Original author(s) Stable release 8.1 License Proprietary | Developer(s) Microsoft Operating system Website simplygon.com | |
Simplygon is a 3D computer graphics software for automatic 3D optimization, based on proprietary methods for creating level of detail (LODs) through Polygon mesh reduction and other optimization techniques.
Contents
Since the launch of Simplygon, the product has been licensed by a number of AAA game studios, for multi-platform games, and used in areas such as architecture, 3D CAD, 3D scan, 3D web and 3D printing.
The algorithms in Simplygon are designed to also optimize different type of input forms, and a number of visualization projects outside gaming are currently deploying this technology in areas such as architecture, 3D CAD, 3D scan, 3D web and 3D printing.
History
The Swedish company Donya Labs was founded in 2006 in Linköping. Donya Labs developed Simplygon with the vision to optimize the handling of 3D graphics to allow game developers to focus on making good games. In January 2017, Simplygon was acquired by Microsoft.
Technology
Simplygon’s optimization processes are:
A reduction process reduces the amount of data while preserving all relevant original vertex data.
A remeshing process generates a new replacement mesh, often used to replace a group of objects with one so called proxy object.
An aggregation process combines all geometry and materials in a scene into one single object.
An imposter model maps all geometric details as textures and can be used if a model will be viewed from a distance and a certain direction.
An occlusion mesh process generates a silhouette based geometry that removes internal features and concavities.
API/SDK
Simplygon is available as an API with a 3D format interoperable interface allowing for integration with any open or proprietary format on Windows. The common format FBX is also available. The Simplygon SDK provides the API libraries and development tools that allow customized Simplygon integration.
Plug-in
Simplygon is available as a plug-in for the following digital content creation tools:
Games industry use
Simplygon integration is available for the following game engines:
Desktop application
The Simplygon Desktop application supports FBX OBJ STL and the Simplygon native format SSF.
Online service
Simplygon Cloud can be used to optimize any 3D model. It is available for non-commercial use. The free version is for personal use and the basic version is available for indie companies.
Awards
Simplygon won a 2015 The Independent Games Developers Association TIGA Games industry award in the category “Best Technology Innovation”. Donya Labs was ranked 9th in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50, 2014.