. This method of attack is so beautiful and usable

[@100Peterll]

The smooth brush on the retopology mesh was indeed very satisfying, wow. Great tip btw!

[@juliankunchev]

This is hand down the best retopology tutorial I've ever seen. Thank you so much for sharing :)

[@cgboost]

Glad you like it! You're very welcome ~ Daniel

[@jaqueline321741]

definitely! i loved this video

[@biostarstepa]

Just love how you keep things simple and still enough informative for people to follow. Hats down, this is really great retopology guide. Keep it that way mate.

[@cgboost]

Thanks a lot! ☺

[@Frozen_Death_Knight]

Here's a tip regarding Snap and Auto Merge Vertices. If you hold down shift you can activate multiple snapping options at the same time. Why is this important? Because you are then able to activate Vertex and Face snapping at the same time. This means that it becomes far easier to snap vertices together, so you can have a very low distance value for Auto Merge Vertices, which in turn avoids problems like 9:19 where the distance value for merging vertices is too powerful. Personally I never use the Shrinkwrap modifier during regular retopology. It makes it too hard to know where exactly your vertices are, so I avoid using it altogether until I am finally done retopologizing. You can always just sculpt the topology or use the Slide Relax Brush in Sculpt Mode to fix uneven or very inaccurate topology compared to your source.

[@cgboost]

Great tips, thanks for sharing!

[@wesleysantos399]

This is the definitive retopoligy tutorial. I'm from Brazil and i'm very gratefull for this video!

[@Gredran]

Bsurface is incredible! I always just accepts my sculpts as stills but I’ve slowly gotten to be like “ya know what? I gotta dive into retopology and just get going with it” This is an amazing start! Thanks as always for your amazing videos!

[@ryansenger408]

That is literally the greatest tutorial I've ever watched. Simple, insanely empowering, clear and concise.

[@hollygrubbs953]

I am currently learning topology and am thankful I don't have to "wish" for this tutorial... THANK YOU!! seriously a great tutorial

[@sprite1015]

I have been working in Blender for YEARS. I have always hated retopology because I thought it was an extremely tedious task. This is the first tutorial I have watched that was actually helpful in speeding up my workflow.

[@Muhammad-Jacobs699]

What Perfect Timing! I've been struggling all day with a shrink-wrap modifier destroying the mesh when I tick "Negative" as instructed. But now I see that my retopology was just poorly done. These tools certainly would make it easier to fix the entire mesh!

[@BestMods168]

Also make sure your current mesh has enough resolution. Was making a helmet and the main piece only had around 2k polys. Shrinkwrap and retopo didnt work too well. I used a subsurf modifier, but dont apply it on the main helmet piece. Did the shrinkwrap. Apply it. Then delete the subsurf.

[@WaterShowsProd]

When I first saw this thumbnail, apart from thinking it was cool sculpt, I thought it was just going to be another intro to retopology tutorial, then someone highly recommended watching it. I'm glad I did. There are so many videos on Retopoflow, or by doing it using the basic modelling tools of Blender, but this is the most comprehensive video on using BSurfaces that I've seen.

[@cgboost]

Thank Stephen for your comment, we're really happy you appreciated so much our video ^^

[@jellybean4049]

I've been doing low poly work for years and I finally need to start making more complex models using sculpting. This tutorial is perfect as Retopology has always terrified and confused me so thank you very much.

[@TsumitaTenshi]

This is the best retopo tutorial ever. Most comprehensive. And all these times I didn't know the tools is there already. No need to find additional tools.

[@RiseTheDrake]

Very well put together! I'm no expert by a long shot, but I must confess, this has to be one of the most pleasant and straightforward tutorial for retopo. I'M also very happy to see someone who doesn't use either Retopoflow, or other solutions that are etiher paid-for or super subjective. Excellent. And hell, this F2 add-on is an absolute lifesaver!

[@cgboost]

Glad you find it useful! ~Zach

[@devilmaysigh]

ok so the whole "duplicate and apply the shrinkwrap modifier" tip was a total gamechanger for me, thank you so much! That and the relax brush thing helped a lot!

[@GerardMenvussa]

Blender has so many free tools (included some pre-installed ones) for retopo, but you really have to know they are there. This is a pattern that keeps repeating with Blender, sadly. It's really hard when you start on a new skill (when you start retopo, in this case) and you can't always find what you need. This video helps a lot to get your bearings though. Thanks. Who am I kidding? I am just salty because I spent too much money on Retopoflow instead of paying attention to what was already in the package >:)

[@HanSolocambo]

That's when trying add-ons from CGPersia's forum before : makes sense. Saves tons of money... and I agree : Retopoflow costs a lot and it's total crap.

[@crisptomato9495]

As an animation student who does not have a knack for 3D you explained this so well. Dumbed it down for me way better than any of my teachers. Thank you for saving my academic ass random retopologizing German man.

