Pilgway has released 3DCoat 2024.30, bringing a suite of new features and improvements tailored for digital artists in VFX, game development, and CGI. This update focuses on enhancing workflow efficiency and expanding creative possibilities, all while keeping the user experience as smooth as a well-polished mesh.

Photogrammetry Integration with RealityCapture

A standout addition is the integration with RealityCapture, Epic Games’ photogrammetry software. Users can now generate 3D models from photographs or videos directly within 3DCoat, streamlining the creation of digital assets from real-world references. This feature is particularly beneficial for artists seeking to incorporate realistic textures and forms into their projects without the need for external applications.

Enhanced Volumetric Boolean Operations for 3D Printing

For those venturing into 3D printing, 3DCoat 2024.30 introduces the ability to perform volumetric boolean operations with an additional shell. This function is crucial for creating matching parts in 3D models, ensuring that components fit together seamlessly. By accessing the “Remove intersection with…” option in the SculptTree’s right-click menu, users can set up subtractions with an additional shell, facilitating the production of prototypes and complex assemblies.

New Array Tools in the Sculpt Room

The Sculpt room sees the introduction of two new tools designed to enhance modeling capabilities:

• Array Tool: Allows the creation of various arrays of volume objects along curves, enabling the efficient duplication of elements in a controlled manner. This is particularly useful for generating repetitive structures such as chains, fences, or architectural details.
• Surface Array Tool: Enables the distribution of objects across a created surface or selected faces of a low-poly mesh, providing flexibility in populating surfaces with multiple instances of an object, which can be invaluable in creating complex surface details or patterns.

Map to Mesh Conversion

In the Painting room, a new feature allows the conversion of normal maps to actual geometry. This reverse workflow enables artists to reconstruct high-poly source models from low-poly meshes adorned with normal maps. It’s particularly advantageous for refining AI-generated prototypes or enhancing existing models by adding intricate details that were initially represented only in normal maps.

Additional Enhancements

• Blender 4.2 Applink Support: The update includes support for Blender 4.2 Applink, facilitating smoother interoperability between 3DCoat and Blender, which is a boon for artists utilizing both platforms in their workflows.
• Real-Time Non-Modal Search/Filter: A new real-time search and filter function has been implemented for all item containers, including alphas, materials, objects, layers, and presets. This enhancement allows for quicker access to assets and tools, reducing downtime during the creative process.
• Improved RAW Voxel Export/Import: The RAW voxel export/import functionality has been improved to support PBR (Physically Based Rendering) data, including color, gloss, and metalness. This improvement is particularly useful for developers looking to integrate voxel data into proprietary engines while maintaining material properties.

Pricing and Availability

3DCoat 2024.30 is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. For individuals, perpetual node-locked licenses are priced at €379, with subscription options starting at €20.80 per month or €169.85 per year. Studio licenses and additional pricing details can be found on Pilgway’s official website.

Fact Check Note: While these new features enhance 3DCoat’s capabilities, it’s advisable to thoroughly test them within your specific production environment to ensure compatibility and stability before integrating them into critical workflows.

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The post 3DCoat 2024.30: New Year, New Tools for Your 3D Arsenal first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

The Blender Conference 2024 presentation by Jonathan Lampel delved into best practices for topology and retopology, essential for 3D modelers aiming to create efficient, versatile models. Topology refers to how vertices, edges, and faces (the building blocks of 3D models) are arranged to define a model’s shape and functionality. Good topology makes models more effective across applications, from gaming and VFX to 3D printing. For those eager to refine their technique, a comprehensive guide is available for free download, covering Lampel’s insights and universal principles for effective topology across multiple 3D platforms like Maya and Cinema 4D.

Understanding Good Topology

Effective topology aligns with the intended use of the model. In gaming, lower polygon counts optimize performance, while in VFX, more complex topologies may be tolerated if they enable easier edits and high-quality subdivisions. For 3D printing, a watertight mesh (without holes) is critical to ensure a stable output. Regardless of the project, good topology minimizes polygon usage without sacrificing detail, supporting efficient shading and ease of animation.

Common Pitfalls in Topology

Lampel’s talk underscored practices that 3D artists should avoid, such as “broken faces” (distorted quads or polygons) and “concave quads” (quads that cause shading errors due to uneven faces). Models with dense geometry can slow down performance in rendering engines, while long, thin faces complicate editing. Retopology—simplifying a dense mesh—is essential, particularly in VFX and game design workflows where high efficiency is a must. Lampel emphasized that “manifold geometry,” or a completely sealed mesh, is often necessary for 3D printing but less critical for other applications, allowing for more flexibility.

Techniques and Tools in Blender

Blender offers numerous tools that help simplify topology workflows. Lampel highlighted essential modeling functions, including the Knife and Bevel tools for creating and refining edge loops, and the Subdivide tool for adding detail where needed. These tools provide modelers with precision over their mesh’s final structure, supporting efficient modeling without excessive geometry. More advanced techniques like Boolean modeling (using one object to cut or merge with another) and procedural modeling (using nodes or Python to create adaptable models) open further possibilities.

Advanced Topology Elements: Edge Loops and Poles

A key focus of Lampel’s presentation was edge loops—connected edges that define a model’s structure. Correctly aligned edge loops follow the details of the model, reducing unwanted artifacts. Poles (vertices with three or more connections) help direct these loops, but excessive connections (over five) create deformities, especially in animation. For animation work, quads (four-sided polygons) are ideal because they support smooth deformation and allow edge loops to pass through. Triangles can help reduce polygon counts but can complicate editing, and n-gons (polygons with more than four sides) work well for flat surfaces.

Subdivision Surfaces and Their Influence on Topology

In Blender, using subdivision surfaces converts all polygons into quads, facilitating a smoother model. However, subdivided models can create high-density areas, especially around poles, resulting in pinching or unwanted details. Properly placed support loops help prevent distortion and enable better control over shape during animation. These principles are invaluable for maintaining model clarity when subdivided, a common need in high-resolution visual effects.

Tools for Precision Modeling in Blender

Blender’s suite of tools simplifies topology management, from basic functions like Inset and Edge Slide to more advanced features like Grid Fill and Mirror, enabling modelers to iterate faster and focus on detailing. Lampel noted that while modeling, the emphasis should be on flexibility, maintaining separate objects, and using modifiers until the final stages to avoid locking in changes prematurely. Finalizing models may involve merging objects for performance, especially for animation projects.

Real-World Application: Retopology Techniques and Tools

Retopology—remodeling a high-poly model into a simpler one—is vital in workflows where performance matters. Lampel suggested tools like RetopoFlow and Blender’s snapping tools, which allow artists to draw over dense models, creating a more optimized, low-poly mesh without sacrificing the visual quality of the original. The presentation encouraged modelers to experiment with tools, balancing efficiency with functionality.

Summary: Download the Guide

For those interested, the Blender Good Topology Guide offers detailed insights into these concepts, available for free with an account on the Blender website. While these techniques can enhance modeling efficiency, professionals are reminded to evaluate each approach’s suitability to ensure it aligns with project-specific requirements, especially in commercial and production settings.

For more information and to download the guide, visit Blender Good Topology Guide.

The post Blender Conference 2024: Mastering Topology and Retopology first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.