Editing Subdivision surface (section)

{{Short description|Curved curface derived from a coarse polygon mesh}}
{{Redir|Subdiv|submarine divisions|SUBDIV}}
{{Redir|SubD|the subminiature connector|D-Sub}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}

In the field of [[3D computer graphics]], a '''subdivision surface''' (commonly shortened to '''SubD surface''' or '''Subsurf''') is a curved [[Computer representation of surfaces|surface]] represented by the specification of a coarser [[polygon mesh]] and produced by a [[recursive]] algorithmic method. The curved surface, the underlying ''inner mesh'',<ref>{{Cite web|title=Subdivision Surfaces|url=http://nevercenter.com/silo3d/Tutorials/Subdivision_Surfaces/Subdivision_Surfaces.html|access-date=19 January 2021|website=nevercenter.com}}</ref> can be calculated from the coarse mesh, known as the ''control cage'' or ''outer mesh'', as the functional [[Limit (mathematics)|limit]] of an iterative process of subdividing each [[polygonal]] [[Face (geometry)|face]] into smaller faces that better approximate the final underlying curved surface. Less commonly, a simple algorithm is used to add geometry to a mesh by subdividing the faces into smaller ones without changing the overall shape or volume.

The opposite is reducing polygons or [[un-subdividing]].<ref>[https://all3dp.com/2/blender-how-to-reduce-polygons/ Blender: Reduce Polygons – Simply Explained]</ref>