I'm relatively new to Blender and trying to learn sculpting for character creation, but I keep running into performance issues and my meshes get messy with too many polygons in some areas and not enough in others. I understand the basics of dynotopo and remeshing, but I'm not sure when to use which method during the workflow. For more experienced Blender sculptors, what are your essential tips for maintaining a clean topology while blocking out forms, and which brushes do you rely on most for establishing primary and secondary shapes before adding fine details?
Good topic. My go-to workflow is to start with a clean base mesh, enable symmetry, and block major volumes with Move/Grab and Clay. Keep the DynTopo detail size large so you’re shaping mass, not subdividing everything. Once the silhouette and primary planes are stable, disable DynTopo and run a Quad/voxel remesh to get uniform topology. Do a quick retopo pass (manual or via a tool) to restore clean edge loops around eyes, mouth, and joints, then add fine detail with a light multiresolution pass. Throughout, test deformation early to verify topology holds up.
Brush suggestions: Move/Grab for big forms, Clay/Buildup for mass, and then switch to Crease/Pinch for edges and wrinkles. Keep smoothing sparingly; mask areas you don’t want to touch; use Snake Hook or the Layer brush for protrusions. Use crease to define cheekbones or eyelids; keep edges crisp where needed.
Topology planning tips: map loops along deformation directions; aim for mostly quads; plan density so critical features get more polygons but less-dense areas stay lean. Before you sculpt details, do a few pose tests or gentle deformations to see if the topology holds. If you see pinching or collapsing, adjust edge loops accordingly.
Performance tips: work in mirrored mode, hide sections you’re not actively sculpting, avoid heavy subdivision all at once, use the remesh process to reorganize topology rather than pushing dynTopo everywhere. Use a lower detail size for base forms, then switch to a higher one for localized details.
Practical workflow test: create a simple head and neck; block with DynTopo at a coarse detail size, then retopologize; repeat the approach for a torso; test with a simple rig or pose to ensure deformations look natural.
Want tailored advice? Tell me your project target (character, creature), hardware specs, and the kind of topology you prefer (more quads vs fewer triangles). If you share a screenshot or a blend file, I can offer concrete edge-flow suggestions.