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Redd Low Poly Style

Low poly art is a style focused on surface simplicity and economy over fidelity, typically using fewer than 8,000 triangles per asset. It provides benefits like lower barriers to production and greater computational efficiency. When using this style, artists should consider stylistic compatibility, approximate rather than duplicate details, maintain consistent resolution, develop strong silhouettes, and leverage tricks like scrolling UVs and color palettes as textures. The goal is clear communication of scale, order, and shape through an emphasis on silhouette and form over precision.

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Arturo Avila
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87 views36 pages

Redd Low Poly Style

Low poly art is a style focused on surface simplicity and economy over fidelity, typically using fewer than 8,000 triangles per asset. It provides benefits like lower barriers to production and greater computational efficiency. When using this style, artists should consider stylistic compatibility, approximate rather than duplicate details, maintain consistent resolution, develop strong silhouettes, and leverage tricks like scrolling UVs and color palettes as textures. The goal is clear communication of scale, order, and shape through an emphasis on silhouette and form over precision.

Uploaded by

Arturo Avila
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Low Poly: Style

Through Economy

Ethan Redd
Designer/Developer
ethanredd
kiddradd
INTRODUCTION
“Who are you?”
What is Low Poly?
● Discipline/aesthetic of “surface economy”
● Economy > Fidelity
● Subjective; generally <8k per asset
“Metal Gear Solid” Franchise - Kojima Productions/Konami
MODERN BENEFITS
“Why Low Poly in today’s landscape?”
Benefits: Productivity
● Lower existential barrier
● Quicker to produce
● Allows increase in output/scope when art-
bound
“Low Poly First”

Manual Reduction

Afterthought
Optimization
Benefits: Computational Efficiency
● Produce for small screens
● Reach “the next billion users”
● Less overhead for post-processing/fillrate/etc
bound games/VR
Thinking the Low Poly Way
1)“Stylistic
Compatibility”
2)Resolution consciousness
3)Consider silhouette at all times
a) Approximation vs Accuracy
4)Supplemental/”Old School” Render Tricks
a) Fake things through particles/shaders/tex
b) Incorporating other “lo-fi”/NPR techniques
Resolution and Consistency
Approximation
Actual Value High Fidelity Low Fidelity Insufficient
Extending the concept to shape:
Approximating a sphere with varying fidelity
“Atomic Consistency”
● Communicates scale
● Promotes cohesion/order
● “Sells it” when working
loosely
● “Atom size” is your lower bound
● Each model/cluster has its own local
atom size
● Intentional atomic variation a tool
Resolution (con’t)
“Fitting”
“Dispersal” Rough | Accurate “Accumulation”
Atom Size
Global | Local
Density
Rich | Sparse
Innate Composition
Muddy | Clear

(~800tris each)
Accumulation Techniques
● “Hero” assets for large
props
● Polygonal density used for
“breadcumbing”

Dispersal Techniques
● Litter to environment
● Used to catch additional
light/shadow
SILHOUETTE AND FORM
Silhouette Consciousness
1. How legible is the overall shape?
2. How should light/shadow interact with this?
3. Am I (over/under) selling curvature?
THIS IS BAD
(usually)
“CHEATING”
Lightning Round: Non-modeling Tricks to “Sell It”
Low Resolution Rendering
Color Palettes as Textures (per face color)
Fun with Normals
Scrolling UVs: Advanced Maneuvers
Scrolling UVs
TAKEAWAYS
● CONSIDER STYLISTIC COMPATIBILITY
● APPROXIMATE, DON’T DUPLICATE
● BE CONSISTENT WITH RESOLUTION
● DEVELOP STRONG SILHOUETTES
● CHEAT HARD WHEN POSSIBLE
● dont decimate pls
Thanks for coming!
EthanRedd
kiddradd

[email protected] for hatemail


Work hard, trust your gut, and improve every day ^-^)b

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