Simplygon simply too cost restrictive - Alternatives?

We have several poly-reduction, LOD, and baking needs that would be performed on existing cinematic assets as well as CAD source data for prep into Unity.

We recently tested the evaluation install of Simplygon, and it does an amazing job, really covers all the bases for us. Unfortunately the cost is just way above our current budget restrictions.

So my question is regarding alternatives that may perform some, if not all similar functions. The baking isnrt such a huge concern as I can perform that in current apps, but poly optimization/repair/lod geneation would be great if we can get something less restrictive.

I have looked at Polygon Cruncher a bit, and think that may fit the bill...any comments on experiences with it?
Any suggestions or comments for alternate products / workflows?

Thanks a ton in advance, this is an awesome community. Hope to contribute more in the future.

Sketch

 

For free alternatives, you might want to try MeshLab (http://meshlab.sourceforge.net).
http://www.shapeways.com/tutorials/polygon_reduction_with_meshlab

Although, I don't think it will handle any animation.

 

Their site seems to be down. What does it cost?

 

http://feedback.unity3d.com/forums/15792-unity/suggestions/2293131-simplygon-for-unity

 

Mmmmm Simplygon is inside UDK, maybe we can use it inside UDK and then export the model to unity?

 

Atangeo ballancer.

 

Not to pull this from the grave, but I didn't know you could export skinned models out of UDK.

Is that really possible?

I'm looking for an alternative as well.

I actually have Balancer and it's GREAT... but not for anything with animations.

 

Hi,

As a more cost effective and less restrictive polygon decimation solution, you may try our VizUp Desktop 3D optimizer or brand new VizUp SDK (if you don't mind some coding).

Evaluation versions are available at www.vizup.com. You could also join our beta-program to get an early access to the latest versions. Drop me an email or visit our web-site.

Best regards,
Alex Kogan,
CEO, VizUp.com

 

+1 for Antangeo Balancer. It's cheap and dual platform license.

 

Hi Guys,
Thanks for your support and kind words about Balancer.

I would like to update you that there is a nice video showing how
to simplify animated models (with bones) using Balancer and
restore the rigging information with free DAZ Studio Pro 4:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJb4hUH6ZTE

And, the Unity plugin with the Balancer's technology is coming
really soon. Everything works great. The author is completing
the plugin site. Stay tuned. Here is the community thread:

http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/126251-Polygon-Reduction-Plugin-Preview

One more thing:
Sorry, I have not updated the community with the latest release
of Balancer 2.0, which features robust and easy to use
accurate pixel-based tolerance simplification.
Now you can easily obtain desired visual quality
just in one click, without thoroughly inspecting
simplified models at different triangle count.

You specify error tolerance in pixels (say 2 pixels)
and your viewport (say 1024 by 1024), and in one click
you get a simplified model, which satisfies your quality
requirement. From any viewing direction, the resulting
model's silhouette won't differ by more than 2 pixels.

Here is a decimation with 2 pixel error tolerance
for 480 x 480 viewport:


Free versions for both Windows and Mac OS X are here as usual:
http://www.atangeo.com/download

 

Wow. Balancer is incredibly effective. I was able to get massive reduction without losing much quality or distorting the UVs.

 

i confirm ; Bibbinartor's plug work perflectly . I'm beta tester of this plug.

 

Cruncher, a polygon reduction plugin for Unity Pro with the Balancer's technology is now available
directly from the Unity assets store here.

The supporting thread on the Unity forums is here.

Enjoy

 

Anyone use the decimator for Daz Studio? $100.

 

A quick update about Vizup SDK. We recently released a new 64-bit version specially targeted for huge models and models with irregular topology.

Check the Vizup SDK page for WebGL interactive examples

Drop us an email if you'd like to play with an evaluation version or want to join our beta program.

Happy reducing!

 

I've used Balancer and I have to say it is amazing. I made LODs by hand on four games and optimized polygons on thousands of LODs for lighting. Balancer does as good a job as I could do 99.9% of the time and does it instantly. I felt a little bit sick the first time I used it because I thought of all the weeks I spent on each project doing LODs.

 

A rather old thread - but still worth the try:

What's the cost of using Simlygon?
They do not reply when I contact them (that's a good sign - isn't it!)

Also, which is preferable: Simplygon, Ballancer/ Cruncher, or Vizup ?

 

Hi Jeppe!

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. The cost for using Simplygon is not currently decided.

There will be multiple types of licensing Simplygon, like per-model and per-month, and we will probably also have a special indie-deal for Unity users.

Regarding which is preferable, Simplygon of course! ;-) No but really, we try to make the best decimator in the world, and the Proxy LOD is unique to Simplygon.

Regards,

The Simplygon team

 

With UDK you get Simplygon for free.

 

Wait, what now?! Could you elaborate more on this?

 

Epic licensed it for their Unreal Engine, like Speedtree.
So if you use UDK you don't need to worry about extra fees using these third-party add ons.

I wished UT would do the same as they did with Beast.

 

Also depending on where you want to do the asset reduction, in the art tool or the engine, here is another alternative using Simplygon tech in Maya.

Its free on Autodesk Labs for a while.

http://labs.autodesk.com/technologies/khan

 

Simplygon Now Live in Unity
Try for Free, Pay as you go.

Simplygon is now live in Unity, and you can enjoy endlessly all the benefits and features of our Automagic tool. Through Simplygon Cloud, you will be able to automatically create LODs and other optimized 3D models directly from within the Unity Editor with an affordable pay-per-usage model based on credits – or even for free!
The Simplygon plug-in is available for download in Unity Asset Store.

You can get started in 3 easy steps:

You can find more explanation here, hope you will enjoy Simplygon!

 

I had the luck to get the DAZ Decimator in a Offer.


The DAZ Decimator used the Balancer SDK by Antangeo . A very nice Decimator for to create LOD .
Surface Selection for weighting areas and do also faces invisible.
e.g the skin Polygone under the dress mesh

Therefore you can very strong decimate High Polys Figures also without loss the rig


nice Tool for people like me, rig in Daz studio with the CCT Tools . I can now decimate and rigging in the same Program

 

What about optimised 3D model more than 300 mb is it real? In my oppinion it is more difficult create architecture LOD model.