I’ve looked and searched but can’t figure out why my Smooth Tool in Edit Mode suddenly decided not to make a simple, subdivided cube spherical … like it used to do, if I recall correct. What am I missing? (I’m on Blender 2.92.)
Here’s how it works for me:
It works for me same.
But if you want a spherical (round) cube, why not subdivide the cube in object mode and appy a cast modifier? Easiest way.
Hi Zlatni. Yep, I know I can add a subdiv modifier, but the issue I have is with this tool specifically. That I can’t get it to work as I think it used to work. What happened to it? It’s interesting that you can confirm the same behavior. Is it bugged? I even tried disabling all add-ons but alas, no difference.
Yes it is weird, if you go to the vertex menu and choose smooth vertices it will smooth to a sphere (with about 15 repeats). Using the smooth from the toolbox I get the same as you.
Edit.
It seems to happen when using a smooth value over 1. If I use the smooth tool from the toolbox with a smoothing value of 1 or less and some repeats it smooths to sphere. With values over 1 there are unpredictable results.
Do you mean “Apply a Subd Modifier” here?
If you want a proper sphere there is Mesh-Transform-To sphere (Shift ALT S)
As far as i know subd (divide and smooth) and smooth (only) are different (math too) and it’s behaving like i remember. So i would say you recall incorrect ;-). (Also just checked again in 2.8x and 2.79b.)
Ah, so the way it operates in my gif is how it’s supposed to work? (I guess I fail to see how this is supposed to be smoothing.)
Yes. First try a smooth factor of not greater than 1. After that repeat smoothing maybe up to 2 or 2.5.
You see, it’s getting smoother and smoother. Subdiv (there are even different subdiv algorithm) use a different kind of math. Something like:
@Okidoki Ah, got you. So the trick is to use it little by little. Maybe like: use the Smooth tool slightly, then, pressing Shift-R for quick iterations of the same action. That would smooth it much better than in my gif, where I just did one huge mouse-drag with the tool.
I did not mention subd, my answer was:
Vetex menu -smooth vertices and the tool box smooth vertices are the same operation, the only difference is that from the vertex menu the default dialog clamps to 1 but with the tool box you can easily go over 1 moving by your mouse.
And i wasn’t talking to you, but answering @HCederblad’s original question. 
Ok no problem, but you replied to me 
Ahh i see now: reply to post vs reply to topic. Sorry for the raised eyebrow smily 
The whole world needs a lot more smileys. Keep em coming 
