At around 17:50 Kent uses the knife tool to add some additional geometry near the outside eye crease. Is this necessary, given that we are adding several levels of subdivision, and shrink wrap, to salvage lost detail down the road? I'm currently doing a sculpt of someone a bit older, and there are crows feet at the edge of the eyes. It feels like a lot of messy topology to outline these properly, unless its completely necessary. Any guidance on how to decide when to add extra geometry for features like this, and when to just allow the subdiv and shrinkwrap to get it back?
Hi jammingammon ,
I think you already answered your own question; "only if necessary".
So, if a feature (like the wrinkles) is really prominent, or if you are going to animate the face, it might be a good idea to support the geometry in those places.
Yes exactly, you can get a sense yourself. When you are trying to do something and you feel there's not enough to work with, that s when you add it, simple as that. It's that OCD e all get that gets in the way of your brain saying oh no, perhaps there is a better way, I am being wasteful? Will people judge me? Am I good enough? Should I be a chef instead? But don't worry about it all, you need to add geometry, you add it. Leave it to hindsight to judge if it was good or not.