Trying to learn and get use to topology. I imported a biped full figure mesh, when I set everything up for editing the topology, the hands( on both meshes I tried ) became very distorted and holy…before I did anything?
Hey there! You might be doing all of the steps correct, but I thought i’d throw a quick and dirty Tutorial Steps for hammering out the retopo process…
This method really applies to any retopo - and what you do with the topo from here is up to you… you can either retopo to get better flow for sculpting in nice high res detail - or to get a solid low res to spit your hiugh res onto…
Anyway - Good luck… 
Steps for Retoplogy
1.) Have your Hi-Res zTool already loaded into zBrush in your tool panel.
2.) Now, goto the tools and select a zSphere
> This should place one out in the middle of the Doc
3.) Next > Goto Rigging at right menu
> Now Hit
>Select Mesh
4.) Now, Select your Hi-Res Mesh to Re-topologize at its Highest Division Level
5.) Next > Goto Topology tab at right menu
> Select Edit Topology
6.) Now > Your Mesh shows up grayed out on the doc…
> Start clicking and placing points on the mesh to draw out your topology
7.) If you need to start somewhere else placing topology points, click in the blank space around your model…
> Then go back to your model and Begin clicking and plotting your mesh points…
8.) To view a Preview of your Topologized Mesh you are creating…
> Goto the Adaptive Skin Tab at right menu
> Turn the Density to 1
> Select Preview to view a preview of what you got so far…
9.) To finish the Topology and create an actual object out of your Retopology >
> Go to that same Adaptive skin tab
> Turn divisions to 1
> Select Make Adaptive Skin
> Now this places a New Tool into your Tool Tab with your Re-topo
10.) Now - You can export this new Retopo Tool and your hi res tool. And Set them up in another program to Transfer your detail / normals…
- Ian T Jamison
Thank you:).