Reference-Driven Retopology

Reference-Driven Retopology studies a reference mesh and applies that topological style to a target mesh. Ultra analyses the reference's face density, edge flow directions, and pole positions, then remeshes the target to match. Use it when you have a well-made base mesh or hand-retopologised reference and want to apply the same topological character to a different mesh.

Where to Find It

The Reference-Driven Retopo sub-panel appears in the Quadify Ultra N-panel in Object Mode only. It is collapsed by default. Order: after the main panel, before Tools.

Step-by-Step Workflow

Step 1 — Pick a reference mesh

Use the object picker to select any mesh in the scene. The panel shows the reference's face count and quad percentage immediately. For best results:

• Reference should be at least 60% quads — below this, a warning appears
• Reference and target must be different objects
• Ideal references: hand-retopologised meshes, clean base meshes, manufacturer CAD exports that have been cleaned

Step 2 — Choose mode

Three modes determine how the target is rebuilt:

• QuadriFlow (recommended) — field-guided remesh that generates globally consistent quad flow matching the reference density. Fully rebuilds geometry. Best for organic and character meshes.
• Voxel — voxel field into QuadriFlow pipeline. Handles broken topology and scan noise before matching reference density. Best for damaged or noisy target meshes.
• Smart — converts existing triangles to quads using the reference as a style guide. Does not rebuild geometry or move vertices. Produces minimal visible change on dense meshes — only useful if the target already has near-quad topology and just needs style alignment.

Step 3 — Apply

Click Apply Reference Topology. The button is disabled until a valid reference is selected. A backup of the target is saved before the operation runs. The result replaces the target mesh's geometry.

What Is Matched

The algorithm matches:

• Face density — the remesh targets a face count proportional to the reference's density relative to surface area
• Edge flow direction — curvature field alignment follows the reference's dominant edge directions
• Pole positions — high-valence vertices are placed to match the reference's topological features where possible

UV maps, shape keys, vertex weights, and materials from the target are not preserved through QuadriFlow or Voxel modes — re-project UVs after remeshing.

Tips

• For character retopology: use a clean hand-retopologised face or body as reference, apply to a sculpt or scan.
• For vehicle pipelines: use a clean door panel as reference, apply to scanned or AI-generated versions of similar panels to normalise topology across a set.
• If the result doesn't match expectations, try switching from QuadriFlow to Voxel — the voxel intermediate handles broken topology better before the field solve.