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This should be super simple but somehow I can't get it to work

  • Create a spiral
  • Give it some extra turns
  • convert to mesh
  • extrude a little on the x-axis (so it looks like a roll of paper)
  • tick auto smooth

But it still looks like this: extruded sprial

I've also tried the Smooth Modifier but no difference there either .... ?

Doodled
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  • Aside from using AutoSmooth turn on Smooth shading in the Toolshelf. At the moment all the faces continue being flat shaded. See http://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/734/how-to-smooth-shade-an-object-while-retaining-hard-edges – Mr Zak Mar 05 '16 at 11:00
  • Thanks - I can't find Smooth shading in the toolshelf but did 'W' in edit mode and Shade Smooth (is this the same thing). The faces are now perfect but the edges at the top and bottom are still straight lines with angles which looks a bit wierd. – Doodled Mar 05 '16 at 11:16
  • You could add a subsurf modifier. You find the flat/smooth options only in object mode. – stacker Mar 05 '16 at 12:13
  • Found the flat/smooth options thanks but no improvement. The faces are find, it is the edges at the top and bottom of the roll that are still straight lines. Add a solidify modifier and the faces still look smooth but the darker shadows show the original unsmoothed faces – Doodled Mar 05 '16 at 12:48
  • I'm not sure what does it mean "the darker shadows show the original faces"; if you want smooth thick spiral you add Solidify, Subsurf, set shading to Smooth, use AutoSmooth (or EdgeSplit mod) and add some loopcuts to the curve to make it like beveled, see http://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/6425/keep-sharp-edges-when-using-subdivision-surface. – Mr Zak Mar 05 '16 at 13:16
  • Edge split works at the top and bottom when I extrude a plane along the spiral and fill caps but when I add Subsurf the ends of the coil are no longer flat. However that wasn't my original question so have posted it here: http://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/48336/how-to-make-a-thick-smooth-metal-coil-using-plane-extruded-along-spiral. Thanks for comments, pointed me in the right direction! – Doodled Mar 06 '16 at 12:29

1 Answers1

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To create the spiral enable the Add Curve: Extra Objects plugin.

enter image description here

Then do Add->Curve->Spirals

enter image description here

For a smooth curve, don't convert your spiral into a mesh, keep it as curve and extrude it on the geometry section:

enter image description here

To add thickness use a solidify modifier:

enter image description here

  • That's a great method and with Subsurf it looks smooth. I need thickness as well though which is proving a nightmare but I'll start a new question for that! – Doodled Mar 06 '16 at 12:12
  • @Doodled see edited answer –  Mar 06 '16 at 14:25
  • yes, I'd tried the solidify modifier but I needed sharp corners at the top and bottom and ends of the roll. Got an answer here: http://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/48336/how-to-make-a-thick-smooth-metal-coil-using-plane-extruded-along-spiral? – Doodled Mar 07 '16 at 07:47