Polygon Count - Revision history

RomanGrolimund: removed wrong category

2021-09-01T19:45:16Z

removed wrong category

EricChadwick: /* Tools for Counting Vertices */

2019-08-31T01:42:27Z

‎Tools for Counting Vertices

EricChadwick: /* Typical Triangle Counts */ Poly Count Rules of Thumb - Full Chart

2017-06-10T13:11:40Z

‎Typical Triangle Counts: Poly Count Rules of Thumb - Full Chart

EricChadwick: Historical Poly Counts GameArtisans

2016-01-22T13:13:59Z

Historical Poly Counts GameArtisans

EricChadwick: triangles.jpg, better text

2015-05-21T16:53:25Z

triangles.jpg, better text

EricChadwick: /* Typical Triangle Counts */ summary fix

2015-05-21T16:25:39Z

‎Typical Triangle Counts: summary fix

EricChadwick: /* Typical Triangle Counts */ [Polycounts in next gen games thread!], and summary

2015-05-21T16:24:23Z

‎Typical Triangle Counts: [Polycounts in next gen games thread!], and summary

EricChadwick: /* Typical Triangle Counts */ Polycounts in next gen games thread!

2015-05-21T16:21:32Z

‎Typical Triangle Counts: Polycounts in next gen games thread!

EricChadwick: /* Tools for Counting Vertices */ Gamefomizer

2015-04-04T20:54:10Z

‎Tools for Counting Vertices: Gamefomizer

EricChadwick: Category:Technology

2015-03-28T22:01:16Z

Category:Technology

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:45, 1 September 2021
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−	[[Category:CharacterModeling]] [[Category:EnvironmentModeling]] [[Category:Rendering~~]][[Category:Technology~~]][[Category:Topology]][[Category:Environment]][[Category:Character]][[Category:Props]]	+	[[Category:CharacterModeling]] [[Category:EnvironmentModeling]] [[Category:Rendering]][[Category:Topology]][[Category:Environment]][[Category:Character]][[Category:Props]]

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 * [http://jokermartini.com/gamefomizer/ Gamefomizer] by [http://jokermartini.com John Martini] - a tool for 3ds Max which calculates the in-game vertex count.
 * [http://www.ericchadwick.com/examples/files/HaywoodTools-UberVertCount.mcr UberVertCount] by [http://www.jhaywood.com/ James "FatAssasin" Haywood] - a tool for 3ds Max which calculates the in-game vertex count.
-* [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?p=934301#post934301 mel script for Maya] by [http://www.ldaustinart.com/paul/ Paul "MoP" Greveson]  - a tool for 3ds Max which calculates the in-game vertex count. Perhaps he'll be able to share it at some point. :)
+* [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?p=934301#post934301 mel script for Maya] by [http://www.ldaustinart.com/paul/ Paul "MoP" Greveson]  - a tool for Maya which calculates the in-game vertex count. Perhaps he'll be able to share it at some point. :)
-−
 == Typical Triangle Counts ==

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 The typical triangle count for a game mesh depends on many factors. Here are some examples, but the best bet is to ask your Lead Artist or Lead Programmer what should be used for each asset.
 * [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=141061 Polycounts in next gen games thread!] Polycount Forum thread. Triangle counts for 2013-2015 games, both characters and environments. Read the replies for various important considerations.
 * [http://www.gameartisans.org/forums/threads/23520-Historical-Poly-Counts Historical Poly Counts] GameArtisans Forum thread. Triangle counts for various 1997-2010 games.
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 Note: Vertex count is actually a more accurate gauge of performance, see above [[Polygon_Count#Triangle_Count_vs._Vertex_Count|Triangle Count vs. Vertex Count]].
 == Articles About Performance ==

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 * [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=141061 Polycounts in next gen games thread!] Polycount Forum thread. Triangle counts for 2013-2015 games, both characters and environments. Read the replies for various important considerations.
 * [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126662 Triangle counts for assets from various videogames] Polycount Forum thread. Triangle counts for models in more than 130 games, in alphabetical order.
 * [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40563 Low Poly Hardware Specs] Polycount Forum thread. Maximum triangles, texture specs, and rendering features for popular handheld and mobile hardware.

