Core Concepts

The foundational 3D concepts behind Meshy — mesh, textures, topology, UV mapping, and rigging — and how they connect in one workflow.

TL;DR

A mesh is the skeleton of a 3D model, composed of vertices, edges, and faces. Polygon count directly affects performance and quality.
Textures add color and surface detail. PBR textures include Albedo, Normal, Roughness, and Metallic maps.
Topology describes how faces are arranged. Good topology = animatable + deformable + efficient rendering.
UV Mapping is the process of unwrapping a 3D surface into 2D space, determining how textures are applied to the model.
Rigging binds a bone/skeleton system to a model, enabling animation.

Term	Definition
Mesh	3D geometry composed of vertices, edges, and faces
Polygon Count	Number of faces in a model. Game assets typically < 50K; film can reach millions
PBR Textures	Physically Based Rendering maps: Albedo, Normal, Roughness, Metallic
Topology	Arrangement and flow of faces. "Clean topology" = even quads following structure
UV Mapping	Unwrapping a 3D surface to 2D space so textures map correctly
Rigging	Binding a bone/skeleton system to a model for animation
Normal Map	RGB texture simulating surface bumps without adding geometry
LOD	Level of Detail — different resolution models for different viewing distances
Watertight Mesh	A closed mesh with no holes — required for 3D printing
GLB/GLTF	Open 3D file formats, the standard for web and real-time rendering
FBX	Autodesk format, the primary exchange format for game engines (Unity/Unreal)
STL	Geometry-only format, the standard input for 3D printing
USDZ	Apple's AR format for Quick Look and Reality Composer

The Meshy workflow moves through these concepts in sequence:

Generation (Text/Image/Chat → Mesh + Texture): AI creates a mesh and applies initial textures.
AI Texturing (Mesh → PBR Textures): Optionally re-generate or enhance textures with PBR maps.
Remesh (Mesh → Optimized Mesh): Reduce or optimize polygon count while preserving shape.
Unwrap UV (Mesh → UV Layout): Generate clean UV maps for custom texture workflows.
Rigging (Mesh → Skeleton + Mesh): Bind a bone structure for animation.
Export (All → Target Format): Package mesh + textures + rig into your chosen format.

What is a mesh in 3D modeling?: A mesh is the geometric structure of a 3D model, made of vertices, edges, and faces. Polygon count affects both quality and performance.
What are PBR textures?: PBR (Physically Based Rendering) textures simulate real-world light using Albedo, Normal, Roughness, and Metallic maps for realistic surfaces.
What is topology and why does it matter?: Topology is how faces are arranged on a mesh. Clean topology is essential for smooth animation, deformation, and efficient rendering.
What is UV mapping?: UV mapping unwraps a 3D surface into 2D space so textures apply correctly without seams or stretching.
What is rigging in 3D?: Rigging adds a bone/skeleton system to a model so it can be posed and animated. Meshy auto-rigs humanoid and quadruped models.