Poly Heat Map

Technical Requirements

Software: Autodesk 3ds Max or Blender
Licence: Sinilab.ai product licence
Account Required: Yes
Activation: Sinilab.ai Product Licensing
Industry: 3D Content Creation and Architectural Visualisation
Collaborator: UrbanCode

Description

Poly Heat Map scans selected scene geometry and displays a colour-coded viewport overlay based on the number of triangles within each object.

The heatmap provides immediate visual feedback, making it easier to identify geometry that may contain excessive polygon counts. Adjustable range settings allow specific polygon thresholds to be targeted according to the requirements of the scene.

A supporting results list reports each scanned object, its triangle count, budget percentage and current heatmap status. Objects can be selected directly from the list for closer inspection.

Poly Heat Map is particularly useful when reviewing complex scenes, locating unexpectedly dense assets or working through geometry optimisation.

Key Features

• Scan selected scene geometry.
• Display polygon density as a viewport heatmap.
• Define minimum and maximum polygon thresholds.
• Classify objects as green, yellow or red.
• Review triangle counts for individual objects.
• Compare each object against the defined polygon budget.
• Select objects directly from the results list.
• Update the overlay while editing geometry.
• Quickly activate the heatmap from the toolbar.
• Open the full interface using Shift-click.

Available For

• Autodesk 3ds Max
• Blender

Licence Requirements

Poly Heat Map requires a valid product licence managed through the Sinilab.ai licensing system.

After purchasing the product, the licence key and required entitlement files are added automatically to the order and the customer’s account downloads.

The entitlement files connect the installed product to the Sinilab.ai licensing platform. They must be installed before the Poly Heat Map product package.

A single licence permits one active installation. If the licence needs to be moved to another computer, release the existing activation through the Sinilab.ai licensing system before activating it on the new installation.

Activating Your Licence

1. Purchase or obtain a Poly Heat Map licence from Sinilab.ai.
2. Open the completed order or visit the Downloads section of your Sinilab.ai account.
3. Download the entitlement files for the required application.
4. Install the entitlement files first.
5. Install the Poly Heat Map product package.
6. Launch the product from its toolbar or Host entry.
7. Open the Sinilab.ai Product Licensing interface when prompted.
8. Enter the licence key supplied with the order.
9. Validate the licence.
10. Once validated, Poly Heat Map becomes available for use.

The validated installation is remembered by the licensing system. The licence key does not need to be entered every time the product is launched.

Installation

3ds Max

1. Download the 3ds Max entitlement package and the Poly Heat Map MZP.
2. Install the entitlement package first.
3. Drag the Poly Heat Map MZP into a 3ds Max viewport.

Alternatively, run the MZP using:

Scripting → Run Script

4. Open:

Customise → Customise User Interface

5. Select the Sinilab_Scripts category.
6. Locate Obj – Poly Heat Map (UrbanCode).
7. Drag the action onto a toolbar, menu or quad menu.

Blender

1. Download and install the Sinilab.ai Tools Host entitlement.
2. Download the Blender Poly Heat Map Provider.
3. Install the Provider using the supplied Blender installation package.
4. Open the Sinilab.ai Tools panel.
5. Locate Poly Heat Map beneath:

UrbanCode → Geometry & Meshes → Poly Heat Map

Launch Behaviour

Single-click

Single-clicking the 3ds Max toolbar button scans the current selection and applies the heatmap directly in the viewport.

Shift-click

Shift-clicking the toolbar button opens the full Poly Heat Map interface for inspection and adjustment.

Rollout Reference

Polygon Range Per Object

Defines the triangle-count ranges used to classify scanned objects.

Minimum

Sets the lower polygon threshold used by the heatmap classification.

Maximum

Sets the upper polygon threshold used by the heatmap classification.

Adjusting these values allows the heatmap to target polygon counts appropriate to the current scene or optimisation requirement.

Green

Identifies objects within the lower polygon range.

These objects are currently within the preferred polygon budget.

Yellow

Identifies objects between the lower and upper thresholds.

These objects may require inspection depending on their purpose and importance within the scene.

Red

Identifies objects exceeding the upper polygon threshold.

These objects are the strongest candidates for further inspection or optimisation.

Heatmap Controls

Scan / Heatmap

Scans the current selection and applies the heatmap classifications.

The same action can be triggered directly by clicking the Poly Heat Map toolbar button.

Display Heatmap

Displays the colour-coded heatmap overlay in the viewport.

This provides an immediate visual comparison of polygon density across the scanned objects.

Live Update

Monitors the selected geometry object and updates the heatmap as its polygon count changes.

Live Update works only when exactly one geometry object is selected. It switches off automatically if:

• The object is deselected.
• Another object is selected.
• Multiple objects are selected.
• The selected object is deleted.
• Another scene is opened.

This prevents the live monitor from continuing against an invalid or ambiguous selection.

Results List

The results list provides a detailed report of the scanned geometry.

Object

Displays the name of each scanned object.

Click an object in the list to select it in the scene.

Layer

Displays the layer containing the object.

Triangles

Displays the current triangle count for the object.

Budget

Shows the object’s triangle count as a percentage of the configured polygon budget.

Status

Displays the current green, yellow or red heatmap classification.

Scene Summary

The lower section of the interface reports:

• Number of scanned objects.
• Combined triangle count.
• Number of objects classified as red.
• Current scan scope.
• Status and update information.

Typical Workflow

Review Polygon Density

1. Select the geometry to inspect.
2. Open Poly Heat Map using Shift-click.
3. Set the required minimum and maximum polygon thresholds.
4. Click Scan / Heatmap.
5. Click Display Heatmap.
6. Review the green, yellow and red classifications in the viewport.
7. Use the results list to inspect individual objects.

Optimise a High-Density Object

1. Scan the required scene geometry.
2. Identify an object classified as red.
3. Select the object from the results list.
4. Enable Live Update.
5. Adjust or optimise the object’s geometry.
6. Monitor the viewport colour and results list as the triangle count changes.
7. Continue until the object reaches the required polygon range.

Quick Viewport Check

1. Select the geometry to inspect.
2. Click the Poly Heat Map toolbar button.
3. Review the resulting heatmap directly in the viewport.

Use Shift-click whenever the polygon thresholds or other settings need to be adjusted.

Troubleshooting

Q: The heatmap does not appear.
A: Confirm that valid geometry is selected, then click Scan / Heatmap followed by Display Heatmap.

Q: Everything appears in the same colour.
A: Adjust the minimum and maximum polygon thresholds so they are appropriate for the triangle counts in the current selection.

Q: Live Update is unavailable or switches off.
A: Live Update requires exactly one geometry object to remain selected. It switches off if the selection changes, multiple objects are selected, the object is deleted or another scene is opened.

Q: An object does not appear in the results list.
A: Confirm that the object was included in the selection when the scene geometry was scanned.

Q: The toolbar button opens the interface instead of immediately applying the heatmap.
A: Release the Shift key before clicking. A standard click applies the heatmap; Shift-click opens the full interface.

Q: Poly Heat Map asks for a licence key.
A: Confirm that the appropriate Sinilab.ai entitlement files were installed before the product package, then enter the licence key supplied with the order through Product Licensing.

Q: The product reports that validation is required.
A: Connect the computer to the internet and launch the product again so the stored installation can be validated.