Generate Low Poly Look

[Anonymous]

I want to create a model in a distinct low polygon look. See for example:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/505247651920270126/

Any advice on how to get that type of look in Fusion? Since the shape is very simple (a heart), it would be sufficient to find a way to reduce the number of faces of a model. I guess I'd have to use the sculpt workspace for this, correct?

Thanks!

Michael

[taylor.stein · Accepted solution]

Hey Michael,

Here's an instructable that outlines some steps to create that low poly look! The workflow is to create the design in Fusion 360, export a .stl file, and then simplify the geometry in 123D Make, generating that low poly effect. 

Another possible method would be to create the geometry in the sculpt workspace, and add a significant number of creases to your edges. This is going to be the more hands-on approach, but would allow for more precise control.

Hope this helps!

Taylor

[Anonymous]

The stl approach won't work because I need a defined geometry in some part of the model. But the crease suggestion worked perfectly. Thank you very much.

[jakefowler]

Sweet! Awesome tip Taylor, am gonna have a lot of fun with this...

As a possible extension of the Instructables workflow: once the new STL is saved from 123D Make you can re-Import or re-Insert the STL as a mesh into Fusion 360, then use the Mesh to BRep tool to convert this to a solid body, so you can continue working with this using the solid modelling tools (e.g. to split the model for 3D printing).

Jake

[Anonymous]

Hi Jake.

How can you import an .STL into Fusion 360, I wasn't aware that was possible. Sorry if this is a very beginner mistake, I'm new here.

Thanks,

- Luca

[jakefowler]

Hi Luca,

No problem; we certainly could (and should) make it more obvious how to do this 🙂

You can either:

- Upload the STL using the Upload button in the data panel - this will create a new Fusion design from your STL

- Insert a mesh into an existing design. Because inserting a mesh isn't parametric feature, if you are working in a parametric design (i.e. one with the timeline running across the bottom), you'll need to create a Base Feature to access the Insert Mesh tool. First, go to CREATE > Create Base Feature. This will take you into a new Base Feature, which is a direct modelling environment (very similar to the parametric modelling environment, except that model changes you make won't be recorded in the timeline). From here, the INSERT menu will contain Insert Mesh. This allows you to pick an STL (or OBJ) and insert it into the current design. 

Get in touch if you hit any problems trying to do this (or if you need any further suggestions on the workflow you're trying to achieve).

Thanks,

Jake

[Anonymous]

Had the same question, and now 123D Make is TInkercad and Fusion 360 now. Any new updated way to do this?

Thanks

[jakefowler]

Hi @Anonymous - Thanks to the Mesh workspace preview introduced last year, this can now all be done inside of Fusion 360!

1. If you haven't done so already, enable the Mesh Workspace preview from Preferences > Preview

2. Use Insert Mesh to insert your original stl/obj file

3. Right click the Mesh node in the timeline > Edit; this takes you into the mesh editing workspace

4. Open MODIFY > Reduce, select the mesh body from the browser, switch the Reduce Target to Face Count, enable the Preview checkbox, and type in lower values until the result looks as expected (for most models, a few hundred faces works best)

5. Click Finish Mesh to exit the Mesh workspace

And that's it! You can also subsequently convert this reduced mesh to a solid/surface body if needed: to do this, start a Base Feature (CREATE > Create Base Feature) and use MODIFY > Mesh > Mesh to BRep to create a solid/surface body from the mesh.

Hope this helps. Get in touch if any of this needs clarification.

Thanks,

Jake

[jakefowler]

@Anonymous Sorry, one more quick important note. By default meshes will render with 'smooth shading', which doesn't give you an accurate view of the model when you reduce to a low-poly mesh. To get an accurate view of the low-poly shading, right-click the model in the browser and select "Flat Shaded":

Jake

[Anonymous]

Hey jakefowler

I appreciate your effort but I just can't seem to get it to work. It says error reducing the faces of the mesh. I think it is a problem with selecting since I have to hand select each face with the brush. 

Thanks again

[TrippyLighting]

If you are still working on the twisted polygon vase you and about in the other thread you started, I can create a quick screencast.

[Anonymous]

Hey,

That would be appreciated. The mesh didn't work for hollow objects, so I tried doing it before I shelled the face, and now it is rendered as one body and can't shell it.

Thanks

[TrippyLighting]

I've created a screencast how to do this just in Fusion 360, however, it is pretty tedious.

Personally I'd do this in Blender.

[TrippyLighting]

---

@taylor.stein wrote:

Another possible method would be to create the geometry in the sculpt workspace, and add a significant number of creases to your edges. 

I tried to add creases, but is stalled my machine, I had to force quit Fusion 360!

[waynehelley]

Hi Jake,

I was just wondering if you know how easy it is to get a model like this exported to a file format (maybe .fbx) which can be loaded in to a game engine like Unity3d?  If it is possible, will it be saved as a true polygon model?

If I was to create a model like this in a CAD program like Inventor, I would then have to import it into 3DS Max or Blender which would then generate a crazy, super, mega dense mesh.

Thanks

[TrippyLighting]

If you are referring to the rabbit model as "this" then the rabbit will be exported as a triangulated mesh. How triangulated depends on how far you simplified it in the mesh workspace.

Meshes that are imported as .stl and are not converted into any other geometry type e.g. T-Splines or Solid Bodies (BRep) will be exported as straight meshes in exactly the "resolution" as presented on the screen.

Solid Bodies and Surface Bodies first go through a.stl conversion where the tool strings will control how dense the exported mesh is.

[leninCUT7K]

Hi Jake,

Thanks for the detailed response. I've been looking for this information for a while!. Expanding on the original question, what if instead of importing a mesh/stl to my current design, I wanted to just give the "low poly look" to a model I've created within Fusion 360 through the regular Sketch>Extrusion process. What would be the best way/workflow to approach that?.

Sorry if this is just too basic of a question, I've been using Fusion 360 for just some weeks and I still have a lot to learn. 

Thanks in advance,