Curious when do you decide something needs to be a new subtool versus creating the detail on the same mesh? I get things like eyeballs or clothing etc but what are some other reasons? I am still learning the application and always looking for more insight into other artists workflows and though process. Thanks.
A subtool is a completely separate mesh than cannot be active at the same time as another. Subtools are useful in situations where you’re dealing with an object that is entirely separate from another object, and generally doesnt need to be worked on at the same time.
For instance, a backpack on a human figure is a good candidate for a subtool, but the arm on that figure is not. The arm would be better isolated as a polygroup within the same subtool, because you are going to want to be able to work on the arm seamlessly while working on the torso, and yet may benefit from the ability to be able to quickly hide or mask it as a polygroup.
Subtools are useful because they free up polygons from other meshes. Each subtool in a tool has its own practical polygon limit, which varies by system. So if you can comfortably work with, say, 12 million active polygons on your system, you can comfortably work with 12 million polygons for each subtool, for a combined total of dozens or even hundreds of millions of polygons. Splitting some objects off into subtools increases the polygon potential of the remaining mesh, allowing for more detail.
You’ll want to learn more about the differences between Polygroups and Subtools, so you can employ them both efficiently:
http://docs.pixologic.com/user-guide/3d-modeling/modeling-basics/polygroups/
http://docs.pixologic.com/user-guide/3d-modeling/modeling-basics/subtools/
Makes more sense, thank you. I will dig more into those docs.