[@ViatorMessorem]

I swear, it is the best and fastest video about retopology in Blender EVER

[@StarwarsHalofreak]

As much as I love how helpful this video is and how useful BSurface is, new users, BE WARNED, this add-on LOVES to crash. A -LOT-. So save as often as possible.

[@cgboost]

Thanks for the tip :) ~ Masha

[@anthonymyers5352]

I always dreaded getting to the retopology step, but this video is an absolute game changer. That sculpting slider makes the process so satisfying Recommending this to anyone interested in Blender workflows.

[@_Zero_Sugar]

I've always had a hard time with retopology, but I didn't know blender has this feature. I get good tips. Thanks!

[@fx_dpt]

This is amazing. I've used retopoflow, the polybuild tool, and all kind of other techniques and this is the best and most flexible method I've ever seen... and all with tools I already know. Thank you so much for this!

[@cgboost]

Thank you so much for the nice comment 😊

[@FootyToonz]

This is the best retopo tutorial until now

[@glitterwaifu]

This is single handedly the most important video I have watched in my 3D artist journey - thankyou so much!

[@fullyleaded]

So useful. I’ve been looking at paid retopo addons but this will make for a fantastic starting point and give me a thorough understanding so I can decide if I need to pay for one. Thank You ❤

[@Velgan83]

Thanks again for this amazing video. Really I've learned so much from you and blender guru you guys are really amazing, life saving content right there!

[@lucikruxapache9034]

This is awesome. Thank you so much, I'm trying to get better at 3d modeling because, weirdly enough, I have the opposite issue of most new devs- I'm fine with programming and making the game itself, but making a model is just so overwhelming. This makes it a lot easier to do

[@user-hg7iz5mo7y]

I haven’t started my way in retopo yet but I’m saving this video for future use! You’ve successfully made a terrifying process look fun and manageable! Thank you so much for the tutorial and I look forward to see more blender beginners lessons from you.

[@cgboost]

Glad you enjoyed it! Everyone has a different way of working and something like this can seem horrid if you don't find a way that works for you :) ~ Daniel

[@alvarhart8629]

I know this video is a few years old but thank you so much, this helped me understand the subject so much better. Workflow is amazing as well.

[@M4rt1nX]

I always hated retopology until today. Thanks a lot for an amazing tutorial.

[@JuanFernandez-ti5bv]

Super friendly, easy going and so well explained!! this really has helped me a lot!! you turned something heavy into something super easy.. thank you!!

[@mosiahfragaortiz399]

i was gonna cry if i didnt find this video ,thank you so much I'm a new sub

[@meowzers6515]

I didn't even know this was a thing you could do until now all the other videos had me make a seperate object and it's always super annoying but this a waaayy easier omg thank you

[@clawcakes]

my style of modeling doesn't even need retopology (i do simple plane-by-plane stuff so the topology is good from the get-go) but this video still taught me so many useful new things. very good video i approve!

[@beezelbuzzel]

This is the most helpful Blender tutorial I've seen in a long time. I've always avoided retopology. It's is always explained like modeling (I HATE modeling). This is the first time I've seen it done using any aspects of sculpting. I think I can do this without pulling all my hair out haha. Thank you!

[@AlexeyKun]

Awesome. U made my retopo in blender better and easier. Thanks DUDE!

[@cgboost]

Glad you liked it! You're very welcome ~ Daniel

[@lomaxdesigns1716]

Absolutely top notch tutorial!! Using these techniques I've just retopologized an entire human body with near perfect results. The divide and conquer method worked a treat! For my project I didn't need to model the head, hands or feet, but I've accomplished everything else with very satisfying edge flow and not a single tri anywhere in the mesh. This is the best retopology guide I've ever seen.

[@AussieDaves]

Watching this 2 years later, great explanation of these features - definitely has given me a few ideas of how to use them in my projects. Subbed and Liked 👍🏼

[@nadiaplaysgames2550]

holy heck this tutorial is what all blender tutorial should be info dense and tell you everything you need with no pauses your hecking amazing

[@DjCtavia]

Don't know how I've missed this one, I'm not really into retopology, just watched few ressources on KZbin, but this method look way more affordable for a starting point (and also fast). It's always nice to see new stuff well explained, thank's!

[@cerberouse1]

This is some black magic and i'm here for it; so many things i didn't even think to ask making everything so easy - the man turned annotations into geometry!

[@caltini77]

great tutorial, but i guess need to be updated... for example if you want to create this low poly mesh around the eyes you can draw 2 and even more concentric circles and then click the button "add surfaces" on the "bsurfaces" tool.. much faster and easier way.. oooor for example you can draw with annotation tool concentric arcs around the mouth (like a human face topology) and than click to "add surface".. and it goes further:) you can activate "cyclic follow" option and draw lines with annotation tool to a cylindrical surface on a orthogonal view (annotation lines can/should exceed the surface) than add/generate surface click.. voila you have a mesh around the cylindrical surface... zach your are the best, i've learned so much from you, thank you...

