.. _bpy.ops.mesh.subdivide: ********* Subdivide ********* .. admonition:: Reference :class: refbox :Mode: Edit Mode :Panel: :menuselection:`Tool Shelf --> Tools --> Mesh Tools --> Add: Subdivide` :Menu: :menuselection:`Mesh --> Edges --> Subdivide`, :menuselection:`Specials --> Subdivide/Subdivide Smooth` Subdividing splits selected edges and faces by cutting them in half or more, adding new vertices, and subdividing accordingly the faces involved. It adds resolution to the mesh by divide faces or edges into smaller units. This process follows a few rules, depending on the settings: - When only one edge of a face is selected (Triangle mode), triangles are subdivided into two triangles, and quads, into three triangles. - When two edges of a face are selected: - If the face is a triangle, a new edge is created between the two new vertices, subdividing the triangle in a triangle and a quad. - If the face is a quad, and the edges are neighbors, we have *three* possible behaviors, depending on the setting of *Corner Cut Type* (the select menu next to the *Subdivide* button, in *Mesh Tools* panel). See below for details. - If the face is a quad, and the edges are opposite, the quad is just subdivided in two quads by the edge linking the two new vertices. - When three edges of a face are selected: - If the face is a triangle, this means the whole face is selected and it is then subdivided in four smaller triangles. - If the face is a quad, first the two opposite edges are subdivided as described above. Then, the "middle" edge is subdivided, affecting its new "sub-quad" as described above for only one edge. - When four edges of a face (a quad) are selected, the face is subdivided into four smaller quads. Options ======= These options are available in the *Tool Panel* after running the tool; Number of Cuts Specifies the number of cuts per edge to make. By default this is 1, cutting edges in half. A value of 2 will cut it into thirds, and so on. Smoothness Displaces subdivisions to maintain approximate curvature. The effect is similar to the way the Subdivision Surface Modifier might deform the mesh. .. list-table:: * - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_smooth-before.png :width: 200px Mesh before subdividing. - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_smooth-none.png :width: 200px Subdivided with no smoothing. - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_smooth-after.png :width: 200px Subdivided with smoothing of 1. Quad/Tri Mode Forces subdivide to create triangles or quads instead of n-gons (see examples below). This mode doesn't allow the use of *Straight Cut* on quad corners. Corner Cut Type This select menu controls the way quads with only two adjacent selected edges are subdivided. Fan The quad is subdivided in a fan of four triangles, the common vertex being the one opposite to the selected edges. Inner vertices The selected edges are subdivided, then an edge is created between the two new vertices, creating a small triangle. This edge is also subdivided, and the "inner vertex" thus created is linked by another edge to the one opposite to the original selected edges. All this results in a quad subdivided in a triangle and two quads. Path First an edge is created between the two opposite ends of the selected edges, dividing the quad in two triangles. Then, the same goes for the involved triangle as described above. Straight Cut The selected edges are subdivided, then an edge is created between the two new vertices, creating a small triangle and n-gon. .. list-table:: * - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_two-edges-quad-fan2.png :width: 200px Fan cut type. - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_two-edges-quad-innervert.png :width: 200px Inner vertices cut type. - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_two-edges-quad-path.png :width: 200px Path cut type. Fractal Displaces the vertices in random directions after the mesh is subdivided. .. list-table:: * - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_fractal-before.png :width: 200px Plane before subdivision. - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_fractal-none.png :width: 200px Regular subdivision. - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_fractal-after1.png :width: 200px Same mesh with fractal added. Along Normal Causes the vertices to move along their normals, instead of random directions. .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_fractal-along-normal.png :width: 200px Along normal set to 1. Random Seed Changes the random seed of the *Fractal* noise function, producing a different result for each seed value. .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_fractal-after2.png :width: 200px Same mesh with a different seed value. Examples ======== Below are several examples illustrating the various possibilities of the *Subdivide* and *Subdivide Multi* tools. Note the selection after subdivision. .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_before.png :width: 300px The sample mesh. One Edge -------- .. list-table:: * - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_one-edge.png :width: 250px One Edge. - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_one-edge-tri.png :width: 250px Quad/Tri Mode. Two Tri Edges ------------- .. list-table:: * - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_two-edges-tri.png :width: 250px - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_two-edges-tri-tri.png :width: 250px Quad/Tri Mode. Two Opposite Quad Edges ----------------------- .. list-table:: * - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_two-edges-opposite.png :width: 250px - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_two-edges-opposite-tri.png :width: 250px Quad/Tri Mode. Two Adjacent Quad Edges ----------------------- .. list-table:: * - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_two-edges-quad-fan2.png :width: 250px Fan cut type. - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_two-edges-quad-fan.png :width: 250px Quad/Tri Mode. .. list-table:: * - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_two-edges-quad-innervert.png :width: 250px Innervert cut type. - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_two-edges-quad-innervert-tri.png :width: 250px Quad/Tri Mode. .. list-table:: * - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_two-edges-quad-path.png :width: 250px Path cut type. - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_two-edges-quad-path-tri.png :width: 250px Quad/Tri Mode. Three Edges ----------- .. list-table:: * - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_three-edges.png :width: 250px - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_three-edges-tri2.png :width: 250px Quad/Tri Mode. Tri --- .. list-table:: * - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_three-edges-tri.png :width: 250px - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_three-edges-tri-tri.png :width: 250px Quad/Tri Mode. Quad/Four Edges --------------- .. list-table:: * - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_four-edges.png :width: 250px - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_four-edges-tri.png :width: 250px Quad/Tri Mode. Multicut -------- .. list-table:: * - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_tri-multi.png :width: 250px Tri with two cuts. - .. figure:: /images/modeling_meshes_editing_subdividing_subdivide_quad-multi.png :width: 250px Quad with two cuts. .. _mesh-unsubdivide: Un-Subdivide ============ .. admonition:: Reference :class: refbox :Mode: Edit Mode :Menu: :menuselection:`Mesh --> Edges --> Un-Subdivide` Unsubdivide functions as the reverse of subdivide by attempting to remove edges that were the result of a subdivide operation. If additional editing has been done after the subdivide operation, unexpected results may occur. Iterations How many subdivisions to remove.