# Reliable way to make smooth 3D objects?

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/reliable-way-to-make-smooth-3d-objects/18322>\
**Category:** Coding Questions\
**Created:** [March 2, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/reliable-way-to-make-smooth-3d-objects/18322 "2020-03-02T20:18:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BennyHacker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/bennyhacker/32/2969_2.png) [@BennyHacker](https://discourse.processing.org/u/BennyHacker)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/reliable-way-to-make-smooth-3d-objects/18322/1 "2020-03-02T20:18:18Z")

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Is there a way to make 3D objects in Processing that don’t appear as polygonal?

Currently I make 3D shapes by using functions such as beginShape(TRIANGLE\_STRIP), but I would like to learn the more technical aspects. If there’s any resources on this please point me to em.

The difference would be similar to this image:

![7sklR](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/2X/5/5deecc1cfe63c75ef10b8bb4729f125a748b798c.png)

Except instead of spheres I’m trying to create more abstract shapes

Edit: I solved it. Turns out the vertices must also have the same normals

[https://processing.org/reference/normal\_.html](https://processing.org/reference/normal_.html)

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**Author:** ![matheplica](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/matheplica/32/21035_2.png) [@matheplica](https://discourse.processing.org/u/matheplica)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 2:48pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/reliable-way-to-make-smooth-3d-objects/18322/2 "2020-03-04T14:48:24Z")

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Increase the number of segment if you can sacrifice performance

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**Author:** ![Chrisir](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/chrisir/32/45_2.png) [@Chrisir](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Chrisir)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 3:45pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/reliable-way-to-make-smooth-3d-objects/18322/3 "2020-03-04T15:45:39Z")

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> **[Subdivision surface](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subdivision_surface)**
>
> In the field of 3D computer graphics, a subdivision surface is a method of representing a smooth surface via the specification of a coarser polygon mesh. The smooth surface can be calculated from the coarse mesh as the limit of an iterative process of subdividing each polygonal face into smaller faces that better approximate the smooth surface.
> The subdivision surfaces algorithm is recursive in nature. The process starts with a given polygonal mesh. A Refinement Scheme is then applied to this m...

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chrisir](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/chrisir/32/45_2.png) [@Chrisir](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Chrisir)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/reliable-way-to-make-smooth-3d-objects/18322/4 "2020-03-04T16:22:46Z")

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for a simple sphere it would be sphereDetail()  
but I understand, that’s not your goal

[https://www.processing.org/reference/sphereDetail\_.html](https://www.processing.org/reference/sphereDetail_.html)

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**Author:** ![jeremydouglass](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/jeremydouglass/32/20_2.png) [@jeremydouglass](https://discourse.processing.org/u/jeremydouglass)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2020, 5:21pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/reliable-way-to-make-smooth-3d-objects/18322/5 "2020-03-07T17:21:54Z")

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> [@BennyHacker](#):
>
> make 3D objects in Processing that don’t appear as polygonal? […] instead of spheres I’m trying to create more abstract shapes

Also check out the curved primitives in the Shapes3D library, like Ellipsoid and LatheStock. They give you more options for non-poly geometric constructions.

> **[Quarks Place](http://lagers.org.uk/s3d4p/index.html)**
>
> Shapes 3D and Processing