---
id: fast-simplification
version: "0.2.0"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# fast-simplification — Wrapper around the Fast-Quadric-Mesh-Simplification library.

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 602.2K/mo

## What it is and what it does

fast-simplification wraps the Fast-Quadric-Mesh-Simplification C++ library to reduce 3D mesh complexity in Python. It takes arrays of vertex points and triangle faces, then outputs a simplified mesh with fewer triangles while maintaining the overall shape. The package works directly with numpy arrays or integrates with PyVista for seamless mesh file I/O and visualization.

The library is designed for applications that need fast mesh decimation—such as preparing models for real-time rendering, reducing storage size, or processing large mesh collections with consistent topology. It offers both a basic numpy-based API and an advanced PyVista integration, plus a replay mechanism to apply the same decimation sequence to multiple meshes or to revert to intermediate simplification levels without recomputing from scratch.

Use it for:

- Reduce polygon count on 3D models for real-time graphics or game engines.
- Prepare high-resolution scans or CAD meshes for web or mobile deployment.
- Apply identical decimation to a collection of meshes that share topology (e.g., anatomical variants).
- Speed up mesh processing pipelines by simplifying before further analysis or rendering.
- Transfer field data between original and simplified meshes using vertex correspondence maps.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Simplifies 3D meshes by reducing the number of triangles while preserving shape, wrapping the Fast-Quadric-Mesh-Simplification C++ library with a Python interface and direct PyVista integration.

Yes. The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, supports current Python versions (3.9–3.14), and offers a performant alternative to VTK decimation with straightforward numpy and PyVista integration. Install friction is moderate but acceptable for a compiled extension. MIT licensing removes legal barriers.

## Install

pip install fast-simplification
uv add fast-simplification
poetry add fast-simplification

## Installing fast-simplification

Before you install: Medium install friction due to compiled wheels for multiple Python versions and platforms (cp310–cp313 on macOS, Linux, Windows). Active maintenance with a recent release (2 days old) and steady repository activity (206 stars). Single runtime dependency on numpy.

License in practice: MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions, making it suitable for most projects.

Quickstart:

import numpy as np
import fast_simplification

points = np.array([[0.5, -0.5, 0.0], [0.0, -0.5, 0.0], [-0.5, -0.5, 0.0]])
faces = np.array([[0, 1, 2]])
points_out, faces_out = fast_simplification.simplify(points, faces, target_reduction=0.5)

Requires numpy arrays; PyVista integration is optional but recommended for mesh I/O.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the 4–5x performance improvement over VTK decimation mentioned in the description is consistently reproducible across different mesh types and sizes.
- Specific memory requirements or limits for large meshes during simplification.

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: medium
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 602.2K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

mesh simplification decimation, 3d mesh reduction, quadric mesh simplification, triangle count reduction, mesh optimization python, pyvista mesh decimation, fast mesh simplification, mesh-processing, 3d-graphics, geometry

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