Local calculations are used to extend the notion of image-driven polygon mesh simplification. An implementation of the existing image-driven simplification algorithm is presented and it is shown to have the most important features of the original method. A simple technique is developed to evaluate the collapse cost for an edge by generating and considering only image data local to that edge. In addition, the requirement of maintaining images of the original mesh is eliminated. These techniques are combined with the traditional image-driven simplification approach to enable simplification without at any point rendering the complete mesh. Benefits of this method include automatic prevention of interior simplification, easier sampling camera definition, and more flexibility for future implementations. A technique to reduce texture shifting during mesh simplification, using real-time solid texturing, is also described.