Hi.

I have a 3D model with a very high polygon count. I would like to decrese the polygon count, but deleting individual vertices and then setting up new faces is not a realistic solution. Does anyone know a program that can smartly downscale the polygon count of a 3D model, without making the model look to bad?

What modeling program are you using? That might help people give some advice.

Currently i am using Blender and XSI mod tool. According to my research, none of these programs support downscaling polygon count. So i ask if anyone knows a program that does support this (and how to do it).

Actually XSI does have a polygon reduction tool. Since I don't have the software where I am right now, under the help menu, in the search box type in Polygon Reduction tool :). From what I remember though, it should be under Modify -> Poly. Mesh -> Polygon Reduction, and of course make sure you are in the "Model" view.

Cinema 4D also has a polygon reduction tool.

steffanp:

Hi.

I have a 3D model with a very high polygon count. I would like to decrease the polygon count, but deleting individual vertices and then setting up new faces is not a realistic solution. Does anyone know a program that can smartly downscale the polygon count of a 3D model, without making the model look to bad?

SoftImage XSI Mod Tool does have A PolyGon Reduction tool.

To get to it switch the Defualt Layout for XSI, Go To Modes then Select(Sorry my XSI is messed up and I don't see the Modes menu anymore, so I am going on memory) XSI Defualt Pro or something like that.

 Now select the mesh that you want to be polygon  reduced, Then click the Modify Section and Click on the Poly. Mesh button then when the menu comes up choose the Polygon Reduction Tool, then you should be presented with a prompt to tweak how much you want it reduced..

Sorry If any information is wrong, my XSI Mod tool is really meshed up.

XSI isnt currently available for download. I've been looking for a while for an open-source poly reduction tool and havent found anything (only things like Vizup which are in the 100s of dollars mark). Is anyone aware of any other tools that are free?

thx
Steve

rousseauhk:

XSI isnt currently available for download.

XSI ModTool Pro is free for Creator's Club Premium members

If you have to pay to get premium CC then it's not really free is it?

/Steve

For anyone else who is looking for it, I've found a function in Blender to automatically reduce poly count.

To do this:
1. Select the mesh you want to reduce
2. In object mode, add modifier "Decimate"
3. Change ratio to the amount of reduction you want (e.g. ratio = 0.2 means you will remove 80% of polygons)

I've never been able to get a lower polycount automatically. It always involves me doing a bit of tweaking to make sure I get a good silhouette and mesh deformation. But that's for organic stuff, I don't really do much other than that.

3D Max's optimize feature reduces the poly count quite nicely most of the time.

Blender can get the job one.
So can a little free program called MeshLab.

However, you usually don't get the nicest of results like that.

You might want to remodel a new model from scratch using the higher one as a guide to follow, or maybe ask on polycount for high to low techniques.

Blender is what I've used to all my poly reduction. So, basically blender has a selection of scripts you can use. They are different depending on what mode you are in, so change to edit mode. In the default main viewport below the 3d view of the object worldspace, go to Mesh -> Scripts -> Poly Reducer. By default it sets .500 for poly reduction, i've found that every time I've done a full 50 percent poly reduction the model comes out like crap, HOWEVER if you do a .850 or .750 twice you get good results [may still need to clean up here and there]. Can't explain why two 25 percent reductions comes out better than a 50 percent, i guess its in the logic of how it reduces, but thats what i do. Hope this helps.

If you are using 3ds max optimize modifier works pretty well except on things where you need to preserve edgeflow (characters and what not) my suggestion for those is to first show the uv seams (so that you can as perfectly preserve the unwrap as possible)go into edge mode, next turn on Preserve UV's (check box in the Edit Geometry section). Select an edge and then hit Loop(Found under Select section) this will select all the edges in that edge loop. (as a side not, the Ring and Loop and Connect are most excellent for model if you don't use em try it)

Lastly hit ctrl+backspace this will delete the edges (and the verts) and your unwrap should still be very much intact. (Hitting just backspace will remove the edges but leave the verts)