Draco compression
Draco is a compression method that makes 3D model files dramatically smaller.
Also known as: draco · mesh compression · 3D compression
Geometry is the heaviest part of a 3D model. Draco compresses it, often bringing a file down by 80–90 per cent. The browser decompresses it on opening; the cost of that step is far smaller than the download it saves.
It matters most on mobile connections. A 20 MB model is effectively unusable on a phone; the same model at 2 MB is not.
How it looked in our work
The models in 3DCBH are Draco-compressed; that is one of the reasons the game opens on low-end phones.
Common questions
Does compression lose quality?
Draco is lossy for geometry, but the setting is adjustable. At the levels used in practice the difference is not visible at normal viewing distance.
Does it compress textures too?
No, Draco handles geometry. Textures are a separate subject and are usually handled with WebP or KTX2.
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