Hunyuan 3D Models – The Essentials
Scenario’s library of generative 3D models includes the Hunyuan 3D family. The name covers a family of text‑ or image‑to‑3D systems developed by Tencent that have quickly become some of the most capable AI 3D generators available. This article explains the key models available in Scenario, highlights their differences and provides practical tips to help you choose the right tool for your project.
Overview of the models
To help you visualise the versions available on Scenario, the following table shows the various Hunyuan 3D model cards (Pro Sketch, Pro, Pro Multi‑View, 2.1, 2.0 Fast and Multi‑View):
Model & Input | Key strengths | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|
Hunyuan 3D 2.0 | Open‑source image‑to‑3D model launched Jan 2025. Generates stylised meshes with PBR‑style textures in ~10–25 seconds. Requires 6 GB VRAM for shape only and 12–16 GB VRAM for full shape + texture. | Quick concept generation when a single front view is available. Meshes can be dense and may need retopology for production use. |
Hunyuan 3D 2.1 | Fully open‑sourced with weights and training code. Introduces physically‑based rendering (PBR) textures that simulate realistic light interactions. Offers 10× higher geometric precision than 2.0 and supports multi‑platform deployment. Textures are sharper (up to 4K). | Use when you need better fidelity, real PBR textures and the ability to fine‑tune or run locally. Still produces dense meshes (up to ~600 k faces) and may need retopology. |
Hunyuan 3D Pro (3.0) – Standard | Uses a hierarchical 3D‑DiT carving process to build a rough shape then refine details, eliminating many artefacts. Supports up to 1.5 million polygons for film‑quality models, 500 k for real‑time preview or 50 k for quick tests. Offers a dropdown to choose Standard, Optimized Mesh, or Mesh Only (explained below). | Best for generating high‑fidelity models from a single image when geometry detail matters. |
Hunyuan 3D Pro – MultiView | Same core engine as Pro – Standard but accepts multiple viewpoints to improve accuracy and symmetry. Allows separate images for each side or a prompt to guide generation. Offers the same face‑count slider and mode options as Standard. | Ideal when you have multiple views (e.g., character sheets) and need more accurate geometry. |
Hunyuan 3D Pro – Sketch | Converts line drawings into detailed 3D meshes. A prompt can be used to describe materials or style. Provides a face‑count slider similar to Standard. | Great for concept artists who want to turn sketches into prototypes. |
The family also includes Hunyuan 3D Fast (a speed‑optimized version of 2.0) and Hunyuan 3D 2.0 MV (multi‑view). These models are still available but are mostly superseded by 2.1 and Pro versions.
Hunyuan 3D 2.0 and 2.0 Fast
Hunyuan 3D 2.0 introduced Tencent’s two‑stage generation pipeline (geometry via Hunyuan3D‑DiT and texture via Hunyuan3D‑Paint). It generates meshes and textures from a single photo or text prompt in 10–25 seconds, making it suitable for rapid prototyping. You may use a single image (Hunyuan 3D 2.0) or Multiple Images (Hunyuan 3D 2.0 - Multi View)
Strengths: Open‑source code and weights, quick generation and good stylised results with minimal setup. Adopted by hobbyists for its accessibility.
Limitations: Uses an RGB texture pipeline; textures may lack realism compared to later versions. Meshes can be heavy and require manual retopology for game or real‑time use.
The “Fast” variant trades some detail for quicker turnaround. It’s best for previewing concepts or generating placeholder assets.
Hunyuan 3D 2.1 – improved precision & open sourcing
Version 2.1 builds on the 2.0 architecture and is fully open source, releasing the complete training code and weights. Its major advances are:
Physically‑Based Rendering (PBR) textures – 2.1 introduces a PBR texture pipeline that simulates realistic light interactions (metallic reflections, subsurface scattering), producing photorealistic surfaces
Ten‑fold geometric precision – models are far more detailed than 2.0, enabling intricate characters and mechanical parts.
Sharper textures and resolution – surfaces look smoother and more refined
Use it when: you need high‑fidelity PBR textures, want to run or fine‑tune the model locally, or require open‑source flexibility. It’s excellent for character design, product prototyping and architectural models. Keep in mind that meshes remain dense and may need retopology.
Hunyuan 3D Pro (3.0) – Standard, MultiView and Sketch
The Pro family represents Tencent’s third‑generation model. It uses a 3D‑DiT hierarchical carving process that builds a coarse shape before adding fine details. Compared to previous versions, Pro models triple modeling accuracy and support resolutions up to 1536³ voxels. The interface lets you choose a polygon count – 50 k, 500 k or up to 1.5 M – depending on your quality needs
Hunyuan 3D Pro – Standard
This variant takes a single reference image and an optional text prompt. It’s ideal when you only have a front view of your subject. In Scenario, you can control the face count with a slider and select between the following modes:
Standard (High Poly) – outputs the most detailed mesh and textures. Suitable for sculpting, film‑quality renders or when you plan to decimate the mesh yourself.
Optimized Mesh – uses Tencent’s PolyGen retopology system to produce a cleaner, lower‑poly mesh ready for animation or real‑time engines. PolyGen compresses 3D data without losing critical detail and generates meshes with quadrilateral and triangular faces, improving compatibility
Mesh Only (High Poly) – outputs only the geometry. Use this when you want to texture the mesh elsewhere or need a quick base mesh.
Hunyuan 3D Pro – MultiView
MultiView accepts up to four images (front, left, right and back) and optionally a prompt. By providing multiple angles, it produces more accurate and symmetrical geometry than the Standard mode. The workflow is straightforward: upload each view, set the face count and choose a mode (Standard, Optimized Mesh, Mesh Only). MultiView is perfect for characters or objects where side‑view details matter.
Hunyuan 3D Pro – Sketch
Sketch mode transforms line drawings into fully textured 3D models. Upload your sketch and optionally describe the subject or materials using a prompt. Adjust the face count to balance detail and performance. Sketch mode is powerful for turning concept art or rough doodles into prototyped assets without traditional modelling.
Why “Optimized Mesh“ (Polygen) matter
Game assets require clean topology for rigging and efficient rendering. Tencent’s PolyGen framework addresses this by using an autoregressive mesh generation model that converts dense point‑cloud data into a structured mesh. It performs explicit vertex and patch modeling, handles both triangular and quadrilateral faces, and reduces mesh density while preserving detail. Tencent’s internal tests report efficiency gains of over 70 % in asset creation.
When you choose Optimized Mesh in Scenario, you’re using PolyGen under the hood.
Workflows and tips
Choose the right generation: For quick prototypes, use 2.0 or 2.1. Use Pro (with Optimized Mesh) when you need higher resolution and faster turnaround, or near-production‑ready assets with retopologized meshes.
Prepare your images: For Standard and MultiView, upload clear, well‑lit photos. Ensure the subject occupies most of the frame and avoid cluttered backgrounds. MultiView models perform best when the front, side and back images share scale and lighting. Front + Back also works just fine.
Adjust face counts: Use 40-50 k faces for previews, or 500K - 1.5 M for high‑end renders. Remember that higher counts increase generation time and file size.
Iterate: If the output isn’t right, tweak the prompt, adjust the guidance slider or provide additional reference images.
Leverage prompts (optional): You may use concise prompts to guide style and material (e.g., “weathered bronze statue” or “cute plush toy, felt texture”). For Sketch mode, prompts help refine materials and colours.
Conclusion
Tencent’s Hunyuan 3D models offer a complete spectrum of capabilities—from open‑source, single‑view generators to high‑resolution, multi‑view systems with intelligent retopology.
Scenario integrates all these models to give creators flexibility: use 2.0 for quick tests, 2.1 for polished PBR assets, or Pro variants for production‑ready meshes with PolyGen retopology.
By understanding the differences and following the best practices outlined above, you can unlock the full potential of AI‑assisted 3D creation on Scenario.
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