Face Topology 101: Key Concepts for Beginners
Are you scratching your head after watching 3D modeling tutorials on YouTube because of the strange lingo? Newbie 3D artists often feel lost when they hear phrases like automatic retopology, polygon mesh, UV mapping, or texturing. No worries, Shapelab has your back. This article will introduce a fundamental 3D concept—face topology—in a brief, newbie-friendly, and easy-to-understand way.
Let's start with the basics: what is topology in 3D art?
The phrase topology may be familiar from your mathematics class. According to the University of Waterloo, topology originally refers to the following:
"Topology studies properties of spaces that are invariant under any continuous deformation. It is sometimes called "rubber-sheet geometry" because the objects can be stretched and contracted like rubber, but cannot be broken."
In the context of 3D modeling, the exact meaning of topology changes a bit. It refers to the arrangement of faces, edges, and vertices of your 3D object. Topology has a crucial impact on the final appearance of your 3D object, animation, rendering, and many other aspects.
What are the steps of face topology?
The face of your 3D character can make or break your artwork. No wonder many 3D artists think that face topology is one of the most challenging aspects of 3D modeling. To help you get started, face topology workflow usually consists of the following steps.
1. Finding high-quality reference images
The very first step should be thorough research to find high-quality reference images that will help you create the face topology. Try to find multiple pictures from various angles of a model.
If you want to recreate the face of a real person, try to find photos taken with 50mm focal length lenses, as they provide a field of view similar to that of the human eye. If you use significantly longer or shorter focal lengths, the pictures will probably turn out to be too distorted, making 3D modeling much more difficult and inaccurate.
You can also add horizontal lines to your reference images before importing them into the 3D modeling software of your choice. This can make creating the face topology easier and quicker. Of course, placing your reference images in VR is a huge advantage in this case that only Shapelab provides!
2. Before you start planning, watch tutorials!
If this is your first time creating face topology, we highly recommend watching a couple of video tutorials, which will help you avoid the most common mistakes. YouTube has countless freely available videos on face topology, but if you prefer longer courses, Udemy and Coursera will have you covered.
3. Plan your face topology!
Now that you are ready to start the 3D modeling process, it is time to boot up your software and focus on the real deal. For realistic facial animation, planning your 3D face model’s topology is crucial. It acts like a roadmap for the edges, preventing you from getting lost and wasting resources. Well-organized edge loops are key to building natural features and expressions. Faces, unlike other parts of a character, demand detailed close-ups that require smooth deformations. By planning your topology, you ensure your model can morph into any expression without looking distorted. This saves time on animation adjustments and keeps your model clean and efficient.
A helpful face topology guide from an industry expert
While following the above steps can be useful, seeing an example of face topology from a real 3D expert is even more beneficial. Tom Parker, the Principal Character Artist at Frontier Development, shares the following face topology mini-tutorial on his ArtStation page.
Tom commented on the tutorial with the following statement:
"This may seem super simple, but a lot of people get it a bit wrong along the way, and this is the way I always set out my low poly for the animation/rigging teams. Try to keep it as simple as possible really. This is using my latest male and female base mesh. (...) These are the case studies I created after 8 hours on each. Looking forward to detailing next, and breaking symmetry."
FAQ
Should I use face topology reference images?
Absolutely! Face topology reference images are extremely useful for beginners and seasoned artists alike.
Is human face topology difficult?
Yes, human face topology is one of the most challenging aspects of 3D modeling.
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For aspiring creatives and beginner 3D artists, VR technology has the potential to accelerate the learning curve and provide innovative solutions to complex design challenges, ultimately improving and digitizing their traditional workflows and processes.