Reduce the complexity of meshes

How to reduce the number of triangles in a mesh while attempting to preserve its shape.

Sometimes, a mesh might contain more triangles than are necessary to accurately represent its shape. The Mesh Reduce tool lets you reduce the number of triangles in a mesh (while attempting to preserve its shape) according to two different methods:

Based on chordal deviation, given a maximum deviation value.
Down to a given percentage (fraction) of the original number.

To reduce a mesh based on chordal deviation

Choose Mesh > Mesh Cleanup > Mesh Reduce ❒.
The option window opens.
In the option window, set Mode to Chordal Deviation.
Adjust the Max. Deviation slider to the maximum deviation allowed from the original mesh.
Select the mesh to reduce.
The option window displays the current number of triangles and vertices.
Press the Reduce button (in the lower right corner of the window).
Triangles are deleted in the mesh and the option window shows the number of triangles and vertices remaining, as well as the maximum deviation from the original mesh.
To see a color deviation map showing the deviation between the original and reduced mesh, turn on Show Deviation Map and adjust the Deviation Map Settings if necessary.
The color map display updates each time you click the Reduce button.

Note

When exiting the Reducetool, the display returns to the shading mode (if any) that was applied to the mesh prior to entering the tool.

To reduce a mesh by a given percentage (fraction)

Choose Mesh > Mesh Cleanup > Mesh Reduce ❒.
The option window opens.
In the option window, set Mode to Fraction.
Adjust the Reduction % slider to reflect the percentage of triangles you want to keep in the mesh.
Select the mesh to reduce.
Press the Reduce button.
Triangles are deleted in the mesh and the option window shows the number of triangles and vertices remainin, as well as the maximum deviation from the original mesh.
You can press the Reduce button again to keep reducing the number of triangles in the mesh.
To see a color deviation map showing the deviation between the original and reduced mesh, turn on Show Deviation Map and adjust the Deviation Map Settings if necessary.
The color map display updates each time you click the Reduce button.

Note

When exiting the Reduce tool, the display returns to the shading mode (if any) that was applied to the mesh prior to entering the tool.