Best Software to Retopologize Hard-surface models

8bitboy

I am looking at high poly models that are baked to a low poly. The problem I am confused with is that the low poly's topology looks extremely clean like it was not retopologized and modeled from low to high. I have tried the retopologizing tools in max but they are mainly good for rocks and organic models but to make cylinders and maintain edge alignment, how would you do that? Here is a example from Ben Bolton, who is amazing.
~http://polycount.com/discussion/comment/2417515#Comment_2417515 (Link to thread image was taken)

JedTheKrampus

Model it with subdivision surfaces being careful with your topology so that it's easy to simplify later if you need to. Then, when the cage for your highpoly is done, simplify it as needed and bake things down. Any software that lets you collapse an edge ring, delete an edge loop, and weld two points together will work marvelously for this.

oglu

remodel it by hand is most of the time the fastest way...

peanut™

oglu said:

remodel it by hand is most of the time the fastest way...

oglu is right, some people even chop off a portion of the high and rebuild the low from there.

musashidan

Yes, the example looks like it was defo modeled low and subdivided. As for Max'so retop tools(freeform) in combo with the traditional toolset: hard to beat. And there is also the Wrapit plugin(not sure if it's still actively developed) which add great functionality for retop hard surface.