Retopologize a mesh with Quad Draw

Retopology lets you generate clean, new topology based on the features of a reference surface. You can retopologize meshes, including triangulated meshes imported from other applications, directly in Maya using the Quad Draw tool.

To retopologize a mesh, complete the following steps:

• Snap to a reference surface
• Define vertices
• Create polygons
• Adjust polygons

To snap to a reference surface

1. Select the object you want to use as the reference surface, and then do either of the following:
   • Click the Make Live icon in the Status Line. See also Set a live surface.
   • -click the object, and then select Make Live from the pop-up menu.
   NoteYour reference surface can be a polygon mesh, NURBS surface, or construction plane.

   The object becomes live and its name appears in the field beside the Make Live icon. The Quad Draw tool will now snap to its surface.

   Tip New topology may be difficult to see when the reference surface is shaded. Select the reference surface, and then select Object > X-Ray On/Off in the Modeling Toolkit menu to make the reference surface semi-transparent.

To define vertices

1. In the Mesh Editing Tools section of the Modeling Toolkit window, click Quad Draw to activate the Quad Draw tool.
2. Click anywhere on the reference surface.

   A green vertex appears and snaps to the surface.

   Tip-click to remove a single vertex or click Clear Dots in the Quad Draw Options to remove all of the vertices from your scene.
3. (Optional) Tweak the position of a vertex by -dragging it to a new location.
4. Continue to define vertices until you are ready to create polygons.

To create polygons

1. In your scene, move the cursor over the vertices while holding .

   The Quad Draw tool enters face preview mode, highlighting the possible faces in green.

   TipIt is helpful to preview faces because one set of vertices can have many possible face combinations.
2. -click a face preview.

   A new Quad Draw mesh called polySurface1 is created.

   TipClick the color swatch in the Quad Draw Options section of the Modeling Toolkit window to change the color of polygon edges.
   
   TipSelect Shading > Wireframe on Shaded to superimpose a wireframe on the reference surface.

To adjust polygons

1. Continue to create and/or refine your topology using the Quad Draw hotkeys.

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