In Modeler, the retopology tools are based on Houdini’s standard TopoBuild state, but with a key difference in how the modes are activated. In Houdini, TopoBuild modes are triggered using the Shift+1...6 hotkeys. In Modeler, all retopology modes are conveniently grouped in the Topo radial menu. This allows you to activate any mode directly from the menu without needing to first activate the TopoBuild Houdini tool and then select a mode. If the TopoBuild node hasn’t been created yet, activating one of the Build, Slide, Split, Brush, or Smooth modes from the menu will automatically it.

How to Retopologize in Modeler:

• Enter the container of the high-poly object.
• Ensure that the node with the high-poly geometry has the display flag enabled.
• In the Topo radial menu, select the Topo tool. This will perform the following actions:
  • Rename the node to TOPO.
  • Enable the Template flag for it.
  • Connect it to a new TopoBuild node.
  • Slightly adjust the viewport display settings for more convenient modeling.
  • Highlight the Topo menu item, indicating that a retopology process is active in the current container.
• Use the tools from the Topo radial menu or any modeling tools for retopology. Note that standard modeling tools work independently, and their results are not automatically projected onto the high-poly geometry. To force projection, use the Project tool from the Topo menu. The Build, Slide, Split, Brush, and Smooth tools will also automatically project geometry when creating a TopoBuild node.
• To complete the retopology process, run the Topo tool again. This will perform the following actions:
  • The node with the high-poly geometry will be renamed back to its original name.
  • The Template flag ****will be disabled.
  • Viewport settings will be reset to default.
  • The Topo menu item will no longer be highlighted.
  • Retopology nodes will be deleted, and the result will be saved in a new Stash node.

The Topo Menu Tools:

• Topo — Toogles the retopology mode.
• Project — Projects current geometry onto the high-poly object.
• Build, Slide, Split, Brush, Smooth — Activates the TopoBuild state in one of the modes.
• Draw Patch — A tool for creating patches, allowing you to intuitively wrap the high-poly model with polygons, saving time and eliminating the need to manually create multiple polygons.

Draw Patch

The Draw Patch tool allows you to create patches by drawing contours. Automatic snapping of the cursor during drawing makes it easy to connect patches together. By hovering the cursor over the drawn curve and using the mouse wheel or pressing keys 1 or 2, you can control the number of subdivisions on the patch's side.