Topology

This shows the topolgy with my final head but with the texture taken off to make it wasier to see/understand. The web defines "Topology" as reginal anatomy: the study of anatomy based on regions or divisions of the body (in this case the head) and emphizising the relations between various structures (muscles, nerves and arteries ect) in that region. It is to help when modeling faces or bodies with getting the proportion correct, also with the measurments. Although each face is different there are ways of mapping oout each head to make it look more realistic. Understanding how topology work will help with scultping and drawings.

When using topology with sculpting it is important to get it right, if the topology is correct when sculpting everything else will fall into place. For example if the eyes were a wrong size and not the correct distance from the ears or nose then when it comes to sculpting it finely and adding a texture the head would not look right and make things difficult.

Head Modeling by Hatice Bayramoglu shows how she has created a 3d model from her drawings using topology as a reference guide. From a simple drawing of a face then adding the topology on top as a guide, this shows how well topology works within sculpting and how important it is to know and how to use it.

This shows the mouth and eye loops, these two parts of the face are one of the more important and also more difficult ones to get correct. From these you can place the nose and ears in correct positions.

This shows the cheek, nose and eye loops. The nose is connected to the eyes and also mouth, the cheeks flow down from the nose and helps with the postu8re and size of the head.

This shows the flow if the mouth and nostrils and also the eyebrows. The mouth and nose are connected via the philtrum inbetween, this is also important to get correct as it will help with the postiotion of both the nostrils and mouth but also the size of both as well. The groove above the eyelid and below the eyebrow shows how deep the characters eyes are.

This shows the flow from the nose down through the mouth and around the face, also showing the flow to the neck and adam's apple. Getting the shape around the head will force you to position your features in that enclosed space, sort of like an easel for the face.

Links on topology:

http://www.subdivisionmodeling.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8911&highlight=facial+topology
http://www.cgarena.com/freestuff/tutorials/max/headmodeling/index.html
http://wiki.polycount.net/Face_Topology