Lower face-count of voxel models
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Last updated: 2026/05/17

If creating a 3D voxel model using software, such as Goxel, you may have
noticed that for something made up of cubes that there a LOT more faces
than you would expect. Using a combination of 'V-Optimizer' and 
'Blender' can help.

ADDON REQUIRED... Blender 2.79b has no GLB/GLTF support "out-of-the-box"
https://theouterlinux.gitlab.io/Downloads/Blender279b/io_scene_gltf2.zip

1. Export your model as either *.gox or *.vox if using Goxel
2. Use 'V-Optimizer' to lower faces as a "greedy" *.glb model
3. Import the *.glb model into Blender
4. Select the model and switch to Edit mode
5. Use the "w" key and select "Remove Doubles"
6. Add a Decimate modifier using "Planar" and Delimit via "UVs"
7. If all look well, apply the modifier

Just know though that this is not "fool-proof" but is one of the best
ways to lower the face-count using free and open-source software.

Also, know that if re-exporting from Blender, the Collada (*.dae) and
Stanford (*.ply) formats are good if at holding vertex color
information if that it all that you want to use, assuming that there are
no textures assigned at all; otherwise, you may get an un-colored model
in another program. Worse case, you can UV-unwrap and bake vertex colors
to a texture map.