Is there a convention for when you should model all in one mesh and when you can have different...

icarolobo

Is there a convention for when you should model all in one mesh and when you can have different objects?

For instance, when you have a complex model and you need to make a sphere from some random place and it will mess your topology. Do you figure a way to arrange the vertex or do you create a different object and place it there?

This is really messing with my head.

Bek

It depends. Highpoly or lowpoly? If it's highpoly you can float it to make things simpler. In the lowpoly there are pros and cons to both. Generally for the highpoly you separate the objects as they are in real-life.

icarolobo

Thank you Bek and Perna, that helps to clear some confusion in my head.
I used to think you needed to model all you possibly could in one mesh, that way it would look like a "pro".
The fact is, most of the time its easier to add different objects than finding a way to extrude a circle on some complex mesh.

Thanks again.

musashidan

Trying to model everything out of a single mesh in sub-d is just a headache. Messy topology, hours wasted rerouting topology, difficult artifacting in areas that waste more time.....I learned this the hard years back......you don't have to.

LMP

Certainly at least for high-poly models, if it's made of separate objects in reality, modeling it as the separate objects.  

icarolobo

Thanks a lot, Musashidan and LMP. That's exactly what I wanted to know.