3D Model Compression & Optimization

6 articles

From VRAM bottlenecks and vertex quantization to KTX2 textures and automated pipelines, master 3D model lightweighting.

#01June 26, 20263D Compression

Why Are 3D Models So Big?

Your GLB file is only 10MB, but on your phone it eats 200MB of VRAM and crashes. Let's take a closer look at what's really going on.

#02June 26, 20263D Compression

Model Slimming: Vertex Compression's Three Techniques

How many bytes does vertex data actually take? Quantization, MeshOpt, and Draco - which tool fits which scenario? It's not about 'Draco is best,' but 'the right tool for the right job.'

#03June 26, 20263D Compression

Textures: The VRAM-Hungry Gluttons You Never Saw Coming

Why does a 1.5MB JPG balloon to 87MB in VRAM? What's so wrong with PNG/JPG from a GPU's perspective? And how do GPU-native texture formats, Basis Universal, and KTX2 all fit together?

#04June 26, 20263D Compression

KTX2 in Practice: The Right Way to Use Texture Compression

ETC1S or UASTC? How to use toktx and gltf-transform? How to load KTX2 in Three.js / Babylon.js? This article is full of copy-paste-ready commands and code.

#05June 26, 20263D Compression

Different Platforms, Different Fates: A Compression Guide

Desktop, mobile, VR, mini-programs: which compression combination fits your 3D project? A decision matrix and an automation script do the choosing for you.

#06June 26, 20263D Compression

From Blender to Launch: An End-to-End Compression Pipeline

Take a 50MB PBR model through the full pipeline, from Blender export to KTX2 textures and engine loading, and get it under 5MB. Scripts and cheat sheet included.

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