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-= Polygon Count =
+The two common measurements of a game model's "cost" are polygon count and vertex count. Polygon is interchangeable with triangle in these measurements, as GPUs only see vertices and triangles, not 4+ sided polygons. Depending on the use, a game model may stretch anywhere from 2 triangles for a billboard, to 40,000+ triangles for a complex character.
 == Polygons Vs. Triangles ==
-When a game artist talks about the poly count of a model, they really mean the triangle count. Games almost always use triangles not polygons because most modern graphic hardware is built to accelerate the rendering of triangles.
+When a game artist talks about the poly count of a model, they really mean the triangle count. Games use triangles not polygons because most modern graphic hardware is built to accelerate the rendering of triangles.
-The polygon count that's reported in a modeling app is always misleading, because a model's triangle count is higher. It's usually best therefore to switch the polygon counter to a triangle counter in your modeling app, so you're using the same counting method everyone else is using.
+The polygon count that's reported in a modeling app is always misleading, because the triangle count is higher. Polygons are always converted into triangles when loaded in a game engine. If you're using a polygon counting tool in your modeling app, it's best to switch it to count triangles so you're using the same counting method everyone else is using.
-Polygons however do have a useful purpose in game development. A model made of mostly four-sided polygons (quads) will work well with edge-loop selection & transform methods that speed up modeling, make it easier to judge the "flow" of a model, and make it easier to weight a skinned model to its bones. Artists usually preserve these polygons in their models as long as possible.
+{|
+|[[image:triangles.jpg]]
-[[image:ridge_valley.gif]]
+|-
 When a model is exported to a game engine, the polygons are all converted into triangles automatically. However different tools will create different triangle layouts within those polygons. A quad can end up either as a "ridge" or as a "valley" depending on how it's triangulated. Artists need to carefully examine a new model in the game engine to see if the triangle edges are turned the way they wish. If not, specific polygons can then be triangulated manually.
 When using a [[NormalMap]] some tools may require an artist to convert the model into all triangles before baking. If the triangles are flipped differently when the model is exported than they were when the normal map was baked, this can cause the final normal-mapped lighting to zig-zag across the model. Triangulating before baking will solve this.
 == Triangle Count vs. Vertex Count ==
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 Overuse of smoothing groups, over-splittage of UVs, too many material assignments (and too much misalignment of these three properties), all of these lead to a much larger vertex count. This can stress the transform stages for the model, slowing performance. It can also increase the memory cost for the mesh because there are more vertices to send and store.
 === Tools for Counting Vertices ===
 Because vertices are duplicated for in-game rendering, most 3D modeling tools don't give you the correct vertex count. They only count mesh vertices.
-However, artists shouldn't worry too much about calculating exact vertex counts, simply go for common sense and don't be wasteful.
+You can use the UV vertex count as a rough guide. However, artists shouldn't worry too much about calculating exact vertex counts, simply go for common sense and don't be wasteful.
-−
 * [http://jokermartini.com/gamefomizer/ Gamefomizer] by [http://jokermartini.com John Martini] - a tool for 3ds Max which calculates the in-game vertex count.
 * [http://www.ericchadwick.com/examples/files/HaywoodTools-UberVertCount.mcr UberVertCount] by [http://www.jhaywood.com/ James "FatAssasin" Haywood] - a tool for 3ds Max which calculates the in-game vertex count.
 * [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?p=934301#post934301 mel script for Maya] by [http://www.ldaustinart.com/paul/ Paul "MoP" Greveson]  - a tool for 3ds Max which calculates the in-game vertex count. Perhaps he'll be able to share it at some point. :)
 == Typical Triangle Counts ==
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 Note: Vertex count is actually a more accurate gauge of performance, see above [[Polygon_Count#Triangle_Count_vs._Vertex_Count|Triangle Count vs. Vertex Count]].
 == Articles About Performance ==

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 == Typical Triangle Counts ==
-The typical triangle count for a game mesh depends on many factors. Here are some examples, but the best bet is to ask your Lead Artist or Lead Programmer what should be used for each asset. Vertex count is a more accurate gauge performance, see above [[Polygon_Count#Triangle_Count_vs._Vertex_Count|Triangle Count vs. Vertex Count]].
+The typical triangle count for a game mesh depends on many factors. Here are some examples, but the best bet is to ask your Lead Artist or Lead Programmer what should be used for each asset.
 * [http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=141061 Polycounts in next gen games thread!] Polycount Forum thread. Triangle counts for 2013-2015 games, both characters and environments. Read the replies for various important considerations.
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 * [http://www.rsart.co.uk/2007/08/27/yes-but-how-many-polygons/ Yes, but how many polygons?] by [http://www.rsart.co.uk Rick Stirling]. Triangle counts & texture sizes used in some of the popular console and PC games.
 * [http://www.rsart.co.uk/2006/11/20/how-many-polygons-in-a-piece-of-string/ How many polygons in a piece of string?]" by [http://www.rsart.co.uk Rick Stirling]
 == Articles About Performance ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:01, 28 March 2015
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−	[[Category:CharacterModeling]] [[Category:EnvironmentModeling]] [[Category:Rendering]][[Category:Topology]][[Category:Environment]][[Category:Character]][[Category:Props]]	+	[[Category:CharacterModeling]] [[Category:EnvironmentModeling]] [[Category:Rendering]][[Category:Technology]][[Category:Topology]][[Category:Environment]][[Category:Character]][[Category:Props]]