Why are asset files so big?

Romanito
Wed, 25 Feb 2015 08:53:18 +0000
Asset Creation

I’m working with highly detailed static meshes (> 1 000 000 triangles), and I’m a bit concerned by the asset file sizes in my final build. My source material is compressed OpenCTM files, I convert them to Collada with ctmconv then FBX with Blender, then I import them in UE 4.6.1. Here is an example with a 1 500 000 triangles mesh:

mesh.ctm: 6.8 MB

mesh.fbx: 36 MB

mesh.uasset: 302 MB

This is a static mesh with two materials and no LODs. I use several meshes like this so in the end my shipping build is 3 GB, which is a bit overkill for only static models.

Why does geometrical data that can take as few as 6.8 MB end up taking 302 MB in UE?
Is there a way to compress these assets, other than using compressed paks or zipping the final build?

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