by Techqon core·Modeling
Images © Techqon core. Used for product review; image policy.
Earns its place in the Superhive library for bringing a persistent, group-based approach to shading control in Blender, familiar to anyone who has used 3ds Max Smoothing Groups.
Smoothing Groups brings a group-based workflow to Blender for hard-surface and subdivision modeling. Rather than relying on angle-based auto smooth, you define shading once using reusable groups that stay persistent, editable and non-destructive. The system covers five group types: Smoothing Groups for sharp/smooth shading, UV Seams for unwrap boundaries, Crease for subdivision edge sharpness, Bevel Weight for per-edge bevel control, and Selection groups for storing and recalling selections. All types work together and remain editable.
Group Linking lets you drive UV Seams, Crease and Bevel groups from a single master group, with linked groups updating automatically when the master is edited. Smart Auto Grouping generates base groups through angle-based detection, normal-based grouping, island detection and normal merging, with a live preview while adjusting settings.
Workflow features include Smart Select, a Group ID grid, a configurable pie menu, color overlay visualization in two modes, a built-in Subdivision and Bevel modifier manager, and selection utilities. Groups are stored in mesh data, persist across sessions and support undo/redo. If you know 3ds Max Smoothing Groups, the concept will feel familiar.
Smoothing Groups is best for blender artists working on hard-surface modeling, subdivision workflows, product visualization and game asset creation.
Smoothing Groups is completely free to download and use.
Smoothing Groups lets you link a Smoothing Group to other feature types, creating UV Seams, Crease and Bevel groups from a single master group. When you edit the master, the linked groups update automatically. This keeps shading, unwrap boundaries, subdivision sharpness and bevel weights connected rather than maintained separately. The five group types — including Selection groups for storing complex selections — all work together and remain editable, and the workflow is non-destructive, making it suitable for production pipelines.
Smoothing Groups includes Smart Auto Grouping with several methods. Angle-based detection turns sharp edges above your threshold into separate groups, suited to mechanical parts. Normal-based grouping organizes faces by orientation for architectural and product surfaces. Island detection creates one group per disconnected mesh region for complex assemblies. Normal merging combines disconnected regions with similar facing direction into one group. The process runs as select mesh, open Auto Groups, live preview, adjust settings, then create groups, so you can review results before committing.
Smoothing Groups stores its groups in mesh data, so they are persistent across sessions and remain available when you reopen your file. The workflow supports undo and redo and is described as non-destructive and safe for production pipelines. This means shading definitions can be reused and edited rather than remarked each time. Color overlay visualization, in either Overlay or Vertex Colors mode, lets you see which groups are assigned directly in the viewport.
Smoothing Groups is listed as free in this catalog. Because licensing terms can change over time, check the developer's page on Superhive for the current details before you rely on it in a project. The add-on ships with documentation, an interactive tutorial system, Smart Helper contextual tips and step-by-step guidance to help you get started, and a demo video is available on YouTube for a look at the tool.
by Community
LoopTools is a mesh modelling toolkit for Blender that gathers several tools to aid modelling. It was previously part of Blender 4.1's bundled add-ons and is now offered as an extension, provided as it is with limited support.
by Community
Extra Mesh Objects is a Blender add-on that expands the Add > Mesh menu with additional mesh object types. Previously bundled with Blender 4.1, it now ships as a standalone extension for Blender 4.2 LTS and newer.
by nickberckley
Bool Tool brings quick boolean operators to Blender for hard-surface modeling, covering brush booleans, destructive auto boolean cuts, and workspace tools that carve objects with custom shapes in both object and edit modes.
by Community
Extra Curve Objects is a community add-on for Blender that adds extra curve object types. It lives under View3D → Add → Curve → Extra Objects and was previously part of Blender 4.1's bundled add-ons.
by MACHIN3
MESHmachine is a mesh modeling addon for Blender focused on hard surface work without subdivision surfaces. It fuses and unfuses surfaces, creates variable fillets and washouts, edits bevels, and details meshes with plugs.
by Community
A.N.T.Landscape is a Blender add mesh add-on for generating landscapes and displacement. Originally a bundled add-on in Blender 4.1, it's now offered as-is with limited support, accessed from the View3D sidebar's Create tab.
