.. _tool-mesh-bevel: ***** Bevel ***** .. admonition:: Reference :class: refbox :Mode: Edit Mode :Menu: :menuselection:`Edge --> Bevel Edges` :Hotkey: :kbd:`Ctrl-B` :Menu: :menuselection:`Vertex --> Bevel Vertices` (vertex-only) :Hotkey: :kbd:`Shift-Ctrl-B` (vertex-only) The *Bevel* tool allows you to create chamfered or rounded corners on geometry. A bevel is an effect that smooths out edges and corners. True world edges are very seldom exactly sharp. Not even a knife blade edge can be considered perfectly sharp. Most edges are intentionally beveled for mechanical and practical reasons. Bevels are also useful for giving realism to non-organic models. In the real world, the blunt edges on objects catch the light and change the shading around the edges. This gives a solid, realistic look, as opposed to un-beveled objects which can look too perfect. .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_bevel_cubes.jpg Cubes with and without bevel. Usage ===== The *Bevel Edges* tool works only on selected edges with exactly two adjacent faces. It will recognize any edges included in a vertex or face selection as well, and perform the bevel the same as if those edges were explicitly selected. In "vertex only" mode, the *Bevel Vertices* tool works on selected vertices instead of edges, and there is no requirement about having any adjacent faces. The *Bevel* tool smooths the edges and/or "corners" (vertices) by replacing them with faces making smooth profiles with a specified number of *segments* (see the options below for details about the bevel algorithm). Use :kbd:`Ctrl-B` or a method listed above to run the tool. Move the mouse to interactively or type a number to specify the bevel offset, and scroll the :kbd:`Wheel` to increase or decrease the number of segments (see below). .. list-table:: * - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_bevel_example-1.png :width: 320px Selected edge before beveling. - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_bevel_example-2.png :width: 320px Result of bevel (one segment). - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_bevel_example-3.png :width: 320px Result of bevel (vertex only). .. note:: Normal (edge) beveling only works on edges that have exactly two faces attached to them. Vertex beveling has no such restriction. Options ======= Amount :kbd:`A` You can change the bevel amount by moving the mouse towards and away from the object, a bit like with transform tools. The exact meaning of the value depends on the *Amount Type* option (see below). As usual, the scaling can be controlled to a finer degree by holding :kbd:`Shift` to scale in 0.001 steps. :kbd:`LMB` finalizes the operation, :kbd:`RMB` or :kbd:`Esc` aborts the action. Amount Type :kbd:`M` Selects how the *Amount* value controls the size of the bevel. According to the selection, the amount is: Offset The distance of a new edge from the original. Width The width of the bevel face. Depth The perpendicular distance from the original edge to the bevel face. Percent The percentage of the length of adjacent edges that the new edges slide. For vertex-only bevels, the Offset and Depth types measure from the original vertex, and the Width type is measured from a new vertex to the center of the new face (as half the amount). Segments :kbd:`S` The number of segments in the bevel can be defined by scrolling the mouse :kbd:`Wheel` to increase or decrease this value. The greater the number of segments, the smoother the bevel. Or press :kbd:`S` to change the number with mouse movements, as well as numeric input. Alternatively, you can manually enter a segment number value while using the tool, or in the Mesh Tool options panel after using the tool. .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_bevel_example-4.png :width: 320px Bevel with four segments. Profile :kbd:`P` This is a number between 0 and 1 that controls the shape of the profile (side view of a beveled edge). The default value, 0.5, gives a circular arc (if the faces meet at right angles). Values less than that give a flatter profile, with 0.25 being exactly flat, and values less than that giving a concave bevel. Values more than 0.5 give a more convex profile. Similarly as *Segments* it can be set with mouse movements and numeric input after toggling :kbd:`P`. Vertex Only :kbd:`V` When selected, the tool is in "vertex only" mode, and only vertices will be beveled. Clamp Overlap :kbd:`C` Limits the width of each beveled edge so that edges cannot cause overlapping intersections with other geometry. Loop Slide If there are unbeveled edges along with beveled edges into a vertex, the bevel tries to slide along those edges when possible. Turning the option off can lead to more even bevel widths. Mark Seams :kbd:`U` If a seam edge crosses a non-seam one and you bevel all of them, this option will maintain the expected propagation of seams. Mark Sharp :kbd:`K` Similar to Mark Seams, but for sharp edges. Material The *Material* number specifies which material should be assigned to the new faces created by the *Bevel* tool. With the default, -1, the material is inherited from the closest existing face ("closest" can be a bit ambiguous). Otherwise, the number is the slot index of the material to use for all newly created faces. Harden Normals :kbd:`H` When enabled, the per-vertex face normals of the bevel faces are adjusted to match the surrounding faces, and the normals of the surrounding faces are not affected. This will keep the surrounding faces flat (if they were before), with the bevel faces shading smoothly into them. For this effect to work, custom split normals need to be enabled, which requires Auto Smooth to be enabled (see :doc:`Normals `). As a convenience, that option will be enabled for you if it is not already when you enable Harden Normals here. Face Strength Mode Set *Face Strength* on the faces involved in the bevel, according to the specified mode. This can be used in conjunction with a :doc:`Weight Normals Modifier ` (with the *Face Influence* option checked). None Do not set face strength. New Set the face strength of new faces along edges to *Medium*, and the face strength of new faces at vertices to *Weak*. Affected In addition to those set for the *New* case, also set the faces adjacent to new faces to have strength *Strong*. All In addition to those set for the *Affected* option, also set all the rest of the faces of the model to have strength *Strong*. Outer Miter :kbd:`O` A *miter* is formed when two beveled edges meet at an angle. On the side where the angle is greater than 180 degrees, if any, it is called an *outer miter*. This option specifies the pattern that Blender uses at an outer miter. Sharp Edges meet at a sharp point, with no extra vertices introduced on the edges. Patch Edges meet at a sharp point but in addition, two extra vertices are introduced near the point so that the edges and faces at the vertex may be less pinched together than what occurs in the *Sharp* case. The *Spread* slider controls how far the new vertices are from the meeting point. Arc Two vertices are introduced near the meeting point, and a curved arc joins them together. The *Spread* slider controls how far the new vertices are from the meeting point. The *Profile* slider controls the shape of the arc. The current choices are shown in this diagram, where the outer miter is along the horizontal surface. .. list-table:: * - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_bevel_miter-2.png :width: 320px Sharp outer miter. - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_bevel_miter-3.png :width: 320px Patch outer miter. - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_bevel_miter-4.png :width: 320px Arc outer miter. Inner Miter :kbd:`I` An *Inner Miter* is formed when the angle between two beveled edges is less than 180 degrees. This option specifies the pattern Blender uses at an inner miter. The options are the same as for Outer Miter, except that *Patch* makes no sense and is therefore omitted. Inner miters are shown in the following diagram, where two inner miters are on the vertical surfaces. .. list-table:: * - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_bevel_miter-5.png :width: 200px Sharp inner miter. - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_bevel_miter-6.png :width: 200px Arc inner miter. Spread The value used to spread extra vertices apart for *Outer* and *Inner Miters*. Examples ======== .. list-table:: * - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_bevel_example-5.png :width: 320px Result of beveling multiple edges. - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_bevel_example-6.png :width: 320px Another example of beveling multiple edges. - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_bevel_example-7.png :width: 320px An example using Profile=0.150. .. seealso:: Bevel Modifier The :doc:`Bevel Modifier ` is a non-destructive alternative to the Bevel tool.