Progressive refinement. Is a continuous sequence of level-of-detail aproximations, initiate on a crude model and then refine it progressively. Each LOD are created by an incremental simplification process like edge-removal, vertex-removal, or other. The result is a multiresolution model that supports progressive transmision, and makes an effective compression scheme.

Progressive loading. The main application of progressive refinement as the progressive transmision of 2D and 3D vectorial models from the coarse model to final and detailed model.