[@92tpeter]

This video is all you need for retopology.. Hats off!

[@Konpochiro]

If I only found this video some time ago , It might have saved a heck lot of time!

[@orkunz]

Best retopolgy tutorial I have ever seen, I was already doing it with other methods I have learnt before and this video just made the process 10 times easier, thanks for sharing this

[@lln6123]

great tutorial, thanks alot. Duplicating the shrinkmodifier to shrink the verticies of edgeloops is very usefull.

[@BBennie444]

I was so scared to do retopology this video is great, Thank you so much! Now i actually wanna give it a go 😁 might even look into the sculpt course 👍

[@henryvasquez1814]

I am in the retopology part of your course and I am having a blast. This video and that tool will make it way easier. Thank you!!!

[@cgboost]

Yeah, I will dive into this workflow here also in the next chapters I will add to the sculpting course. 😁

[@Cyber_Kriss]

@@cgboost The epic creature looks ready...

[@cgboost]

@@Cyber_Kriss Yeah, the detailing chapter is recorded and currently in the editing stage. Should be released soon! 😁

[@Cyber_Kriss]

@@cgboost yassssssssssssssssss !!!!

[@tsup2]

@@cgboost I want to subscribe to a few of your courses, but I can't figure out how to even sign up. When I go to login, it doesn't show "sign up" anywhere, and when I go to sign up with teachable so I can sign in with it it's the exact same. Can you please help?

[@wizzardajp]

Oh my god this is the most comprehensive retopology video I’ve ever seen

[@yokidrift1720]

thanks! i been struggling after switching from 3ds max after school. I want to learn blender inside and out for modelling!

[@jeremiahgallo1055]

This is the most comprehensive guide on retopology in Blender. Gone are the days when every vertex had to be extruded just to make one polygon. Thanks for making this!

[@cgboost]

Glad you enjoyed it! It has come a long way from those dark days haha ~ Daniel

[@crow2250]

hands down best retopo tutorial i think ive ever seen

[@chiffachiffa1047]

soooooo breathtaking.... i forgot to eat my breakfast... that's really as satisfying as it could be at all. Thanks for the video!

[@IrocZIV]

Great info. Super dense, so I had to watch it all the way through, and then watch it again, but everything you need to know is in there.

[@Maxwell_Kenway]

this is a real gem for an tutorial. i always strugeled with the surface disapearing under the original Mesh and couldn't find the option. thanks.

[@zovguagnelli]

I've been struggling for YEARS to have a proper re topology workflow. Thank you for this, now I'm ready to start uploading some stuff to Turbosquid and earn some extra quid. Thanks.

[@cgboost]

Glad we could help a bit :)

[@supertenchoo4271]

I havent start learning blender yet but you explain so well your are best blender teacher in the world

[@AlarmedPizza]

Thank You! I also agree with others. Best Retopology tutorial I've seen, also did not know about BSurface add-on, makes retopologizing A LOT easier!

[@BunzJackson]

I don't think I've ever seen a tutorial video as packed with useful information explained simply and efficiently as this. This is amazing, thanks.

[@TheKnifeAndI]

This is apparently a really good tutorial, but I can only say 'apparently,' because things just aren't working in my Blender like they do in the video. This happens to me a lot. I think I just always end up finding tutorials that are slightly out-dated - this one's only been up for ten months. Anyway, here's the issues I'm encountering. I don't expect them to stop being issues, and I'm just going to try to find a tutorial that doesn't use add-ons (fewer things to go wrong), but I'm posting this so anybody who looks at the comments in ten more months and reads this will know they're not alone in having issues. Differences I'm encountering, in chronological order of me noticing them, for the first four minutes: When I click 'initialize' in the Bsurfaces menu, I get a Python error and, while the BsurfacesMesh is created, it's not automatically added to the menu as the Mesh of Bsurface. I also had to manually set the face snapping on. After manually correcting those issues, I make the annotation strokes on the surface of the object, click Add Surface, get another Python error and, while the lines are converted, they're not converted to geometry - just to curves. So I had to use Annotation, make the initial strokes, Add Surface, then go to Curves, select the Annotation_curve created by the prior Add Surface, and then hit Add Surface again, and then it actually made the geometry. Now is when I realize that there isn't any color setting. Add Surface had the same weird 'makes a curve out of the strokes so I have to make a surface out of the curve' thing, so at least it's internally consistent. Knowing that this tutorial would likely involve a lot of this Bsurfaces thing that's just not working for me, I went looking for a retopology tutorial that didn't use add-ons, rather than deal with constantly doing 'annotation>add surface>curve>select annotation>add surface.'

