If I remember correctly, programs that work with meshes usually have a smoothing option. Does this exist in Rhino and I just overlooked it? If not, could this please be implemented?
I know I could convert these meshes to subD objects, but this would use a lot more resources than simple subdividing smoothing.
It would be nice if the user could set a subdividing factor and then the original mesh would be hidden, as we know it from the display mesh.
My model is a mesh and not NURBS. Mesh models are often very coarse and are only smoothed out in the final software using an option.
An option such as the global SubD option would be very helpful at the object properties level for meshes.
Or a mesh softening option like the edge softening could be implement? I believe that has been an option for decades in programs like 3dsmax.
_QuadRemesh command with “Convert to SubD” option and choosing a not too high number of target quad count where it should help
It’s starting to be a challenge. 
Thanks for trying, but it’s not what it’s supposed to be.
The advantage of the normal ancient mesh smoothing is that you simply specify a numerical value for the number of passes such as 1, 2 or 3. And as with the display mesh, you can save the file without display/render mesh.
I think the best thing would be for Rhino to finally support this ancient feature. With many models from the internet you have to rely on it, because they are created with SubD Modeller.
Here the rim of the wheel per QuadRemesh:
Wheelpart.3dm (94.3 KB)
Use ToSubD with Control Points set for both mesh and surface. That gives the subd on the right:
If you still want meshes you can then _ExtractRenderMesh.
edit: when converting to SubD choose mesh creases and corners where necessary. I could imagine that those are necessary for the thread on the tyre.
Yes, exactly, this is the right way. And now do this via Rhino object properties, so that it is created and displayed in the background like the display mesh, so that no additional hard data is created.
I think we are talking about something that has been common in other software for decades. And from this software, 3D models are often saved as raw models and the final user sets the smoothing factor depending on the application - high or low poly.
I know it seems strange to ask for an ancient, basic standard feature that should have always been there. 
It was simply overlooked, people got used to workarounds.
Just do _ToSubD with the Delete Input selected? You end up with the subd object and that’s it. And you can always save your file small or geometry only, discarding the render meshes that way.
I don’t know what other software you’re talking about.
Hi @Micha
I know this is not a solution, but I’ve made myself a little GHPlayer-thing that uses WeaverBird to smooth the meshes. It’s a permanent solution, so use on a copy of your meshes, but at least it’s fairly quick. In prior versions of Rhino you could just use SubDivide, which would then use Catmull-Clark to smooth things out, but for some reason the smoothing part was removed, so SubDivide now just adds poly’s without smoothing. There was a reason why it was done (maybe even a good one?), but I don’t remember it 
If your mesh has hard edges, just explode prior to running the GPlayer-thing and re-join afterwards.
_GHP_SubDivide Mesh Cattmull-Clark.gh (6.1 KB)
HTH, Jakob
Right, this
I want to keep the original object. And I don’t want to have booth in the scene. (I used weaverbird a few years too.)
Why not add a simple mesh smoothing option with one parameter? Why not make it so easy for everyone without installing tools?
Like curve piping. Nobody expects you to create a real pipe and cancel the curve, there is only the curve, the rest is at display mesh level. And you can adjust the resolution at any time using segments and radius as required.
As an example I have this model of a moped. The file is quite small and I would like to simply switch the objects to smoothed display and not change the size of the file using save small. (Of course the whole thing becomes much more interesting for more complex models).
Now I understand. Yes, I suppose that’d make sense to do.
edit: logged as RH-85957 Smooth mesh modifier
I think that explains how it works in Blender, there seems to be different methods. I think the user can come back later and change the smoothness up and down. The original low poly mesh is kept in the background, what is shown is the “display mesh”.
Something like this for Rhino would be great.
