Sharp chamfer on cylinder?

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1

I am just starting out learning this stuff, so excuse the noob question.

I am modelling a cylinder with different levels of thickness. I started by using a circle and extrude it from there. I used 12 sides.
Every change in thickness on the cylinder has a chamfered edge. Now when I either use smooth or subsurf, not only does the cylinder become nice and round, but the chamfered edges also become filleted. But I want to keep those sharp.

How do I do this? Did I go about this wrong, should I have modeled this differently?

TIA.

2

If you use subsurf, you just add edge loops close to the corners to make them sharper. Otherwise use the edge split modifier to make the corners sharp

3

Ah… Thank you so much!

4

I just found out there is also something called edge crease. it works very efficiently for what I want, so i was wondering what the pros and cons are for each method?

5

Are you going to export to another program? If you are the edge crease may not export with the model so additional edge loops would be appropriate. If you are just using blender and the crease gives you the effect you want then use it.

6

Well, in the end I want to make models that I can export as collada. So that means edge crease is out of the question then? Pity, I found that edge crease makes better “sharp” edges then extra loops and also I want to keep the number of polygons as low as possible :frowning:
Oh well. Thanks for the answer.