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The retopology tools in Blender allow you to take a high-resolution model and very quickly create a low-poly version of that model. You can then use this new low-poly mesh to easily generate a normal map, displacement map, or anything else you may need from the high-poly version.
This tutorial introduces you to the basics of retopo in Blender, including how to use the extrude feature, the paint tool, and some of the quirks of retopo in general. Retopologizing a model.
Note: click the 'Monitor' icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )Craigsnedeker August 17th
wow, that’s totally awesome!
( )accessoire August 17th
Congrats Jonathan
. I’m already familiar with retopo tools in Blender but I’m sure this tutorial is very good, just as every tutorial from you. Anyway, I’m just taking a look at it just because of the mesh topology 
.
( )Satya Meka August 17th
Hi Jonathan I love your work over at CGCookie!
( )Nixon August 19th
Hey Jonathan,
thanks for this great tutorial, your work is really awesome and the output of in depth tuts that you create is just baffling.
( )You roxx!!
Timo August 20th
could we get a dowlnoad like aetuts?
( )MDxm August 27th
Man, I didn’t know about that retopology feature! Thanks alot!
( )Jonathan Williamson August 31st
Thank you for the comments everyone
( )dzinc September 1st
Nice tut…
( )this is what I’ve been looking for…
Nvisiongameco September 10th
dude wow
( )Pixeltwister September 10th
Hi,
Good tutorial as always.
Just a thought when starting out with retopo I found the X-Ray
button to be very useful.
Kindest Regards,
Pixeltwister
( )dakiru September 10th
Very good tutorial, thank you!
( )Rorkimaru September 10th
One major flaw in this tutorial is your failure to mention turning on xray mode on the mesh you are retopoing with.
In the physics buttons select xray and select wire as the draw mode to wire. That way you can clearly see the model you are making and the high res model underneath.
The important thing is to remember to fill the faces but once you have the edge geometry down you can hide the high res model, switch to solid mode and then once over to make sure that anywhere you missed filling is filled.
Aside from that though this was a great tutorial for aspiring game designers on how to make low res models with good edge flow and a great normal map. (I know you don’t cover baking but it’s prety straightforward). Very clearly delivered. Well done! Lets hope we see a few less models trying to animate after having a decimate modefier applied now!
( )SnowInChina September 10th
hey jonathan
i really like your video tutorials. they are really helpful (and awesome)
( )thanks for your work
Diana September 10th
Very clear! Thank you.
One quibble: the singular of “vertices” is “vertex”, not verticie.
( )pixnlove September 11th
Great tuto,
It is however very difficult to follow your click when you are in edit mode.
You could have turn x ray for the retopoed model for more clarity.
Thank you again.
I am a bin fan. jonathan
( )Chris September 11th
Love the Tutorials!
Little known tip for you: You can shift select both vertex and/or edge and/or face selection mode down at the bottom of the 3D viewport. It actually lets you select EITHER vertices OR egdes (or faces) at the same time without having to switch. I’d have to say it double my effeicency when modeling.
( )Jeremiah January 26th
Holy moly… what an amazing tip!
( )Phil September 12th
This is great, Thank you!
( )Jesse Hoegen October 9th
Great job! Your tutorials are really good!!! Thanks for sharing them.
( )sunil October 11th
absolutely great work!
( )sunil October 11th
great work!
( )Mathew Silva November 23rd
Jonathan Williamson Thank you for the great tutorial!..im a newbie,i just started using Blender a couple of weeks ago!..(so much to learn!!)
( )I think your a great artist and your tutorials are awsome!!..
When i tryed to use RETOPO something happened…
When i delete the cube, to create the vertices..the vertices do not appear??…what should i do?..Is there anything i can do to overcome this delay?…
I would really aprecciate any help!!..
Jonathan Williamson January 14th
Hi Matthew,
Apologies for the really late reply but have you tried toggling in and out of shaded mode with Z? If you are in shaded mode you may just be able to see the vertices unless you enable X-ray under the Object properties.
( )