Keep same detail but smaller file size

[system]

The model has 8 subdivision levels, I exported the highest, the one with enough density to show correctly the noise (alpha with brick texture). Result is 20 million polygons, but when I export the OBJ I get a huge fileof more than 2GB, and this is just one of many models that need to fit one scene. I’m clearly doing something wrong with the file size, but I want to maintain the same detail.
Any idea how to keep the same detail and get a smaller (more manageable) file size? Is it wrong to export the highest subdivision level?

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[aurick]

What you would typically do in this situation is create a displacement and/or normal map to export, along with the lowest subdivision level of your model. Then in whatever program you’re using the model in you would apply the map so that it renders to look like the high resolution version.

There’s documentation regarding this at http://docs.pixologic.com

[bakedbeing]

If you need that many polys to hold all the surface detail it’s possible the coverage on your base subdivision isn’t even enough amd you might have had to subdivide extra times. This could happen save if the polys were dense around the top of the castle but then the main body only had one or two loops. Then you have to divide a lot to get detail in those areas.

if so a good answer is to do a retopo, or just duplicate your level 1 mesh, add in extra edge loops wherever you have large or lomg polys, then subdivide and project all from the original till you have enough detail.

Can you show the wireframe of your lowest subdivision?

FBX binary files also export out smaller than obj. What do you need the output file to do?

[bakedbeing]

Also if I were making a castle like this myself I’d lean toward making it as a few different subtools. The base, the top, even the supports perhaps. Makes things a little lighter and easier.