Retopology
Retopology is the process of rebuilding a 3D model's mesh with cleaner, more efficient polygon flow for animation, games, or further editing.
What is Retopology?
Retopology (or "retopo") is the process of building a new, cleaner mesh over an existing 3D model. High-poly sculpts and some AI-generated meshes have dense, irregular geometry unsuitable for animation or real-time use. Retopology replaces it with an optimized mesh that follows proper edge flow: clean quads and edge loops that deform predictably.
Why It Matters
A retopologized mesh animates cleanly, has a predictable polygon count, unwraps easily for UVs, and renders efficiently. It's the bridge between a detailed sculpt and a production-ready low-poly asset, and the clean target you bake a normal map onto to keep the sculpt's surface detail. Our step-by-step manual retopology guide walks through the process in detail.
