Lodmod

Mesh detail changes when a scene needs more than one distance view

When a project includes meshes that need to read well at different distances, the work quickly shifts from shaping the main object to preparing lighter versions of it. Lodmod focuses on that part of the Blender workflow. It automates the creation of LODs for meshes using the Decimate modifier, which makes the repeated reduction process feel much less manual.

The addon is aimed at the kind of task that usually turns into a cycle of collapsing geometry and counting verts again and again. Instead of rebuilding each lower-detail version by hand, it gives a faster path for creating multiple LOD meshes and then adjusting them afterwards. That makes it useful when several selected objects need to move through the same reduction process in one pass.

What happens when the LODs are created

The workflow starts with selected objects. After clicking the create LODs button, the addon duplicates the object for the number of LODs chosen, then renames each duplicate with the suffix _LODx. It also adds a Decimate modifier set to collapse, using a preset ratio calculated from the ratio value and the number of LODs selected.

That structure keeps the process simple: the addon takes what is already selected, produces the required variants, and applies the same reduction logic across them. The original mesh can stay as it is, or it can be given the _LOD0 Suffix if that option is turned on. Either way, the generated LODs begin with _LOD1.

Because the addon works from the selected objects rather than from a separate setup step, it suits situations where several meshes need matching LOD chains at once. The same operation can be used to duplicate, rename, and prepare the lower-detail versions without repeating the setup for each object individually.

The settings that shape each LOD set

The menu includes a small set of controls that directly affect how the generated LODs behave. Each one changes a different part of the workflow:

• Number of LODs: Sets how many LODs are created for each selected object.
• Decimation ratio: Sets how much each LOD is reduced, from 0 to 1. The default is 0.5, so each LOD halves in vertex count from the previous one.
• Lineup Offset: Offsets each generated LOD by the chosen amount so they can be viewed in a lineup after creation.
• Apply Modifiers: Applies the Decimate modifiers to the LODs, which turns the process into a destructive workflow and removes the need to apply them one by one.
• Add _LOD0 suffix: Gives the original mesh the _LOD0 suffix when enabled. When it is off, the original mesh keeps its name.
• Make Collections: Packs the original meshes into a collection with their respective LODs, keeping each set together and helping the outliner stay tidy.

These controls make the addon flexible enough to cover both quick generation and more deliberate review. The ratio setting handles the general level of reduction, while the number of LODs determines how many steps will be created. Together, they define the chain that follows the original mesh.

Checking the results before they settle into the scene

The Lineup Offset option is especially practical when the goal is to inspect the generated versions immediately. By spacing the LODs apart, it creates a visible lineup that makes it easier to examine the results and tweak values before recreating them. That keeps the process from becoming a blind reduction pass.

The option to apply modifiers also matters when the work needs to be committed right away. Since the Decimate modifiers can be applied automatically, the addon avoids the need to do that step object by object. It is a direct route for users who want the generated LODs to become part of the scene without extra manual cleanup.

Make Collections helps in a different way. When LODMOD is used on lots of objects at once, the collection option keeps each original mesh together with its LODs. That makes the outliner easier to read and prevents the generated versions from drifting away from the object they belong to.

A practical fit for repeated LOD work in Blender

Lodmod fits projects where LOD creation is a recurring task rather than a one-off adjustment. It is built for selected meshes, uses the Decimate modifier to automate reduction, and gives enough control to adjust how aggressive each step should be. The lineup view, suffix option, modifier application, and collection handling all support the same goal: making lower-detail meshes easier to generate, inspect, and keep organized inside Blender.

For scenes that need many objects processed in the same way, it offers a straightforward path from the main mesh to a full set of LODs without turning the work into a long manual cycle.

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