Introducing PolyGen

PolyGen is a Blender add-on that transforms retopology and remeshing into a fluid, simulation-driven process. Built on a point-based simulation, it dynamically reshapes your mesh topology by scattering, evolving, and connecting points across surfaces—delivering clean, customizable quads and triangles in real time. Perfect for refining high-poly sculpts, optimizing game assets, or creating smooth, organic forms with ease.

• Adaptive Retopology: Paint points or draw guide paths to dynamically reshape topology, snapping agents to your mesh with raycast accuracy.
• Smart Meshing: Generate quads and triangles from agent positions, enhanced by optional subdivision and shrinkwrap modifiers for a polished finish.
• Customizable Dynamics: Fine-tune quad size, force, repulsion, and attraction via an intuitive sidebar, with auto-generation for hands-free updates.
• Minimalist Workflow: A clean UI with a progress bar and toggleable help overlay.

Hotkeys:

• ESC: Exit the simulation.
• RET (Enter): Generate the mesh manually.
• LMB: Add points (Points mode) or draw guides (Guides mode).
• RMB: Remove the hovered point.
• Ctrl(hold): Show the OptionsBar
• Z: Undo the last action.
• H: Toggle the help overlay.

Documentation:

PolyGen is a simulation-based tool for remeshing and retopologizing 3D models in Blender. It uses agents to dynamically create and connect points on a surface, forming a new mesh that adapts to your input.

Follow these steps to get started.

Installation:

1. Download the polygen_v0_1.zip file
2. In Blender, go to Edit > Preferences > Add-ons > Install from disk, select the file, and enable "PolyGen."
3. Find the PolyGen panel in the 3D Viewport under the Simulation tab.

Workflow:

• Setup:Select a mesh object in Object Mode (this will be your target surface).
• In the 3D Viewport, open the Simulation tab and click Start in the PolyGen panel to begin the simulation.
• Drawing Agents:Points Mode: Left-click (LMB) on the surface to add dynamic agents that move and connect. Hold LMB to draw multiple points.
• Guides Mode: Hold LMB and drag to create static guide paths that influence the mesh layout.
• Switch modes by holding Ctrl and clicking Points or Guides in the pop-up bar near the cursor.
• Adjusting Behavior: In the PolyGen panel, tweak settings:

• Quad Size: Controls the target distance between agents (default: 0.3).
• Max Speed: Limits agent velocity (default: 0.05).
• K-nearest: Number of neighbors for meshing (default: 10).
• Repulsion(Rep) / Attraction(Attr): Balances push/pull forces (default: 1.0/0.5).
• Clamping: Restricts agent movement range (default: 0.0, off).

• Generating the Mesh: Press Enter or click Generate Mesh in the panel to create a new mesh from the agents.
• Enable Auto-Generate in the panel for continuous mesh updates as agents settle.
• Toggle Enable Subdivision for a smoother result with a Subdivision Surface modifier.
• Finishing: Press ESC or click Stop in the panel to end the simulation.
• The generated mesh ("Mesh_Patch") appears in your scene, shrinkwrapped to the target surface(Note: A shrinkwrap modifier will be added after mesh generation)

Tips:

• Help Overlay: Press H to toggle a hotkey guide in the viewport (default: on).

• Resetting: Click the Reset(x) button to clear all agents and start fresh (warning: removes everything).

• Performance: K-nearest if the simulation lags on complex meshes.

• Mesh Generation: If there's missing faces you can increase the K-nearest value or go into edit mode and hit F key to fill.

If you run into any errors or questions please report them to me!

Contact: animationsvfx@gmail.com