How do I join a many-faced mesh to a mesh with fewer faces?

Question

I was trying to follow the famous Coffee Cup Tutorial. However, I wanted to make a more realistic, curvy handle, rather than a square one. However, I end up with this situtation:

I simply don't know any good ways of connecting objects with such different geometries.

Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

You can use Bridge tool.

• Select the two loops you want to connect;
• Press W, choose Bridge Edge Loops in the popup menu. More options for Bridge tool can be found in F6 menu.

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P.S. However, such topology may not benefit Surface Subdivision. So, it's recommended to have even subdivision level for both cup and handle. Suggested workflow would be:

Answer 2

Union Boolean Modifier

You do not specify for certain in your question if you require the geometry of the two edge loops to match. With this in mind, if you do want the geometries to match, use Leon's Bridge Edge Loops answer. However, if you are ok with the geometeries not matching, then one very easy way to do this is to join the handle and the cup with a Boolean modifier set to Union. This method does not create new faces on the cup joining to each face of the handle. Nonetheless, it still will join the two. Here's how:

1. If your handle is a Curve object (rather than a mesh object), then convert it to a mesh object: Select handle → ALTC → Convert to Mesh

2. Position the handle and the cup together like you'd like them to be joined.

3. Add a Boolean modifier to the cup:
   Select cup → Object Properties window → Modifiers tab → Boolean

4. For Boolean's options:

   • Set Operation to Union

   • Set Object to the cup handle

5. Click the Apply button on the Boolean modifier and now the two will be joined: