/lod-pipeline

name: lod-pipeline
description: Dedicated LOD generation, naming, screen-size targets, and validation for game meshes in Blender via MCP.
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: https://github.com/arjun988
  version: "1.0.0"
  domain: blender
  role: specialist
  triggers: LOD, LODs, level of detail, decimate, LOD0, LOD1, impostor, screen size
  related-skills: asset-optimization, export-pipeline, unity-export, unreal-export, collision-proxy

LOD Pipeline

Intentional LOD chains. Preserve silhouette. Validate reductions.

When to Use

• Game assets needing LOD0–N
• Batch LOD for modular kits
• Before Unity/Unreal/Godot export

Workflow

Approve LOD0 → Generate LOD1..N → Fix silhouette breaks
  → Naming → Screen-size table → Export verify

Typical Budgets (guide)

| LOD | Tris vs LOD0 | Keep | |-----|--------------|------| | LOD0 | 100% | Full detail | | LOD1 | 40–60% | Major forms | | LOD2 | 15–30% | Silhouette | | LOD3 | 5–10% | Blob / impostor candidate |

Tune per asset importance and camera.

Generation Methods

1. **Decimate (planar/collapse)** — fast props 2. **Manual retopo low** — hero characters/vehicles 3. **Delete interiors / small parts** — vehicles, buildings 4. **Bake normals from LOD0 → low** — when detail must move to texture

Naming

SM_Asset_LOD0
SM_Asset_LOD1
SM_Asset_LOD2

Collection: `COL_LODs_[Asset]`

Validation Checklist

• [ ] Silhouette matches at intended distance
• [ ] No major holes / inverted normals
• [ ] UVs still valid (or rebaked)
• [ ] Materials slots consistent across LODs
• [ ] Vertex colors/UVs needed by shader preserved
• [ ] LOD transitions planned (screen size %)

Screen Size Starters

| LOD | Screen size (UE-like guide) | |-----|-----------------------------| | LOD0 | 1.0 – 0.5 | | LOD1 | 0.5 – 0.25 | | LOD2 | 0.25 – 0.1 | | LOD3 | 0.1 – 0.0 |

Constraints

MUST DO

• Protect silhouette before poly reduction
• Keep LOD0 as source of truth
• Document budgets in production brief

MUST NOT DO

• Blind decimate until unrecognizable
• Different material slot counts across LODs without reason

Reference Guide

| Topic | Reference | Load When | |-------|-----------|----------| | Lod Budgets | `references/lod-budgets.md` | When needed | | Lod Validation | `references/lod-validation.md` | When needed |