How To Lower Poly Count In Unity

How To Lower Poly Count In Unity
Why Lower Poly Count?
Poly count, also known as polygon count, is the number of polygons present in a 3D model or game object. This number is important because the more polygons you have, the more processing power needs to be used to render the scene. This is because poly count determines the complexity of the game object, and a higher poly count often results in longer render times and slower game performance. That’s why it’s important to lower poly count in Unity when possible.
How To Lower Poly Count In Unity
Lowering poly count in Unity is relatively easy to do, and there are several methods you can use to reduce the poly count of your game objects. The first step is to identify the poly count of your object. You can find this information in the Inspector window or in the Mesh tab of the Mesh Renderer component. This will tell you the total poly count of the object, as well as how many triangles, quads, and other shapes are present in the mesh.
1. Reduce The Resolution Of Textures
The next step is to reduce the resolution of textures. This will reduce the quality of the textures but also reduce the poly count of the object. You can do this by reducing the texture size in the Import Settings. This is especially important for textures that are being used in multiple objects, as it will reduce the amount of polygons being used to render the scene.
2. Use Low-Poly Models
Another way to lower poly count in Unity is to use low-poly models. Low-poly models are simple 3D models that are made up of fewer polygons than regular models. This means that less processing power needs to be used to render the scene, resulting in faster game performance. Low-poly models can be found online, or you can create your own using 3D modeling software.
3. Simplify Complex Shapes
If you’re working with complex shapes, you can also simplify them to reduce the poly count. This can be done by removing unnecessary polygons, or by combining multiple polygons into one. This is especially useful for objects that have a lot of detail, as it will reduce the amount of polygons needed to render the scene.
4. Use Level Of Detail (LOD) System
The last method is to use a level of detail (LOD) system. This system is used to reduce the poly count of objects that are far away from the camera. The idea is that objects that are further away don’t require as many polygons to render, so the LOD system will reduce the poly count of those objects. This will result in faster game performance, as the game won’t have to render as many polygons.
Conclusion
Lowering poly count in Unity is an important step in improving game performance. By reducing the resolution of textures, using low-poly models, simplifying complex shapes, and using a LOD system, you can drastically reduce the poly count of your game objects. This will result in a more efficient game, and a better experience for your players.