Polygon Cruncher is

3D computer graphics 3D computer graphics, sometimes called Computer-generated imagery, CGI, 3D-CGI or three-dimensional Computer-generated imagery, computer graphics, are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data (often Cartesian coor ...

software for generating 3D-optimized meshes based on reduction and other optimization techniques. Polygon Cruncher is also available as an

API An application programming interface (API) is a connection between computers or between computer programs. It is a type of software interface, offering a service to other pieces of software. A document or standard that describes how to build ...

through an SDK.

Overview

Polygon Cruncher was initially created in 1999 for Kalisto Entertainment. It was originally based on an

algorithm In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm () is a finite sequence of Rigour#Mathematics, mathematically rigorous instructions, typically used to solve a class of specific Computational problem, problems or to perform a computation. Algo ...

proposed by Michael Garland. The algorithm uses iterative contractions of vertex pairs to simplify models and maintains surface error approximations using

quadric In mathematics, a quadric or quadric surface is a generalization of conic sections (ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas). In three-dimensional space, quadrics include ellipsoids, paraboloids, and hyperboloids. More generally, a quadric hype ...

matrices. The process reduces the number of triangular polygons with minimal loss of detail. Polygon Cruncher simplifies meshes and retains most details even while reducing

polygon In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure made up of line segments connected to form a closed polygonal chain. The segments of a closed polygonal chain are called its '' edges'' or ''sides''. The points where two edges meet are the polygon ...

s by as much as 95%. Texture information, vertex colors, and specified normals are taken into account during optimization, as well as many others settings. For example, it is possible to define a

symmetry axis Axial symmetry is symmetry around an axis or line (geometry). An object is said to be ''axially symmetric'' if its appearance is unchanged if transformed around an axis. The main types of axial symmetry are ''reflection symmetry'' and ''rotatio ...

in order to produce symmetrical low-resolution meshes. Polygon Cruncher has the ability to generate a dynamic mesh (also called multi-resolution mesh) once the optimization has been computed. This feature allows selection of the most appropriate

LOD Lod (, ), also known as Lydda () and Lidd (, or ), is a city southeast of Tel Aviv and northwest of Jerusalem in the Central District of Israel. It is situated between the lower Shephelah on the east and the coastal plain on the west. The ci ...

for the mesh in real time and is demonstrated in the Polygon Cruncher

OpenGL OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a Language-independent specification, cross-language, cross-platform application programming interface (API) for rendering 2D computer graphics, 2D and 3D computer graphics, 3D vector graphics. The API is typic ...

viewer integrated to the software. The Polygon Cruncher API is exposed in a C++

library A library is a collection of Book, books, and possibly other Document, materials and Media (communication), media, that is accessible for use by its members and members of allied institutions. Libraries provide physical (hard copies) or electron ...

. A feature allows serialized optimization to produce pre-optimized 3D

assets In financial accounting, an asset is any resource owned or controlled by a business or an economic entity. It is anything (tangible or intangible) that can be used to produce positive economic value. Assets represent value of ownership that can b ...

for contexts such as video games, CAD, or other real-time visualization processes.

Supported Platforms

Polygon Cruncher software is running on

Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

operating system An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources, and provides common daemon (computing), services for computer programs. Time-sharing operating systems scheduler (computing), schedule tasks for ...

. It is available as a plugin for: *

Autodesk 3ds Max Autodesk 3ds Max, formerly 3D Studio and 3D Studio Max, is a professional 3D computer graphics program for making 3D animations, models, games and images. It is developed and produced by Autodesk Media and Entertainment. It has modeling capa ...

Autodesk Maya Autodesk Maya, commonly shortened to just Maya (; ), is a 3D computer graphics application that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, originally developed by Alias and currently owned and developed by Autodesk. It is used to create assets for inter ...

Newtek NewTek, Inc., is a San Antonio, Texasbased hardware and software company that produced live and post-production video tools and visual imaging software for personal computers. The company was founded in 1985 in Topeka, Kansas, United States, by ...

Lightwave LightWave 3D is a 3D computer graphics program developed by LightWave Digital. It has been used in films, television, motion graphics, digital matte painting, visual effects, video game development, product design, architectural visualizatio ...

* 3DBrowser. In the 3D Photo Browser, Polygon Cruncher is able to simplify various 3D formats such as Maya,

Wavefront In physics, the wavefront of a time-varying ''wave field (physics), field'' is the set (locus (mathematics), locus) of all point (geometry), points having the same ''phase (waves), phase''. The term is generally meaningful only for fields that, a ...

, TrueSpace,

SketchUp SketchUp is a proprietary 3D modeling software that is used to create and manipulate 3D models. It is used in architecture and interior design. SketchUp is owned by Trimble (company), Trimble Inc. The software has a free web-based version, and ...

, XSI, COLLADA,

DXF AutoCAD DXF (Drawing Interchange Format, or Drawing Exchange Format) is a computer-aided design (CAD) data file format developed by Autodesk to enable CAD data exchange and interoperability between AutoCAD on different computing platforms. His ...

, etc. The Polygon Cruncher API is available for developers through a C++ SDK. This library is currently used by different companies such Autodesk® (3ds Max®), Act-3D (Lumion®), Anark® (Anark Core Platform®).

References

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External links

Polygon Cruncher software website

Polygon Cruncher SDK website
3D graphics software Video game engines 1999 software