Objective
Allow the user to draw topology lines onto existing patterns creating a new mesh with a lower polygon count and edge-loops optimized for animation .
Create Topology
Location
3D/2D Window Tool Bar t ▶ Topology Tools
Operation
Follow the path indicated in Location above.
When a Topology tool selected, patterns will be displayed as transparent. → When you place the mouse cursor over a pattern, the pattern is highlighted in its original color.→ New topology can only be created on one pattern at a time.
Click on the highlighted pattern to add a topology point. → Topology can be created in both the 2D and 3D Windows, though we recommend using the 2D Window primarily. Creating Face→ When creating Topology lines, a Topology face is created if a closed shape is drawn.→ Topology faces are created only on shapes with 3 or 4 points/sides. → To stop drawing Topology before closing a shape (leaving an open shape), double-click to finish.Cancel point creation → Cancel points one-by-one by pressing Delete/Backspace Key on the keyboard.→ Cancel all points: Press ESC, Ctl + Z Key on the keyboard.Add Division Loop → While hovering over an edge with the Create Topology Tool, press Shift + Ctrl and click to add an edge loop across continuous faces.
Additional Operation (Above Ver.12)
Cut Topology Faces → Existing blue topology faces can be split by drawing new Topology Points/Edges across them. → If cut faces result in Ngons, any blue topology faces with more than 4 sides will be highlighted in orange .
Edit Topology
Location
3D/2D Windows Tool Bar▶ Edit Topology Tool
Operation
Follow the path indicated in the Location above.
Existing topology is highlighted in sky blue after selecting the Edit Topology Tool and
Place the mouse cursor over a pattern with existing topology.
Select a Topology point, line, or face, and edit it by holding and moving it, or deleting it with the Delete Key. Point/ Line/ Face multi-selection → While holding the Shift or the Ctrl Key, click on multiple topology points/lines one at a time to add them to a selection. 2D point drag selection → While pressing Ctrl key on the keyboard and drag to select multiple topology points.Line loop selection → Double click a topology line to loop select. Delete Point/ Line/ Face→ Press Delete key on the keyboard or right-click and select the delete menu to delete Point/ Line/ Face. Extrude → Select lines, press Shift + Ctrl and drag to Extrude.Right-click popup menu → Right-click on a point, line, face, pattern or background to access the popup menus.→ The menu that appears may vary depending on what is applied.
Delete
Delete selected object.
Show Topology Only (3D)
Display only the topology, excluding garments or other objects.
Show All
Unhide everything in the scene in 3D window.
Merge
Merge two or more points.
Merge All
Merge all topology points by distance. Set the distance between topology points and click the apply button to merge. Click the close button to close the dialog.
Add Division (Current Pattern)
Add division on a selected pattern. Adds one division level at a time.
Add All Division
Add division to entire Topology face.
(right-click on the background to pop-up this menu)
Remesh (duplicate)
Convert (Duplicate) (ver. 2024.0)
Duplicate a new mesh based on created topology face.
(Applied per pattern)
Remesh All (duplicate)
Convert All (Duplicate) (ver. 2024.0)
Duplicate a new mesh based on created topology face of the entire pattern.
Remesh (replace)
Convert (Replace) (ver. 2024.0)
Delete an existing pattern and create a new mesh based on created topology face.
(Applied per pattern)
Remesh All (replace)
Convert All (Replace) (ver. 2024.0)
Delete the entire pattern and create new mesh based on created topology face.
Show/ Hide→ Show/ Hide created Topology from 3D Main menu ▶ Display ▶3D garment ▶ Show topology. Topology Ghost Display/Snapping Based on The Sewing Lines (Above Ver.11) → When Topology Points meet pattern edges with a sewing line, you can find the ghosts of those points automatically displayed at the opposite sewing relationship.→ These ghost Topology Points help you snap any new topology you create across sewing relationships to exactly the same place as the existing topology on patterns across the seam.
Additional Operation (Above Ver.12)
Topology Ghost Display/Snapping across Sewing Relationships for Internal Lines → When Topology Points meet Internal Lines with a sewing line, you can find the ghosts of those points automatically displayed at the opposite sewing relationship .
Drag Select Topology Points → Click outside of an area of blue topology and drag across it to select multiple Topology Points at once.→ Click and hold the 'Shift' Key, then click and drag over an additional area of blue topology to add Topology Points to an existing selection.
Drag Deselect Topology Points → Click and hold the 'Control' Key, then click and drag over an existing selection of Topology Points to remove Topology Points from that selection.
Patch Topology
Location
2D Window Tool Bar ▶ Patch Topology Tool
Operation (Above Ver.11)
Navigate to the interface/menu Location above.
Select the 'Patch Topology' Tool, and a pop-up box will appear where you can adjust the number of subdivisions for an edge.
Subdivisions
Adjust the number of edge subdivisions
Patch Style (ver. 2024.1)
Grid
Grid is the legacy algorithm which obtains more linear results.
Uniform
A new algorithm which obtains results with more natural flow and smaller size differences.
Create
After the patch shape is closed, click the 'Create' button, and the patch lines will turn into topology faces.
Clear
Delete all in-progress patch lines.
Create patch lines on a 2D pattern. → Internal topology will appear divided into the preset number of subdivisions along edges, if a a closed patch section is either triangular or rectangular.→ You can change the number of subdivisions for the next edge while a Topology Patch is in progress (before the patch shape is closed).→ You can also change the number of subdivisions after closing a patch section (but before clicking 'Create') by selecting the completed patch edge and changing the number in the 'Subdivisions' field.
Additional Operation (Above Ver.12)
Snap Patch Topology to Internal Shapes/Lines
→ Patch Topology edges will snap to both external and internal pattern lines and curve points.
Snap Patch Topology to Convex Curves → Patch Topology edges will now snap to both concave and convex curves.→ If the curvature of an edge is too extreme for a patch to be created, add one or several curve points along the curved edge with the 'Add Point/Split Line' tool to divide the curve into sections with less extreme curvature.
Evaluate Patch Validity at Creation
→ After closing a Topology Patch and clicking 'Create', if the drawn patch would create overlapping geometry, an error window pop-up will be raised - return to the Patch Topology tool and update the patch as necessary to avoid overlapping edges/vertices.→ If the drawn patch would not result in overlapping geometry, the Topology Patch will be created and displayed in blue.
※ Note:
The algorithm for patch topology has been improved, resulting in a more efficient mesh. (ver. 2024.0)
In the case of a square with the same number of points on each side, the results for both Grid and Uniform patch styles are the same. (ver. 2024.1)