Course Introduction

The Optimization Process

Profiling Tools

Geometry - Introduction 

Triangle and Polygon Usage

Level of Detail

Additional Geometry Best Practices

Demo: Level of Detail

Textures - Introduction

Texture Size, Color Space, and Compression

Texture Atlases

Texture Filtering

Mipmapping

UV Unwrap, Visual Impact, and Texture Channel Packing

Alpha Channels and Normal Map Best Practices

Editing Texture Settings

Demo: Texture Atlases

Shaders and Materials - Overview

Optimizing Shaders for Mobile Platforms

Transparencies

Additional Material and Shader Best Practices

Demo: Draw Calls and SRP Batcher

Lighting - Overview

Light Modes and Types

Lighting for Static Objects

Light Probes

Shadows

Demo: Baked Lighting

Conclusion/Next Steps

Overview

Who is This Course For?

How to Use the Sample Demos

What is the Optimization Process?

Conclusion

Profiling in Unity

Profiling in the Unity Editor vs. Device

Profiling with Arm Streamline

Welcome to 3D Art Optimization for Mobile Applications! In this introductory project, we will review the course's main learning objectives, discuss the practice of optimization, and identify the optimization tools available at your disposal.

Introduction/Optimization and Profiling

What is Geometry?

Testing on Different Hardware/Screen Sizes

Details in Areas That Matter

Avoiding Micro Triangles

When Not to Use LODs

Why Use LOD

An Appropriate Number Of Triangles

Number of LOD Levels

Creating LOD Meshes

Smoothing Groups

Mesh Topology

Shape Exaggeration

Combining Meshes

Model Settings

Decreasing Vertices with LOD

Before You Begin

What to Watch For

This project will highlight optimizations for 3D models that can make a game more efficient while maintaining aesthetic intent, improving the performance and experience on mobile devices. 

Geometry

What are Textures?

Texture Size

Texture Color Space

Texture Compression

Why Use Texture Atlases?

Types of Texture Filtering

Texture Filtering Best Practices

What is Mipmapping?

Best Practices for UV Unwrapping

UV Seams

Optimizing for Visual Impact

Texture Channel Packing

Alpha Channel Best Practices

Normal Map Best Practices

Normal Map Baking Best Practices

ASTC Compression Settings

Selecting the Correct Format For ASTC Textures

Block Sizes

Batching with Texture Atlases

This project will highlight the different implementation considerations and optimizations that take advantage of a Texture’s flexibility. When given the correct settings and applied correctly over their many use cases, Textures play a major role in achieving your desired visual effects. 

Textures

What are Shaders and Materials?

Using the Unlit Shader for Mobile Platforms

Lit vs. Unlit Shaders

Using Transparencies

Comparing Transparency Implementations

Use Case: Foliage

Keep Shaders Simple

Profile Shader Complexity

Math Operations In the Vertex Shader

Avoid Using Complicated Math Operations

The SRP Batcher

Shaders and Materials play a crucial role in determining how target hardware will process and render your 3D objects. In this project, you will explore best practices that will keep the shaders lightweight and fast when running on phones with limited resources.

Shaders and Materials

A Note On Render Pipelines

Light Modes

Baked Lighting

Real-time Lighting

Mixed Lighting

Real-time Lights and Light Types

Lightmaps and Global Illumination

Optimize Light Maps

Lightmappers

Texels

Texel Usage

LODs and Lightmaps

Light Probe Use Cases

Implementing Fake Shadows

Mesh Renderer Settings

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of real-time 3D visuals. It can set the mood, guide interactions, and identify goals and objectives. In this project, you will learn about and compare the differences between the available lights and light modes that you can use in your 3D mobile application.

Lighting

Congratulations! You've completed 3D Art Optimization for Mobile Applications! In this tutorial, we discuss next steps and available resources.

Project Conclusion

ARMUnityMobileOptimization.zip

In this intermediate course, participants will learn how to produce performance-optimized 3D assets and scenes for mobile applications. Topics will cover tips on optimizing Geometry, Textures, Materials, Shaders, and Lighting. This course was created with technical artists and content creators in mind.

2019.4

Arm & Unity Presents: 3D Art Optimization for Mobile Applications

Here are examples of learner submissions that were completed in this Course.

Arm & Unity Presents: 3D Art Optimization for Mobile Applications

Course Overview

Educator Resources