Mesh Approximation Kit for Modo

Mesh Approximation Kit for Modo provides advanced tools for approximating surface polygon meshes using the CGAL Triangulated Surface Mesh Approximation algorithm — which is based on Variational Shape Approximation (VSA).
This plug-in supports both direct modeling and procedural mesh operations on macOS and Windows, making it suitable for modeling, optimization, and UV workflow enhancement.

👉 Source & updates: https://github.com/tazee/approximate

✨ Key Features

• Powered by CGAL Variational Shape Approximation
• Supports two operation modes:
  1️⃣ Approximation Mode — outputs a simplified triangle mesh
  2️⃣ Segmentation Mode — outputs polygon clusters for UV workflows
• Available as both direct modeling tool and procedural mesh operator
• Useful for retopology, optimization, UV preparation, and mesh analysis
• Works in Modo 16.1v8 or later

Left: source mesh, Middle: color-coded segments, Right: approximated mesh.

Unwrap segments by UV unwrap tool using Part tag boundaries from Segmentation mode.

🔧 Operation Modes

Approximation Mode

• Generates a new simplified surface triangle mesh
• Uses iterative VSA clustering
• Output can be written to a new mesh or overwrite the original
• Resulting geometry does not inherit original mesh properties
  (e.g., polygon tags, vertex maps, weights, UVs)

Segmentation Mode

• Clusters original polygons and outputs segmentation data as:
  ✔ Polygon Tags
  ✔ Edge Selection Sets
  ✔ Vertex Color Maps
• Useful for UV seam generation, material grouping, and analysis
• Cluster IDs are assigned automatically (e.g. 0-0, 0-1, 1-0)

🔩 Tool Parameters

Max of Proxies: Maximum number of proxy clusters used for approximation (not final triangle count)

Iteration: Number of clustering iterations to minimize error

📥 Installation & Use

1. Click the Download button (enter $0 for free or choose optional tip)
2. Download the LPK file
3. Drag & drop into any Modo viewport
4. Restart Modo → Plugin appears under appropriate menu or Mesh Operator panel

🔄 If upgrading from an earlier version, please uninstall the old version first.

🧩 Compatibility & Requirements

• Tested with Modo 16.1v8 or later (adjust as applicable)
• Works with complex meshes, high polygon counts, and supports key-feature preservation
• For developers: full source code and build instructions available on GitHub

⚖️ License & Support

• License: GPL-3.0 — Free to use, modify and redistribute
• Source & issue tracking: https://github.com/tazee/approximate
• Support / Bug reports: Use the GitHub Issues tab

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This software is based part on CGAL (The Computational Geometry Algorithms Library):

Licensed under the GPL-3.0 license.

https://cgal.org

💖 Support the Project

This toolkit is provided fully free and open-source. If you find it useful, you can help by:

• Starring the GitHub repository
• Sharing it with peers or on social media
• Leaving a tip via Gumroad to support continued development
• Welcome your feedback in Gumroad Community