Simplygon
Encyclopedia
Simplygon is a 3D computer graphics
software for automatic 3D-optimization, based on proprietary methods for creating Level of detail
LODs, through smart Polygon mesh
reduction and other optimization techniques.
Since the launch of Simplygon, the product has been licensed by a number of AAA game studios.
The algorithms in Simplygon are designed to also optimize different type of input forms, and a number of visualization projects outside gaming are currently deploying this technology in areas such as architecture, 3D CAD, 3D scan, and 3D web.
The common formats FBX
and COLLADA
are also available.
The product is available as plugins for:
models is the numbers of triangles in the models. The best 3d mesh model has to have a minimal number of triangles without comprising its visual quality. These types of models are sometimes referred to as Low poly
models and the process of making the models called Low poly
modeling.
In addition to having an optimal Low poly base 3D model, many rendering engines allow the use of level of detail
LOD. In order to use LOD rendering each 3D models is represented by a number of copies with varying triangle count. The task of creating optimal 3D base models and LODs has classically been based very much on manual 3D artist work.
However as amounts of 3D production and number of platforms has exploded in the past years, automated 3D optimization technologies are becoming necessary in production pipelines.
Most important techniques for 3D optimization include:
Edge removal algorithms were popularized by the initial works of Hughes Hoppe.
Most of the edge removal algorithms such as the initial algorithms proposed by Hoppe and Michael Garland.
This results in a mesh that has the same texture and basic mesh structure as the original input 3D model, with the only difference that the mesh has less triangles (edges).
Depending on how many edges that are removed a certain final triangle count is achieved. The drawback of the classical edge removal techniques is that they can not optimize the 3D models to a given display size (resolution) but only final triangle count.
Simplygon instead includes algorithms for edge removal reduction based on display size. This technique allows users to automatically generate all LODs as each LOD is usually defined for a certain camera distance and thus maximum display size.
Simplygon introduced technology remeshing, which allows for creation of extremely lightweight stand-in/proxy models from any type of 3D input model.
Technically the proxy model is created by automatic creation of a completely new mesh (remeshing) and a completely new texture (retexturing
). Both the mesh and the texture sample data from the original input model to create an optimized proxy model which is as visually identical to the original object for a given display size. During this 3D remaking process all invisible interior objects are removed and all the possible errors in the original mesh are automatically repaired.
and occlusion mapping are the most common maps used. This technique can be seen as a way of mapping all details that are too fine for a certain level of details from the 3rd dimension onto the 2 dimensional texture, so that fine details can be visualized without the use of many triangles. The most common techniques for doing this type of mapping is based on ray casting where rays from the low resolution meshes are casted towards the high resolution mesh. There are a number of standalone tools and built in tools (such as in Autodesk 3ds max or Maya) for performing this type of mapping.
Simplygon combines automatic UV mapping
in combination with its proprietary mapping technologies based which produce much faster and more accurate results than ray casting, all integrated in a comprehensive 3D optimization pipeline.
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
software for automatic 3D-optimization, based on proprietary methods for creating Level of detail
Level of detail
In computer graphics, accounting for level of detail involves decreasing the complexity of a 3D object representation as it moves away from the viewer or according other metrics such as object importance, eye-space speed or position....
LODs, through smart Polygon mesh
Polygon mesh
A polygon mesh or unstructured grid is a collection of vertices, edges and faces that defines the shape of a polyhedral object in 3D computer graphics and solid modeling...
reduction and other optimization techniques.
Since the launch of Simplygon, the product has been licensed by a number of AAA game studios.
The algorithms in Simplygon are designed to also optimize different type of input forms, and a number of visualization projects outside gaming are currently deploying this technology in areas such as architecture, 3D CAD, 3D scan, and 3D web.
Supported Platforms and formats
Simplygon is available as an API with a 3D format agnostic interface allowing for integration with any open or proprietary format, on Windows.The common formats FBX
FBX
FBX is technology and a file format owned and developed by Autodesk. It is used to provide interoperability between digital content creation applications.-History:...
and COLLADA
COLLADA
COLLADA is a COLLAborative Design Activity for establishing an interchange file format for interactive 3D applications. COLLADA is managed by the nonprofit technology consortium, the Khronos Group....
are also available.
