TOPOLOGY - Solving Triangles on Curved Surfaces in Sub-D?

*Sebastian · Feb 9 2025

I want to model this concept in Sub-D. However, I've encountered a problem that I can't solve topologically.

Can someone help me understand how I can convert these triangles into quads without causing pinching? Some of these triangles are on a curved surface, which makes resolving them without pinching very difficult.

Thanks for your help!

iam717 · Feb 9 2025

Should be a solution in here: (everyone should favorite it or book mark it, download it, whatever you can do.)

https://polycount.com/discussion/221392/sketchbook-frank-polygon#latest

Answer is there though, you review the imgs or read the posts.

If you want me to try in text format, you need to "highlight the cuts, bevel them to make a loop indent it in slightly, and extrude again making an inner support loop", no triangles, everything quads, yes i know in the end its all triangles...

Neox · Feb 9 2025

What is your target here? Baked down in a normalmap?
If so, maybe consider saving your time on this (fun tho) challenge and just do it in texture.

HAWK12HT · Feb 9 2025

Pretty sure that end cap is on its own. Save yourself some headache and make it in two parts. If making it for game then alpha texture will do the trick.

poopipe · Feb 10 2025

that's a really good point actually - if the real world equivalent is made of multiple parts, you generally don't want to try and model it as a single part.

*Sebastian · Feb 10 2025

Thanks for the responses! I'm currently working on expanding my knowledge in Sub-D modeling. I've already completed some studies (https://www.artstation.com/artwork/K3yzlW / https://www.artstation.com/artwork/QKRXW8 / https://www.artstation.com/artwork/rl0x1a / https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ovx6lg) and am gradually increasing the difficulty level. However, I recently realized that I'm still lacking some basics when it comes to mesh density and edge loops. So, I decided to go back to the fundamentals.

Neox said:

What is your target here? Baked down in a normalmap?
If so, maybe consider saving your time on this (fun tho) challenge and just do it in texture.

Nope. Sub-D only.

HAWK12HT said:

Pretty sure that end cap is on its own. Save yourself some headache and make it in two parts. If making it for game then alpha texture will do the trick.

Unfortunately, it's exactly this headache I want to deal with. I want to be able to handle this complexity as well.

poopipe said:

that's a really good point actually - if the real world equivalent is made of multiple parts, you generally don't want to try and model it as a single part.

You're right. I've now decided to change the design to match the model to my current knowledge level.

TOPOLOGY - Solving Triangles on Curved Surfaces in Sub-D?

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