Alternating between Dynotop and Remesh

Hi! I am new to digital sculpting, and following along with the beginner course has been very helpful. It was mentioned that one could interchange between Dynamic Topology and Remeshing, but I wanted to ask:

1. What points are the best to transition from one to another (blocking out, adding detail, etc.)?

2. How often (if much) can I use the Remesh tool once I'm done sculpting with Dynotop?

I eventually plan on rigging my sculpts, but I am not as familiar with retopology after the sculpting is complete (so I am not sure if it would matter to convert the sculpt back to quads if I have to make new topology anyways).


I have attached an image of my current wireframe from the shark exercise. Thanks in advance!

  • Kent Trammell replied

    1. What points are the best to transition from one to another (blocking out, adding detail, etc.)?

    2. How often (if much) can I use the Remesh tool once I'm done sculpting with Dyntopo?

    I've spend a half hour typing a response to these questions 😅 The reason being that there isn't reliable concrete answers. As much as I want to give definitive answers like "only use remesh until X" and "you can use remesh exactly 3 times before switching to dyntopo" the reality is the usage of both tools is entirely dependent on the situation and the preference of the user.

    Personally I don't use remesh at all. I've been proficient with dyntopo for so many years that remesh doesn't present any superior features *for me*. In fact I find it more detrimental to the way I sculpt. Key phrase: "the way I sculpt". However there are plenty of sculptors that use remesh exclusively and avoid dyntopo because it's too quirky for them. Stylized / cartoony sculptors especially like remesh.

    So why did I show the ability to use both in the video? Admittedly I'm not sure it was a good idea to do so. Probably introduced unnecessary confusion in hindsight. But I simply wanted to expose the possibility that they could be used together. Also didn't want to exclude the shiny new (at the time) remesh feature. To do that based on my personal preference of dyntopo seemed rude.

    At the end of the day you need to figure out which tool works best for you. If you're confused about when to use remesh vs when to use dyntopo, i recommend picking one and use it exclusively for a week. Then use the other one exclusively for the next week. After a week of using each tool you should have enough personal experience to choose the one that's best for you OR you'll understand better the pros and cons of each and thus when they can be used together.

    Sorry for the novel...I hope there's something helpful there.