[@AtrusDesign]

This is amazing, makes retopology almost a pleasure! THANK YOU!!

[@forestwitsard]

Best retopology video I've watched so far! Easy to follow and straight to the point, while still sharing tips and tricks for an easier process.

[@WolfieDesigns]

This is one of the best retopo tutorials I've seen, I was scared to try retopo but i think I'll have to try it once more, might be able to do it this time. Thanks for the video zach! 🙌🏻

[@justin7649]

My thoughts exactly! Retopo seems intimidating because in the past I've never managed to get great results. This has inspired me to try again!

[@annawang6451]

I have come back to this video several times, the information is extremely helpful and well-presented. Thank you!

[@iulian_98]

You explain and show us what we have to do and how to do it extraordinarily perfectly, thank you.

[@h.weenuz4873]

I have watched a lot of videos but yours is really what I was looking for. Very detailed, easy to understand, easy to remember... thank you very much and will support you. I come from Vietnam!!!!!!

[@jacinta9134]

Thank you. I don't pay for addons, and until I found this information, I was stuck using automated remesh options that did not give me the topology result I wanted. That's a thing of the past now!

[@Itsjustra]

I'll cry. Legitimately I'll cry. Beautiful.

[@satyam5828]

you are the greatest animation teacher i have ever seen

[@agaraspberry2950]

what a great tutorial, it will help me so much transitioning from Maya to Blender, thank you!

[@pinklady7184]

Hugely helpful. I enjoyed watching this tutorial, while snacking on sandwich, cakes and sweets. Thank you for the valuable lessons.

[@firmedia2908]

This is on far the best tutorial I've ever seen of the subject. Thank you so much

[@starvr]

The only problem now is, I have to learn sculpting. LMAO One of the most useful videos on KZbin.

[@cgboost]

The solution to this problem is really simple... Just start sculpting! and you'll learn along the way ! :)

[@macropsialberto]

Thank you very much, I enjow always your tutorials and I finally understand this technique thanks to you. Greetings from Bogotá, Colombia!

[@alirezazare757]

really perfect bro, this toturial really solved my problem. thanks

[@xx_snowyshadoes_xx3177]

I'm watching this in 2024 and I struggle with Retypology as it intimates me by a lot. Especially when I am having to learn how to use Maya through College but learn Blender on my own. This video really helped ease my mind and also a good alternative from CozyBlanket as I don't think I want to spend that much money yet. 😅

[@galmannmedbart]

Thank you so much, this made me several times more effective both in time and faces. Pluss it made retopology an enjoyable task. :) I can no longer look at people without seeing the loopcuts.

[@abdallah_4056]

i was really scared from 3d art just because this retopology thing...... but you made it so easy and fun too Thank you.

[@NKElyan]

This is awesome! For I am kind of relieved but also confused about retopology. The model is relatively detailed. the process completely ignores this though. So this will most likely be followed by another process to achieve the amount of detail. Thank you though for sharing this. It took me a while to be comfortable enough to watch this.

[@cgboost]

Your guess is 100% right. There are next steps to retrieve the details from the high poly sculpt on to the retopologized mesh.

[@MichaelHickman3D]

Thank you for the tutorial, things like this are much needed in the blender community! Awesome work!!!

[@JJ-tc5tt]

This is a perfect tutorial. Easy to understand, instructions are clear, perfect demonstration. Thanks for this amazing video

[@alanmunro4332]

Brilliant. A good tutorial makes all the difference! v satisfying thank you ;)

[@huilustudio]

This was by far the most informative tutorial on the subject I have yet seen. Thank you so much.

[@danialshahzad1408]

By far one of the best tutorials I've seen, thank you so much!

[@hanslohm7987]

First-class quality from Reinhardt... just like in the days of agenzas-brothers.

[@mercurybh3288]

this tutorial is simply amazing, thank you so much♥♥

[@WarriorOfModernDeath]

My god man, where have you been all my life! :D

[@laniuschisa8779]

BEST TUTORIAL EVER !!!

[@digitalart3452]

Best video of the subject. This actually makes Retopo look fun

[@satansbraten4152]

Omg thank you... my brain Was hurting before 🤣

[@therendeath4886]

"Ewaser" 10/10 for comedy 11/10 for learning 10/10 for editing, give this man a like and a sub! *Edit:* Forgot to include the time stamps: 4:12 - 4:27

[@cgboost]

Ha ha, my tongue is always twisted when pronouncing certain words in English. 😅

[@therendeath4886]

@@cgboost Lol same for me.. :|

[@grouchyoldprepper8184]

Echo others - this is a really good tutorial and I picked up a few things I hadn't seen in other, similar tutorials.

[@fots4127]

This video save my life,thank a lot

[@cgboost]

We're glad you found it useful! ~ Daniel