Implementing Native Smart Extrude and Smart Bevel for Advanced Hard-Surface Modeling
Description: "I am writing to suggest the integration of 'Smart Extrude' and 'Smart Bevel' as native tools within Blender, similar to the functionality recently introduced in other 3D software (e.g., Maya 2027).
Why this is needed: Currently, many professional users rely on third-party add-ons (like Hard Ops or Boxcutter) to achieve efficient non-destructive hard-surface workflows. While these add-ons are excellent, having these features as native, core tools would significantly improve the baseline experience for all users.
Proposed Features:
- Native Smart Extrude: Automating the cleanup of overlapping geometry and internal faces during extrusions to ensure clean topology without manual intervention.
- Native Smart Bevel: A more intelligent beveling system that maintains topology integrity even after complex boolean operations, reducing the need for destructive history resets.
Expected Impact: Integrating these features natively would streamline the modeling pipeline, reduce the learning curve for beginners, and allow for a more robust, non-destructive workflow directly within Blender. This would be a huge step forward for hard-surface artists who value efficiency and clean base meshes.
Thank you for your continuous work on Blender!
3 Comments
Years ago there was plans/task on improving the extrude modeling tool to something like this, but it ended up being abandoned unfortunately, but yes one of the many improvements blender needs.
I suggest we gather everyone interested in improving Blender’s modeling tools and put together a clear list of the most in-demand features to present to the developers for future releases.
I absolutely support this proposal! I have long been actively suggesting to the developers to focus more on modeling tools, as 3ds Max and Maya have already pulled significantly ahead in this area.
Regarding Bevel, as far as I know, a fundamentally new Bevel is currently in development, led by Howard Trickey projects.blender.org/blender/blender/issues/98674