Smoothing Groups

Techqon core in Modeling

Smoothing Groups

Name: Smoothing groups
Brand: Techqon core
Price: 9.90 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

The Complete Shading Control System for Blender

Group-based workflow for professional hard-surface and subdivision modeling

The Problem with Auto Smooth

✗ Limited control over complex geometry

✗ Constant manual marking of sharp edges

✗ Error-prone on dense or evolving meshes

✗ Tedious to maintain in hard-surface workflows

✗ No way to save and reuse shading definitions

The Smoothing Groups Solution

✓ Define shading once using reusable groups

✓ No manual edge marking per iteration

✓ Predictable, editable, persistent results

✓ Non-destructive and production-safe

✓ Link to UV Seams, Crease, and Bevel weights

5 Group Types — One Unified System

Group Type	Purpose	Use Case
Smoothing Groups	Control sharp/smooth shading	Hard-surface edges, panel lines
UV Seams	Define UV unwrapping boundaries	Texture mapping preparation
Crease	Subdivision edge sharpness	SubD modeling, edge control
Bevel Weight	Per-edge bevel modifier control	Chamfered edges, fillets
Selection	Store and recall selections	Complex selection management

All group types work together. All editable. All non-destructive.

Group Linking — A Game Changer

Link your Smoothing Group to other feature types. Create UV Seams, Crease, and Bevel groups from a single master. Edit the master — linked groups update automatically.

Smart Auto Grouping

Generate intelligent base groups automatically with multiple methods:

Angle-Based Detection

Sharp edges above your threshold become separate groups. Perfect for mechanical parts.

Normal-Based Grouping

Group faces by orientation. Ideal for architectural and product surfaces.

Island Detection

One group per disconnected mesh region. Great for complex assemblies.

Normal Merging

Combine disconnected regions with similar facing direction into one group.

Select Mesh → Open Auto Groups → Live Preview → Adjust Settings → Create Groups

Traditional vs. Smoothing Groups

Traditional Auto Smooth

✗ Angle-based only

✗ Stateless — no memory

✗ Manual edge corrections

✗ Per-mesh, not reusable

✗ No visualization

Smoothing Groups

✓ Geometry-aware groups

✓ Persistent and editable

✓ Automatic edge handling

✓ Linkable to other features

✓ Color overlay visualization

Workflow Features

Smart Select

Click one element, automatically select the entire group. Toggle on/off as needed.

Group ID Grid

Visual grid for quick group assignment. Works while selecting in viewport.

Pie Menu

Configurable quick-access menu for common operations. Customize slots to your needs.

Color Overlays

See groups at a glance with color visualization. Two modes: Overlay or Vertex Colors.

Modifier Manager

Built-in Subdivision and Bevel modifier controls directly in the panel.

Selection Tools

Expand, Shrink, Linked, Similar, and Boundary selection utilities.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action	Description
`Alt + Q`	Pie Menu	Quick access to common operations
`Alt + O`	Group ID Grid	Visual grid for group assignment
`Alt + G`	Quick Create	Create group from selection

All shortcuts are customizable in the Settings panel.

Built for Professionals

Non-Destructive Workflow

• Groups stored in mesh data
• Persistent across sessions
• Undo/redo support
• Safe for production pipelines

Extensive Customization

• Default values for new groups
• Color palettes (2 presets)
• Per-feature overlay settings
• Configurable shortcuts

Learning Resources

• Interactive tutorial system
• Smart Helper contextual tips
• Step-by-step guidance

Use Cases

• Hard-surface modeling
• Subdivision workflows
• Product visualization
• Game asset creation

Familiar Concept — Expanded for Blender

If you know 3ds Max Smoothing Groups, you'll feel at home instantly.

But in Blender, Smoothing Groups go further:

✓ Sync with UV Seams — Define unwrap boundaries from shading groups

✓ Link to Crease — Control subdivision sharpness

✓ Link to Bevel Weights — Drive bevel modifier with groups

✓ Selection Groups — Store complex selections for later use

✓ Color Overlays — Visualize all groups in the viewport

✓ Boundary Only Mode — Apply features only to group edges

Want to see it in action?

Watch the full step-by-step video tutorial to learn how to use Smoothing Groups efficiently.

▶ Watch Video Tutorial

Work Smarter. Stay Organized. Focus on Creativity.

Smoothing Groups keeps your Blender hard-surface and subdivision workflows integrated, automated, and effortless.

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