Managing volumetric data, including: defining a view volume in a volume of space, wherein the volumetric data has multiple points in the volume of space and at least one point is in the view volume and at least one point is not in the view volume; defining a grid in the volume of space, the grid having multiple cells and dividing the volume of space into respective cells, wherein each point has a corresponding cell in the grid, and each cell in the grid has zero or more corresponding points; and reducing the number of points for a cell in the grid where that cell is outside the view volume.