Mesh decimation with MeshLab

In the preceding recipe, we learned how to increase the density of our mesh. Sometimes, we need to do the exact opposite. We're going to learn how to decimate a high-density mesh to a uniform low-density mesh in this recipe.

Getting ready

You'll need MeshLab. You'll also need the .obj file of the toy block. This is the model with a uniform mesh that you made in the last recipe.

How to do it...

We will proceed as follows:

1. Select the Import Mesh icon on the toolbar. Open the block_uniform_remesh_LS3. obj file and choose the Flat Lines icon on the toolbar.

2. Go to Filters and select Remeshing, Simplification, and Reconstruction. Scroll down the next cascaded window and select Quadric Edge Collapse Decimation.

3. A pop-up window appears. Check mark Planar Simplification and change the Quality threshold to 1.0. The target number of faces for this model is 59,791. The default value is always half of the model's total face count. Select Apply Export Mesh and save the file as block_decimation_59791...