Disclosed is a system and associated methods for compressing data in a three-dimensional (“3D”) model. The system receives the constructs that form different shapes of a 3D object represented by the 3D model. The system selects a set of the constructs based on the set of constructs forming a particular shape that is compressible with a function. The system defines the function that generates an approximate shape for the particular shape formed by the set of constructs, and compresses the 3D model by replacing the set of constructs with the function. The system may tune the function so that the approximate shape matches the particular shape with more specificity, may define a noise pattern that approximates and applies the non-uniformity of the particular shape to the approximate shape, and may define a gradient pattern that approximates and applies the coloring of the set of constructs to the approximate shape.