← All tutorials // 36 Reduce mesh size

Simplify at export only.

Paint at full res. Export at low. Best of both.

// What it does

Tick the box. The painter keeps the full-resolution mesh in memory — paint, undo, layer view, and discard checks all run on the hi-res copy. When you click Export 3MF, the simplifier runs once on the way out, producing a decimated 3MF. Your working file is untouched.

// When to use it
  • Models you'll keep editing — paint always benefits from more triangles, but the slicer doesn't need them.
  • Reducing 3MF file size for sharing or storage.
  • Speeding up slicer-side processing without sacrificing painter accuracy.
// How to use it
  1. Export tab → Simplify. Tick Simplify at export only.
  2. Paint normally — the in-viewport mesh is unchanged.
  3. Click Export 3MF. Status reports both original and post-decimation triangle counts; the downloaded file is the smaller one.
// Tips
  • Combined with manual Simplify now means you simplify twice on export. Pick one approach.
  • Same flatness threshold drives both modes. Tune via Preview only first.

Try simplify at export only on the demo robot.

Open the painter and have a play.

Open the painter →