The product is available as plugins for:
- Autodesk 3ds Max
- Autodesk Maya
Technical background to 3D optimization and Simplygon
In computer graphics most 3D models have to optimized in order to render as fast as possible on the respective platforms. One of the important parameters to optimize for 3D polygon meshPolygon mesh
A polygon mesh or unstructured grid is a collection of vertices, edges and faces that defines the shape of a polyhedral object in 3D computer graphics and solid modeling...
models is the numbers of triangles in the models. The best 3d mesh model has to have a minimal number of triangles without comprising its visual quality. These types of models are sometimes referred to as Low poly
Low poly
Low poly is a term used to describe a polygon mesh in 3D computer graphics which has a small number of polygons. It is, however, a relative term, usually referring to meshes in real-time applications . That is to contrast them with meshes in animated movies and special effects of the same era...
models and the process of making the models called Low poly
Low poly
Low poly is a term used to describe a polygon mesh in 3D computer graphics which has a small number of polygons. It is, however, a relative term, usually referring to meshes in real-time applications . That is to contrast them with meshes in animated movies and special effects of the same era...
modeling.
In addition to having an optimal Low poly base 3D model, many rendering engines allow the use of level of detail
Level of detail
In computer graphics, accounting for level of detail involves decreasing the complexity of a 3D object representation as it moves away from the viewer or according other metrics such as object importance, eye-space speed or position....
LOD. In order to use LOD rendering each 3D models is represented by a number of copies with varying triangle count. The task of creating optimal 3D base models and LODs has classically been based very much on manual 3D artist work.
However as amounts of 3D production and number of platforms has exploded in the past years, automated 3D optimization technologies are becoming necessary in production pipelines.
Most important techniques for 3D optimization include:
3D mesh reduction with edge removal
The common way of 3D optimization is based on removing parts of the data from a 3D mesh by removing the least important edges of the mesh.Edge removal algorithms were popularized by the initial works of Hughes Hoppe.
Most of the edge removal algorithms such as the initial algorithms proposed by Hoppe and Michael Garland.
This results in a mesh that has the same texture and basic mesh structure as the original input 3D model, with the only difference that the mesh has less triangles (edges).
Depending on how many edges that are removed a certain final triangle count is achieved. The drawback of the classical edge removal techniques is that they can not optimize the 3D models to a given display size (resolution) but only final triangle count.
Simplygon instead includes algorithms for edge removal reduction based on display size. This technique allows users to automatically generate all LODs as each LOD is usually defined for a certain camera distance and thus maximum display size.
3D Mesh reduction with Remeshing
The edge removal techniques have a number of drawbacks for certain application. This method for example lacks the possibility to remove interior parts of objects, and to repair highly un-optimized meshes where the basic structure has to be remade.Simplygon introduced technology remeshing, which allows for creation of extremely lightweight stand-in/proxy models from any type of 3D input model.
Technically the proxy model is created by automatic creation of a completely new mesh (remeshing) and a completely new texture (retexturing
Retexturing
Retexturing is a process used for increasing the resolution of emulated video games, by replacing the game's textures with images with higher resolution. The majority of games retextured is Nintendo 64 games, mainly because it is easy to retexture them, and secondly because you don't have to modify...
). Both the mesh and the texture sample data from the original input model to create an optimized proxy model which is as visually identical to the original object for a given display size. During this 3D remaking process all invisible interior objects are removed and all the possible errors in the original mesh are automatically repaired.
Texture reduction and optimization
A popular technique often used together with mesh optimization if mapping the fine from the hi resolution mesh onto the texture of the low resolution mesh. Normal mappingNormal mapping
In 3D computer graphics, normal mapping, or "Dot3 bump mapping", is a technique used for faking the lighting of bumps and dents. It is used to add details without using more polygons. A common use of this technique is to greatly enhance the appearance and details of a low polygon model by...
and occlusion mapping are the most common maps used. This technique can be seen as a way of mapping all details that are too fine for a certain level of details from the 3rd dimension onto the 2 dimensional texture, so that fine details can be visualized without the use of many triangles. The most common techniques for doing this type of mapping is based on ray casting where rays from the low resolution meshes are casted towards the high resolution mesh. There are a number of standalone tools and built in tools (such as in Autodesk 3ds max or Maya) for performing this type of mapping.
Simplygon combines automatic UV mapping
UV mapping
UV mapping is the 3D modeling process of making a 2D image representation of a 3D model.-UV mapping:This process projects a texture map onto a 3D object...
in combination with its proprietary mapping technologies based which produce much faster and more accurate results than ray casting, all integrated in a comprehensive 3D optimization pipeline.
External links
- Simplygon website
- Simplygon Facebook
- http://www.lodbook.com/products